ROBERT L. PHILLIPS, APPELLANT,
v.
STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE

Fla. 2d DCA | 1974-02-06
No. 72-630
GRIMES, J., concurs specially with opinion., SCHWARTZ, ALAN R., Associate Judge, concurs.
289 So. 2d 769 Florida District Court of Appeal, Second District (1974) Caution
Cited by 32 cases

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.

Synopsis

Robert Phillips was convicted of manslaughter in two counts—culpable negligence in operating a dangerously modified high-powered automobile and operating while intoxicated—in the death of his passenger. The appellate court affirmed the conviction on the culpable negligence count but reversed the dual sentences, holding that only one judgment and sentence were appropriate for a single homicide.


Holding

The court affirmed the manslaughter conviction based on culpable negligence, finding sufficient evidence of the gross negligence required for this offense. However, the court reversed the imposition of dual sentences, holding that only one judgment and one sentence may be imposed for a single homicide, regardless of the number of counts charged.


Headnotes

[1] Culpable negligence, amounting to indifference to consequences or wanton disregard for safety, can support a manslaughter conviction.

[2] A vehicle modified for drag racing, with significantly increased horsepower, may be considered inherently dangerous when operated under conditions that compromise control…

Previewing 2 of 6 headnotes on this case. FLexlaw’s editorially structured points of law — every proposition, pinpointed — are reserved for members.

Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence

Key Quotes

“Clearly, the trier of fact could have determined from all of the foregoing that that quantum of negligence was committed by appellant which amounted to that indifference to consequences, or to that wantonness or recklessness or grossly careless disregard of the safety of John Creamer and of his rights which was the equivalent of an intentional violation of them. That's culpable negligence.”

Establishes the legal standard for culpable negligence and applies it to the facts

Previewing 1 of 3 key quotes on this case — the court’s exact language, pinpointed for members.

Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence

Facts & Procedural History

Phillips owned a heavily modified 'Super Bee' with a 383 cubic inch, 425 horsepower engine intended for drag racing. He had been drinking with passeng…

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.


Opinion of the Court
McNULTY, Acting Chief Judge.

McNULTY, Acting Chief Judge.

Appellant was charged with manslaughter in two counts.

Count one was predicated on culpable negligence in the operation of a motor vehicle and count two charged operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.

The victim was the same in each count.

The trial court, in a non-jury trial, found appellant guilty on both counts and two concurrent sentences were imposed.

It undisputedly appears that appellant owned a Dodge “Super Bee” automobile which he had “souped up” with a 383 cubic inch, 425 h. p. engine for purposes of making a dragster out of it which he intended subsequently to race at a drag strip.

On the afternoon of the tragedy, he had been drinking with the 'victim in this case, John Allen Creamer, to whom he was trying to sell the Super Bee.

Appellant testified as follows: * * * * * * “Q What time did you get to the Midway [a local tavern] ? A Approximately four. Q And met John? A Yes. sir. Q And shot pool and drank some beer? A Yes, sir. Q You said your liability insurance was revoked because — why was your liability insurance revoked? A Well, I had liability on my truck and Volkswagon, but on the Super Bee, that’s why I was trying to sell it, had too much horsepower. That was the letter I got back from the people.

They didn’t really revoke it, just said they would not cover it because it was a four-speed car and all souped up and everything. Q That is the only reason they give for revoking your insurance ? A Yes, sir. On the insurance policy it was wrote down as a 318 engine.

They didn’t ask the size, but it was a 383 and 425 horsepower. >j: ‡ s); sj; sjj % Q You can remember the conversation you had with John, can’t you? A Yes, sir. He asked what it would do in a quarter, how fast it would run, because I spend a lot of time out at Sunshine Drag Strip, and I was familiar with race cars and so forth.

That’s one of the reasons I had the car souped up, we were going to race it at the drag strip. Q You’ve been to the drag strip a lot and seen a lot of races? A Quite a bit, yes, sir. Q You’ve seen races when it’s been kind of wet or damp or raining? A Only the stock car races.

If it just drizzles, they run stock cars.

They won’t run the drags, no, sir. Q Why? A That car won’t stay under control, looses [sic] control. Q What is your car?

What is [it] considered ?

Stock car, dragster, or racer? A It was approaching a dragster, had a lot horsepower. It still had the facilities to stay on the' street.

It wasn’t taken off the streets yet. Q Close to it though, right ? A Yes, sir. It was approaching.

That’s one reason I wanted to get rid of it. Q So you weren’t [sic] talking about how fast it would go and the purpose to go in the car was to demonstrate it? A We was going to demonstrate it, yes, sir. It wasn’t raining when we left there, though.”

Appellant further testified that he and Creamer left the bar and were proceeding to an appropriate place of demonstration, but he cannot recall clearly any significant details thereafter. Other witnesses testified, however, that a drizzling rain had begun and that the streets had become slippery.

