Opinion
No. 18,520.
Filed October 29, 1954. Rehearing denied December 3, 1954. Transfer denied March 8, 1955.
1. TRIAL — Motion for New Trial — Instruction to Withdraw Issue not Supported by Evidence — Refusal to Give — Reversible Error. — It is reversible error for a trial court to refuse to give an instruction withdrawing an issue from the jury when there is no evidence to support such issue. p. 322.
2. TRIAL — Motion for New Trial — Instruction to Withdraw Issue from Jury Not Supported by Evidence — Evidence. — The appellant requested an instruction withdrawing issue of negligence based on failure to maintain lookout, as the only evidence to sustain this charge was the testimony of one witness, who was driving an automobile parallel to the railroad tracks, who stated that he saw two men in the cab of engine after the accident who were laughing and he concluded that "they didn't know they had hit anyone." The court holds that the mere conclusion of this witness had no probative value whatever and leaves the charge of negligence, based on failure to maintain lookout, wholly without proof and it was error to refuse to withdraw this issue. p. 322.
3. TRIAL — Instruction to Find for Appellant on Specific Issue — Request to Trial Court to Withdraw Issue from Jury — Distinction Made — Ultimate Effect is Same. — While there is a difference in a trial court's refusal to give an instruction directing the jury to find for appellant on a certain issue and a request to the trial court to withdraw that issue from the jury, the ultimate effect of withdrawing an issue from the jury and directing it to find for the defendant on such issue is the same. p. 323.
From the Warrick Circuit Court, French Clements, Special Judge.
Appellee, Allyne Verkins, brought this action against appellant, New York Central Railroad Company, for damages sustained by her when the automobile in which she was a passenger collided with appellant's train. Trial by jury resulted in verdict for appellee for $20,000.00, and judgment accordingly. Appellant appeals. Reversed. By the court in banc.
Gray Waddle, of Petersburg, for appellant.
John H. Jennings, of Evansville, for appellee.
Appellee brought this action against appellant for damages sustained by her when the automobile in which she was riding as a passenger was in a collision with a train operated and owned by appellant. The allegations of negligence in the complaint are as follows:
"1. That said train was travelling at a high and dangerous rate of speed of in excess of 60 miles per hour.
"2. That said defendant negligently and carelessly failed to give any warning of any type of the approach of said train toward said crossing.
"3. That none of the said servants, agents and employees upon said train kept any lookout of any type for said crossing."
Trial to a jury resulted in verdict in favor of appellee for $20,000. Judgment accordingly.
The first error assigned here is the overruling of appellant's motion for a new trial. In view of the conclusion we have reached it is only necessary to consider the third specification of the motion for a new trial, that the trial court erred in refusing to give appellant's Instruction G. This instruction is as follows:
"The Court instructs the Jury to find for the defendant upon the following allegation of negligence contained in plaintiff's complaint.
"That none of the said servants, agents and employees upon said train kept any lookout of any type for said crossing."
Appellant contends there is not a scintilla of evidence in the record to sustain this charge of negligence. The only evidence relied upon by appellee to sustain this charge is the testimony of one witness who said he was driving an automobile along a public highway which ran parallel with the railroad tracks and was about 150 feet from said tracks. He said he saw two men in the cab of the engine after the accident who were apparently talking and laughing and it was his conclusion "they didn't know they had hit anyone." There was positive uncontradicted evidence that the fireman saw the automobile about one hundred feet before the accident and signalled the engineer who immediately applied the brakes.
It is well settled that it is reversible error for a trial court to refuse to give an instruction withdrawing an issue from the jury when there is no evidence to support such issue. 1. Jarrett et al. v. Ellis (1923), 193 Ind. 687, 141 N.E. 627; Huntington et al. v. Hamilton, etc. et al.; v. Hanna, Judge (1946), 118 Ind. App. 88, 73 N.E.2d 352 (Transfer denied); Hamling, Executor et al. v. Hildebrandt et al. (1948), 119 Ind. App. 22, 81 N.E.2d 603 (Transfer denied); Chicago, South Shore and South Bend Railroad Company v. Pacheco (1932), 94 Ind. App. 353, 361, 181 N.E. 7; Trumbo et al. v. Chicago, Burlington Quincy R. Co. (1945), 389 Ill. 213, 59 N.E.2d 92, 95.
We are of the opinion the evidence relied upon by appellee, being merely the conclusion of a witness, had no probative value whatever and leaves the charge of negligence herein 2. referred to wholly without proof.
Judgment reversed, with instructions to the trial court to sustain appellant's motion for a new trial.
ON PETITION FOR REHEARING
Appellee, in her petition for rehearing, asserts we erred in holding it was error for the trial court to refuse to give appellant's instruction G (set out in our original opinion) which instructed the jury to find for appellant on the allegation in the complaint that it failed to keep any lookout for said crossing. She asserts the only proper way this question can be raised "is to request the trial court to withdraw the issue from the jury." She asserts the authorities we cited were where the court refused to withdraw the issue from the jury. Second, she says if there was error it was invited error because appellant tendered instructions on this subject.
While there may be some authority tending to support appellee's first contention, we do not believe it has merit. The ultimate effect of withdrawing an issue from the jury and directing 3. it to find for the defendant on such issue is the same. However, even if the refusal to give such was not error, it would not change the result herein. The trial court refused to give appellant's tendered instruction No. 7 which withdrew that issue from the jury's consideration.
A re-examination of instructions tendered by appellant discloses it did not tender an instruction on the question of keeping a lookout. The instructions which appellee asserts did were general instructions on the burden which was upon her to sustain the material allegations of the complaint.
Petition for rehearing denied.
NOTE. — Reported in 122 N.E.2d 141.
Rehearing denied 122 N.E.2d 738.