C. L. FORESTER AND WIFE, KITTIE BELLE FORESTER, APPELLANTS,
v.
THE TEXAS AND PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY, APPELLEE
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The court held that while defense counsel's statement was inadmissible, it did not cause substantial prejudice to the plaintiff, and the jury instructions were adequate.
Plaintiff sued the Railroad for injuries sustained as a passenger. The jury returned a verdict for the defendant Railroad. Plaintiff appealed, citing …
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PER CURIAM.
Plaintiff, in a Texas-based common law suit against the Railroad, sought recovery for injuries suffered while a passenger. The jury finding adversely to the plaintiff, judgment was for the defendant Railroad.
On appeal, the plaintiff makes two complaints. The first concerns instructions given and instructions refused, some of which related to the nature of the Carrier’s duty to exercise a high degree of care, another the exoneration of the Carrier if the injuries were caused by movements incidental to the operation of the train. The second complains of the prejudicial effect of defense counsel’s unsworn statements, in the presence of the jury, as to the reason for the Railroad’s inability to produce the “speed tape” which would have shown the speed of the train at the moment of plaintiff’s injury.
There is no basis for reversal in the first complaint. Looking at the entire charge, rather than isolated segments thereof, Odekirk v. Sears Roebuck & Co., 7 Cir., 1960, 274 F. 2d 441, cert. denied, 362 U.S. 974, 80 S.Ct. 1060, 4 L.Ed.2d 1011; Cohen v. Evening Star, D.C.Cir., 1940, 72 U.S.App.D.C. 258, 113 F. 2d 523, it is apparent that the jury was fairly instructed as to the defendant’s duty to exercise a high degree of care for the safety of its passengers, and the incidental operation phase was adequately tied into the absence of negligence.
As to the second complaint, the defense counsel’s unsworn statement that the “speed tape” had been destroyed in the ordinary course of business, and that the plaintiff’s attorney knew of this prior to trial, was clearly inadmissible, and the trial Judge so held — explaining in detail, in the presence of the jury, why this was true. Assuming that the Judge erred in not further instructing the jury in more precise terms to disregard the remarks of the defense counsel, on the record as a whole we are convinced that no substantial prejudice was sustained as a result of this occurrence. And under the express language of F.R.Civ.P. 61, we are commanded to disregard such insubstantial errors.
Affirmed.
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Pearson B. Garrett, Jr. v. Ellis Campbell, Jr., 360 F.2d 382 (5th Cir. 1966)
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McGUIRE v. Emmett Julius Davis, 437 F.2d 570 (5th Cir. 1971)
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Previewing 3 of 4 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- James v. United States, 362 U.S. 974 (U.S. 1960)
- Cohen v. Evening Star Newspaper Co., 113 F.2d 523 (D.C. Cir. 1940)
- Eldon C. Odekirk v. Sears Roebuck & Co., 274 F.2d 441 (7th Cir. 1960)