SEABOARD COAST LINE RAILROAD COMPANY, A VIRGINIA CORPORATION, SUCCESSOR TO ATLANTIC COAST LINE RAILROAD COMPANY, APPELLANT,
v.
CHARLES L. SCUDDER, APPELLEE
AI-generated. These summaries, headnotes, and key points are machine-generated and may contain errors or omissions. Always verify against the full opinion text below. Not legal advice.
Seaboard Coast Line Railroad appeals a $65,000 jury verdict in a negligence action arising from a motor vehicle-train collision. The court affirmed the judgment, holding that the trial judge properly submitted the contributory negligence question to the jury rather than granting the railroad's motion for directed verdict, as reasonable jurors could differ on the facts.
The trial court properly denied the directed verdict motion because reasonable men could differ on whether contributory negligence existed based on the evidence, particularly the obstructed view of the tracks. Contributory negligence is a jury question when the underlying facts might lead reasonable people to different conclusions; it is only a matter of law when no reasonable disagreement is possible.
“It is likewise undeniable that the existence of contributory negligence is a question for the jury when the facts upon which it rest are such that they might lead reasonable men to draw different conclusions.”
Establishes the standard for when contributory negligence is a jury question versus a matter of law
Previewing 1 of 3 key quotes on this case — the court’s exact language, pinpointed for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceIn November 1966, Scudder's automobile was struck by a train operated by Seaboard Coast Line Railroad at a crossing in Tampa on a cold but clear day. …
The full statement of facts, procedural history, and disposition for this case are member content.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence© FLexlaw, Inc. — AI-generated enrichments are proprietary. All rights reserved.
Explore caselaw by topic → Browse Matter of Law cases and more on FLexlaw
Seaboard Coast Line Railroad, the defendant below, takes this appeal from a final judgment on a jury verdict of $65,000 entered against it. Charles L. Scudder, the appellee, instituted this action for recovery of damages for personal injuries received by him as the result of a motor vehicle-train collision in Tampa. Appellee’s theory was one of negligence on the part of the railroad, and appellant based its defense on contributory negligence.
In November 1966, on a cold but clear day, the appellee was injured when his automobile was struck by a train operated by appellant railroad. The motorist approached the crossing at a speed estimated at 30-35 miles per hour by one witness and at 40-45 miles per hour by the train engineer. The train whistle was blown before the train entered the crossing. Standard crossbuck signs provided the only protection or warning. There were no automatic signals. The view of the motorist approaching the tracks was obstructed by a tree, a barbecue establishment, and numerous circus flat cars standing on two sets of tracks. A city traffic engineer testified that East Buffalo Avenue, where the accident occurred, had been designated a major arterial road.
At the close of the appellee’s case, and again at the close of all the evidence, appellant moved for, but was denied, a directed verdict. The jury returned a verdict for the appellee and final judgment was entered. Appellant then filed a motion for *761judgment in accordance with its motion for directed verdict, or in the alternative, for a new trial, but these too were denied. Appellant then instituted this appeal, asserting that the trial judge erred in not granting its motions for directed verdict since appellee was guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law. We, however, do not agree with this contention, and, therefore, affirm.
In the case of Georgia Southern and Florida Railway Co. v. Seven-Up Bottling Co., Fla.1965, 175 So.2d 39, the Florida Supreme Court declared Florida Statutes § 768.06, F.S.A. (1965), the railroad comparative negligence statute, unconstitutional. Thus, in all negligence actions against railroads, the parties are hereafter to be governed by the common law; i. e., the doctrine of contributory negligence is now to be resurrected. Louisville and Nashville R. Co. v. Yniestra, 1886, 21 Fla. 700.
The law of contributory negligence is relatively clear. It is undeniable that contributory negligence is a complete defense and a bar to recovery for negligence. It is likewise undeniable that the existence of contributory negligence is a question for the jury when the facts upon which it rest are such that they might lead reasonable men to draw different conclusions. Bessett v. Hackett, Fla.1953, 66 So.2d 694; Hyde v. Davis & Marr Supply Co., Fla.App.1966, 183 So.2d 700; Plaks v. Florida East Coast R. Co., Fla.App.1965, 175 So.2d 216; Sinclair Refining Co. v. Butler, Fla.App.1965, 172 So.2d 499. Only when contributory negligence exists as a matter of law is the trial judge justified in removing the issue from the jury.
In the instant case, reasonable men could easily differ as to the existence of contributory negligence, especially in light of the evidence concerning the obstruction of the motorist’s view of the tracks. There was no contributory negligence as a matter of law. Consequently, the eminent trial judge was completely justified in allowing the jury to consider the question.
The appellant suggests one other point for review, but we consider it to be without merit. Finding the record to be free of error, we, therefore, affirm the decision of the trial court.
ALLEN and PIERCE, JJ., concur.
Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus
Citator
Cited By
-
Tynan v. Seaboard Coast Line R.R. Co., 254 So. 2d 209 (Fla. 1971)…of speed that it would not be stopped before running into the side of a locomotive is contributory negligence. “The Plaintiff brought two recent decisions to the attention of the Court: Seaboard Coast Line Railroad Company v. Scudder, Fla.App.1968; 215 So. 2d 760, and Jones v. Florida East Coast Railway Company, Fla.App.1969, 220 So. 2d 922. Counsel has furnished the Court with briefs in both of these cases as well as the Court file including photographs in the Scudder case. This Court does not take issue wi…
-
Seaboard Coast Line R.R. Co. v. Reese, 249 So. 2d 51 (Fla. 1st DCA 1971)…orida Ry. Co. v. Seven-Up Bottling Co., 175 So. 2d 39 (Fla.1965). Since that time all negligence actions against railroads are governed by common law, and the doctrine of contributory negligence is applicable. Seaboard Coast Line Ry. Co. v. Scudder, 215 So. 2d 760 (Fla.App.2d 1968). It has long been the law in this state that “There can be no recovery of damages resulting from injuries negligently inflicted on one person by another if the injured person, by his own negligence or by the negligence of another l…
-
Am. Cyanamid Co. v. Thornton, 254 So. 2d 815 (Fla. 2d DCA 1971)…PER CURIAM. Affirmed on the authority of Seaboard Coast Line Railroad v. Scudder, Fla.App.1968, 215 So. 2d 760. PIERCE, C. J., and LILES and HOB-SON, JJ., concur.…
Previewing 3 of 5 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- State v. Bohanan, 66 So. 2d 694 (Fla. 1953)
- Ga. S. & Fla. Ry. Co. v. Seven-Up Bottling Co. OF Se. Ga., Inc., 175 So. 2d 39 (Fla. 1965)
- Louisville & Nashville R.R. Co. v. Yniestra, 21 Fla. 700 (Fla. 1886)
- Sinclair Ref. Co. v. Butler, 172 So. 2d 499 (Fla. 3d DCA 1965)
- Plaks v. Fla. E. Coast Ry. Co., 175 So. 2d 216 (Fla. 3d DCA 1965)
- FOX v. FOX, 183 So. 2d 700 (Fla. 3d DCA 1966)