One witness testified that he noticed the Super Bee approaching him from the opposite direction at approximately 40-45 m. p. h. (the speed limit was 40), that as it passed him he heard the engine suddenly rev up and that he looked into his rear view mirror and saw the Super Bee go out of control.

It was also established that the car shot across the center line, struck the side of another oncoming car and then, passenger side to, slid broadside into an oncoming truck.

Creamer, who was found strapped in the passenger seat by a seat belt and shoulder harness, subsequently died of injuries sustained.

Considering these facts most strongly against appellant, as we must do in the present posture of the case, we affirm as to count one.

Clearly, the trier of fact could have determined from all of the foregoing that that quantum of negligence was committed by appellant which amounted to that indifference to consequences, or to that wantonness or recklessness or grossly careless disregard of the safety of John Creamer and of his rights which was the equivalent of an intentional violation of them.

That’s culpable negligence.1 The Super Bee in this case was like a cocked, hair-triggered pistol, requiring extremely gentle handling; and when operated in the manner and under the conditions testified to it was as though appellant was riding on a bumpy road with that pistol on his lap pointed at John Creamer. If such were the case, and the jouncing caused the weapon to fire killing Creamer, a trier of fact surely could well find culpable negligence within the purview of our manslaughter statute, § 782.07, F.S.1971, F.S.A. Analogously, we see no difference here.

Concerning the second point, however, there is considerable question as to the sufficiency of the evidence presented to establish manslaughter by operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated as proscribed by § 860.01(2), F.S.1971, F.S.A. But we need not decide the point since a judgment of manslaughter on the culpable negligence count is sustainable as aforesaid.

In any case, only one judgment and one sentence is appropriate.

There was only one homicide.

Accordingly, the judgment of guilt of manslaughter is hereby affirmed, but the cause is remanded for the entry of but one judgment and the imposition of but one sentence.

Affirmed in part, reversed in part.

GRIMES, J., concurs specially with opinion.

SCHWARTZ, ALAN R., Associate Judge, concurs. .

See, Cannon v. State (1926), 91 Fla. 214, 107 So. 360.

Concurrence
GRIMES, Judge

GRIMES, Judge

(specially concurring):

Regardless of whether it was sufficient to convict under Count Two, there was substantial evidence of drinking which the trier of fact was entitled to consider as part of the totality of circumstances warranting conviction for culpable negligence. Hunt v. State, Fla.1956, 87 So. 2d 584.

Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus


Citator

Cited By (16 total)

  • McCREARY v. State, 371 So. 2d 1024 (Fla. 1979)
    …in the context of manslaughter resulting from operation of a motor vehicle as conduct evincing a reckless disregard for human life. See, e. g., Fulton v. State, 108 So. 2d 473 (Fla.1959); Miller v. State, 75 So. 2d 312 (Fla.1954); Phillips v. State, 289 So. 2d 769 (Fla. 2d DCA 1974); McCullers v. State, 206 So. 2d 30 (Fla. 4th DCA 1968); Jackson v. State, 100 So. 2d 839 (Fla. 1st DCA 1958). We must presume the legislature had knowledge of these court interpretations when it enacted the vehicular homicide sta…
  • Houser v. State, 474 So. 2d 1193 (Fla. 1985)
    …So. 2d 1299 (Fla. 4th DCA), review denied, 389 So. 2d 1116 (Fla.1980); Miller v. State, 339 So. 2d 1129 (Fla. 2d DCA 1976); Carr v. State, 338 So. 2d 267 (Fla. 1st DCA 1976); Stricklen v. State, 332 So. 2d 119 (Fla. 1st DCA 1976); Phillips v. State, 289 So. 2d 769 (Fla. 2d DCA 1974). And the rule has been utilized in the express situation now before us. Ubelis v. State, 384 So. 2d 1294 (Fla. 2d DCA 1980); Brown v. State, 371 So. 2d 161 (Fla. 2d DCA 1979), affirmed, 386 So. 2d 549 (Fla.1980).5 We therefore an…
  • Kurtz v. State, 564 So. 2d 519 (Fla. 2d DCA 1990)
    …So. 2d 1144 (Fla. 2d [*523] DCA 1982); Ubelis v. State, 384 So. 2d 1294 (Fla. 2d DCA 1980); Brown v. State, 371 So. 2d 161 (Fla. 2d DCA 1979), aff’d, 386 So. 2d 549 (Fla. 1980); Miller v. State, 339 So. 2d 1129 (Fla. 2d DCA 1976); Phillips v. State, 289 So. 2d 769 (Fla. 2d DCA 1974); Vela v. State, 450 So. 2d 305 (Fla. 5th DCA 1984); Goss v. State, 398 So. 2d 998 (Fla. 5th DCA 1981); Muszynski v. State, 392 So. 2d 63 (Fla. 5th DCA 1981); Thomas v. State, 380 So. 2d 1299 (Fla. 4th DCA), review denied, 389 So.…

Previewing 3 of 16 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.

Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence

Authorities Cited

Full citator, related cases, and AI research tools

Open in FLexlaw