Court Opinion

ID: 9828198
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-01 18:12:13.474664+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:42:45.598780
License: Public Domain

Opinion on Rehearing.
We have carefully reviewed this ■entire case in the light of appellee’s motion for rehearing and the written arguments in -support thereof, and appellant’s replies thereto. In our opinion the trial court -.under the evidence developed should have instructed a verdict in favor of defendant. Plaintiff, when he attempted to cross, knew or was charged with knowledge that there -were three tracks; that the signal lights signalled that it was unsafe to cross, and to stop. Despite this he attempted to cross in heedless disregard of the signals; attempted to cross when according to his theory the view of the approaches along the track to the west were obstructed by standing cars and to the east by the receding train. The trial court did not instruct a verdict, but submitted the case to the jury, and on the issue of contributory negligence the verdict was in plaintiff’s favor.
In the original opinion it was stated that the case had been fully developed, and hence we rendered same. In this holding we were perhaps in error. It may be that on another trial evidence may be obtained excusing the plaintiff’s utter disregard of the warning signals not to attempt to make the crossing at the time he did. We reaffirm the holding that there was no substantial evidence that these lights unnecessarily frequently flashed danger when there was no danger; if they had it would present some justification for the disregard of same. True, if the view east and west from the crossing was habitually obstructed it would seem that there was a greater necessity for heeding the signals. However, danger signals habitually crying “wolf” when there is no wolf may be a delusion and a snare. We also reaffirm the holding that there was no substantial evidence indicating that these signals failed to function as they were intended on the occasion in question. In fact, it is still thought it was established beyond issue same were properly functioning at the time of the accident. It is not thought that plaintiff’s testimony in substance that nobody paid any attention to these lights unless they saw a train presents a justification for plaintiff’s ignoring same, assuming (as we must) that plaintiff’s statement was true. The question then naturally arises as to why this general disregard. The unreliability of the signals may not be inferred from the general disregard of same —on another trial plaintiff may be able to justify or excuse his deliberate disregard of same, by testimony not inconsistent with his own testimony.
Even though the trial court should have instructed a verdict in favor of defendant, if justice may be best served by reversing and remanding the case then same should not be rendered by the Appellate Court. Texas Employers’ Ins. Ass’n v. Herring, Tex.Com.App., 280 S.W. 740. It is thought further citation of authorities *728is unnecessary to sustain the above proposition.
In the original opinion it was stated that in the event our holding that plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law was incorrect, that it was thought the issue of unavoidable accident was raised by the evidence. If this be correct, the court erred in setting aside the jury’s finding thereon in favor of defendant. The verdict with that finding would not support a judgment in favor of plaintiff, because same conflicted with the finding of negligence. Our decision tó reverse and remand the case necessitates, or at least renders appropriate a consideration of the points in relation to unavoidable accident. Under the law this consideration must be from the standpoint before the verdict was returned, rather than after. Montrief & Montrief v. Bragg, Tex.Com.App., 2 S.W.2d 276; Colorado & Southern R. Co., v. Rowe, Tex.Com.App., 238 S.W. 908; Greer v. Thaman, Tex.Com.App., 55 S.W.2d 519.
Of course, if plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law, the issue is not in the case. The point will be discussed on the assumption that our holding thereon is erroneous, or that contributory negligence on another trial may become an issue of fact. It is clear the issue of defendant’s negligence was in the case under the evidence. Findings favorable to defendant that it was not negligent as to speed, etc., or that the intersection was not extraordinarily dangerous would have been sustained. The jury found that the train approached at a speed of 35 miles per hour. If the findings had all been favorable to the defendant on the issues of negligence and to plaintiff as to contributory negligence then we would have had a calamitous result uncontributed to by the negligence of either the defendant or plaintiff. A result so brought about is caused by accident. Beyond question the conduct of defendant and that of plaintiff was the cause of this injury. Under the evidence the conduct of either or both might have been found to have lacked the quality of negligence.
The case of Magnolia Coca Cola Bottling Co. v. Jordan, 124 Tex. 347, 78 S.W.2d 944, 97 A.L.R. 1513, is strongly relied upon by appellee as sustaining the position that the issue of unavoidable accident was not raised by the evidence. In that case defendant’s theory was that its car did not strike the car driven by plaintiff’s wife. This was its defense. Its contention was that it did not commit the act charged. It was held the issue of unavoidable accident was not in the case. The damage was either the result of negligence of the plaintiff or defendant.
