CHARLES MICHALSKI, APPELLANT,
v.
WILLIAM A. PEASLEE AND PEASLEE METAL PRODUCTS, INC., A CORPORATION, APPELLEES

Fla. 2d DCA | 1965-04-09
No. 4838
ALLEN, Acting C. J., and WHITE, J., concur.
174 So. 2d 427 Florida District Court of Appeal, Second District (1965) Positive Treatment
Cited by 15 cases

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Synopsis

A plaintiff appeals a summary judgment dismissing his automobile accident negligence suit. The court reverses, holding that disputed facts regarding proximate causation between the plaintiff's speeding and the collision precluded summary judgment as a matter of law.


Holding

The court held that summary judgment must be reversed because genuine issues of material fact existed regarding proximate causation. Even assuming the plaintiff's speeding constituted negligence, whether that negligence proximately caused the accident—as opposed to the defendant's alleged failure to signal—was a question for the jury, not the court.


Key Quotes

“the violation of a traffic law is not negligence per se, but is prima facie evidence of negligence which may be overcome by proof of surrounding circumstances”

Establishes that traffic law violation does not automatically establish negligence and may be rebutted by circumstances

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Facts & Procedural History

Plaintiff followed defendant on a two-lane road at 40 mph for 1-2 miles. When defendant slowed, plaintiff attempted to pass at approximately 45 mph (e…

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Opinion of the Court
SHANNON, Judge.

SHANNON, Judge.

The plaintiff appeals a summary judgment entered in favor of the defendant in a suit arising out of an automobile accident.

Viewing the facts in a ’light most favorable to the nonmoving party, which is necessary on a motion for summary judgment, we find that the record discloses the following situation. The plaintiff had been following the defendant along a two lane road for about one to two miles at a speed of about 40 miles per hour, and when the defendant diminished his speed, the plaintiff attempted to pass. When the plaintiff was alongside the defendant, the defendant suddenly attempted to turn' left into a private driveway and a collision occurred. The plaintiff alleges he sounded his horn, put on his directional signal, and ascertained that the defendant did not indicate in any manner that he was turning, before plaintiff attempted to pass the defendant

*428Th.e defendant alleges lie looked- into life rear view mirror, saw no one behind him, and put on his directional signal before he turned. The plaintiff admits he was driving about 45 miles per hour when he passed, and it is not disputed that this was a business or residential thoroughfare on which the speed limit was 30 miles per hour.

On these facts the lower court entered a summary judgment for the defendant, stating:

“Upon consideration of the pleadings, affidavits and depositions on file, while there are areas of disagreement in the testimony before the Court, there exists uncontradicted testimony which demonstrates that the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence in the manner in which he undertook to pass defendant’s vehicle, which proximately caused the accident sued upon, in that the plaintiff Michalski attempted to pass the defendant Peaslee’s vehicle at - a rate of speed in excess of the lawful speed limit, even though the plaintiff, prior to attempting to pass, for several yards noticed defendant’s vehicle gradually slowing down. The Court further finds that the defendant Peaslee had a right to turn, as indicated by the record, and that, therefore, plaintiff’s action in attempting to pass defendant’s vehicle contributed to the accident. * * * ”

It is well settled in Florida that the violation of a traffic law is not negligence per se, but is prima facie evidence of negligence which may be overcome by proof of surrounding circumstances. See Delevis v. Trover, Fla.App.1962, 142 So.2d 783, and cases cited therein.

Assuming, arguendo, that the plaintiff’s speeding was negligence, it still cannot be held as a- matter of law that this negligence proximately caused the accident. In ruling as it did, the lower court, in effect, has held that this accident would not. have occurred if the plaintiff had been driving 30 miles per hour rather than 45 miles per hour. The facts are certainly in conflict. If, as the plaintiff alleges, the defendant gave no indication that he was turning, it is quite possible that the accident would have occurred regardless of the speed of the plaintiff. Where reasonable minds could differ, questions of proximate cause are for the jury, and therefore the summary judgment must be reversed.

The plaintiff also argues that the lower court erred in refusing to grant his motion for summary judgment. The facts show this contention to be without merit.

Reversed.

ALLEN, Acting C. J., and WHITE, J., concur.


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Citator

Cited By

  • Bolton v. Smythe, 432 So. 2d 129 (Fla. 5th DCA 1983)
    …489 (5th Cir.1967); deJesus v. Seaboard Coast Line R.R. Co., 281 So. 2d 198 (Fla.1973); Smith v. Lumbermen’s Mut. Cas. Co., 360 So. 2d 1098 (Fla. 1st DCA 1979); Booth v. Mary Carter Paint Co., 182 So. 2d 292 (Fla. 2d DCA 1966); Michalski v. Peaslee, 174 So. 2d 427 (Fla. 2d DCA 1965). . See Ahrens v. Hayworth, 189 So. 2d 163 (Fla. 2d DCA 1966). . See Vining v. Avis Rent-A-Car Systems, Inc., 354 So. 2d 54 (Fla. 1977); Searcy v. McCall, 374 So. 2d 1084 (Fla. 1st DCA 1979).…
  • Cahill v. Cooney, 182 So. 2d 32 (Fla. 3d DCA 1966)
    …ly, in determining the propriety of the entry of the summary final judgment, all reasonable inferences are to be drawn in favor of the party moved against. See: Smith v. Musso, Fla.App. [*33] 1963, 151 So. 2d 475; Michalski v. Peaslee, Fla.App.1965, 174 So. 2d 427. From the record on appeal, it appears that the defendant was traveling south on 31st Road in Broward County, when she approached an intersection [an alleyway which crossed the road at right angles]. The minor plaintiff was riding his bicycle on th…
  • Angeline Ahrens v. Hayworth, 189 So. 2d 163 (Fla. 2d DCA 1966)
    …Tex. 361, 167 S.W. 2d 731. A violation of a municipal ordinance is prima facie evidence of negligence. 3 Fla.Jur., Automobiles 94. See also, Booth v. Mary Carter Paint Company, Fla.App. 1966, 182 So. 2d 292, and Michalski v. Peaslee, Fla.App.1965, 174 So. 2d 427. The question of whether the plaintiff can prove her allegation of a violation of the City ordinance or whether the defendant City of St. Petersburg can overcome the prima facie evidence of negligence made out by plaintiff’s amended complaint is not…

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