Court Opinion

ID: 9550116
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 18:29:55.184448+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:14:03.094871
License: Public Domain

*203O’CONNELL, C. J.,
specially concurring.
The majority opinion purports to uphold the jury verdict on the ground that the loose gib was a “substantial factor” in causing plaintiff’s injuries. I do not share this view. The only evidence on this issue adduced at trial was to the effect that this gib could not influence the speed with which the door closed. For this reason, I do not believe the jury could conclude that defendant’s negligence in failing to detect and repair this part in any way, let alone substantially, contributed to plaintiff’s injury, and I find the court’s suggestion to the contrary unfounded.
I concur in the result, however, because I believe this is a proper case to apply the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur. Elevator doors, do not normally close with the force reported by plaintiff. In a self-service elevator, such force could result only from a mechanical malfunction. The defendant had the exclusive responsibility for inspecting and repairing the mechanical parts of this elevator. Under this set of facts, I believe it is permissible for the jury to infer that the accident was the result of negligence and that the negligence more probably than not was that of the defendant.
Close scrutiny of the majority opinion will reveal, I believe, that in fact my brethren also rely on a res ipsa loquitur analysis and not the “substantial factor” test they purport to apply.
Holman, J., concurs in this opinion.