Court Opinion

ID: 9719721
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 08:01:37.25793+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:24:09.540072
License: Public Domain

Dethmers, C. J.
{dissenting). I do not concur in affirmance. In both Ortisi v. Oderfer, 341 Mich 254, and Buehler v. Beadia, 343 Mich 692, in which this Court divided equally, the opinions set forth many of the Michigan decisions relating to the duty reposing on one crossing an intersection under protection of a green traffic light to make and maintain a reasonable and proper lookout for approaching traffic and holding him, for failure therein, to be guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law. It is suggested that that division on this Court and the problem involved were resolved by the opinion for affirmance in Barron v. City of Detroit, 348 Mich 213, concurred in by 3 of the Justices, with its result concurred in by a fourth, 3 Justices dissenting and 1 taking no part in the decision. It is to be observed that in Barron the question presented was whether plaintiff, after having observed all approaching traffic and concluded that she could cross the intersection in safety, was under the duty of continuing such observation while crossing with the light green in her favor. The affirming opinion (p 219) approved the instruction of the trial court that:
“ ‘Now, in that connection it is the law that before you start across the street you must look to see if you can do so in safety, but having started on a green light and having looked to make sure whether you can cross in safety, and then having started to cross on the green light, it becomes a question of fact for the jury to determine, whether if the light is still *355green at the time of the accident, whether or not an ordinary, prudent person would have looked again to the south to see where the streetcar was.’ ”
The instant case is different. Here there is a complete lack of showing that plaintiff looked either to the right or left before entering the intersection or at any time thereafter. He testified that he had no recollection of having done so and that he never saw defendant at all before the impact. He made no effort, as an ordinary, careful and prudent person would have done under like circumstances, to look and to ascertain whether a vehicle was approaching from his right or left at such speed or in such manner or so near the intersection at the instant the light changed that such vehicle could not or might not be able to stop short of the intersection. Had he looked and acted as did the driver of the automobile alongside and immediately to his left, no accident would have occurred. Not yet has this Court held that on precisely such facts plaintiff is not guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law. If it is to be the law in Michigan that one entering an intersection under cover of a green traffic light may do so without making any observation of approaching traffic whatever, literally with eyes closed to everything but the traffic light, and yet escape being held guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law, here is the case which affords the opportunity for its announcement. It is a view I do not share.
Defendant was entitled to a directed verdict of no cause for action. The judgment should be reversed, without new trial and with costs to defendant.
Carr, J., concurred with Dethmers, C. J.