The case of El Paso Electric Co. v. Hedrick, Tex.Com.App., 60 S.W.2d 761, is more nearly in point here, and in a large measure governs. In that case there was evidence raising the issue that each party was free from negligence. There was. evidence that defendant’s motorman did not see plaintiff’s motorcycle on account of a car in front of it, which then turned in another direction. Here the transitory obscuration of appellee’s view to the east by the passing train may have been the real cause of the collision. The only distinction between this case and that lies in the fact that here the view was obstructed by a train under the management and control of defendant, and there the obscuration was caused by the vehicle of a third party. It is thought this is an immaterial distinction. It is not charged that defendant was guilty of negligence in operating its train on the passing track.
It is said in the case of Orange & N. W. R. Co. v. Harris, 127 Tex. 13, 89 S.W.2d 973, 975: “[that] the issue of unavoidable accident is raised when there is evidence tending to prove that the injury resulted from some cause other than the negligence of the parties.” The opinion cites in support of the proposition announced, Texas & Pacific R. Co. v. Edwards, Tex.Com.App., 36 S.W.2d 477, and Greer v. Thaman, Tex.Com.App., 55 S.W.2d 519. See also Glazer v. Wheeler, Tex.Civ.App., 130 S.W.2d 353, reversed 137 Tex. 341, 153 S.W.2d. 449, 140 A.L.R. 1301.
A calamitous event where the parties involved in producing same are each, and all free from negligence is the result, of an unavoidable accident. Linden v. Miller, 172 Wis. 20, 177 N.W. 909, 12 A.L.R. 665.
The verdict acquitted appellee of negligence. Under the evidence there would have been, ample justification for the same finding as to appellant. A submission of the issue of unavoidable accident serves the purpose of calling the matter to the attention of the jury so that the jury will understand that they do not necessarily have to find that one or the other of the *729parties was to blame for the occurrence. Wheeler v. Glazer, 137 Tex. 341, 345, 153 S.W.2d 449, 140 A.L.R. 1301.
It is thought that even though it might not have constituted error to omit from the charge an issue of unavoidable accident, or to refuse a specific issue thereon, that this verdict even then will not support the judgment for the plaintiff and the court erred in setting aside the finding thereon. Where there is an issue under the evidence whether or not an act or omission resulting in damage to another is negligence, the issue of accident or unavoidable accident is within the content thereof. If the act or omission charged as negligence is not negligent, the damage must be the result of an accident, or unavoidable accident. If a harmful tendency of conduct is excusably unforeseeable, it is accidental rather than negligent. The cases wherein it is held that an erroneous form of submission of the issue was immaterial do not militate against the above. The issues were found in favor of plaintiff, and were consistent with the finding of negligence on the part of defendant. Here, so far as the record goes, plaintiff did not except to the submission of the issue of unavoidable accident. The verdict reflects findings on the preponderance of the evidence that defendant was guilty of negligence, findings also that it was not found from a preponderance of the evidence that either defendant or plaintiff was guilty of negligence. If plaintiff’s contention be correct that the issue of unavoidable accident was not in the case, then it is thought that there was a dual submission of the issues as to negligence, and the findings conflict. Beyond a doubt the plead issue of unavoidable accident should be submitted when the issue arises that something other than the acts or omissions of defendants charged as negligence or the negligence of plaintiff was the cause of the damage. This is true, even though the cause be unknown. Colorado & So. R. Co. v. Rowe, Tex.Com.App., 238 S.W. 908.
This holds true in most cases as in this where there is evidence as to another innocent cause of damage. Plaintiff was unable to see the approaching train on account of the receding train. It is thought the issue of unavoidable accident as an independent issue was and is in this case. The case of El Paso Electric Co. v. Hedrick, supra, has never, so far as we have been able to find, been modified.
Appellant’s points as to the measure of damages do not present reversible error, even though the direction under the issue as to damages is not entirely free from criticism.
It is ordered that our former judgment reversing and rendering this case be set aside, and that the cause be reversed and remanded for a new trial.