Court Opinion

ID: 6725350
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 23:02:58.337339+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:01:36.253819
License: Public Domain

The controlling question in this case involves the construction of that part of Section 12600-35 GC. which reads: “Every portion of the the-atre devoted to the use or accommodation of the public also all outlets leading to the streets, including all open courts, corridors, stairways, exits and enclosed fireproof stairways shall he well and properly lighted during every performance and the same shall remain lighted until the entire audience has left the premises.”
Questions presented are:
1. Whether the words, “shall be well and properly lighted,” is such a specific and definite lawful statutory requirement which advises proprietors and operators of moving picture shows of the standard or measure of their duty to the public in keeping their moving picture show,lighted during a performance.
2. Whether the Hamilton Court of Appeals erred in approving the trial court’s action in instructing the jury that when the law says that a theatre should be well and properly lighted during every performance it means only that a theatre used for motion pictures should be lighted as ordinarily prudent persons operating such theatre would light it under the same or similar circumstances, if this were done then the defendant was not negligent in that regai'd.
3. Whether the trial court in giving special instructions in writing embodying the exact language of the statute can thereafter either orally or in, writing modify or qualify the plain ordinary language of the statute from a statutory duty to a common law duty.
4. This statute was modified in 1925 to read’ “adequately lighted”, but whether well and properly lighted or adequately lighted is a question that involves all moving picture show operators and the public who -patronize them.