CHERRY TURNER BY HER FATHER AND NEXT FRIEND, C. L. TURNER,
v.
S. J. T. SEEGAR; C. L. TURNER V. S. J. T. SEEGAR

Fla. | 1942-10-30
BROWN C. J., and WHITFIELD, J., concurs., BUFORD, J., concurs specially.
151 Fla. 643 Florida Supreme Court (1942) Positive Treatment
Also reported at: 10 So. 2d 320
Cited by 30 cases

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Synopsis

Cherry Turner, a child under six years old, was struck by appellee's automobile while suddenly entering the road to cross. The Florida Supreme Court affirmed jury verdicts for the defendant, holding that a child of less than six years can be liable for contributory negligence if capable by reason of mentality, intelligence, experience, and training to appreciate danger.


Holding

A child of less than six years of age can be held liable for contributory negligence if capable by reason of mentality, intelligence, experience, training, discretion, and alertness to exercise care in the situation. The trial court properly refused to charge on last clear chance because the facts did not support such a theory.


Key Quotes

“Age is not the determining factor always on the question of the capability of exercising care. If a person is capable by reason of mentality, intelligence, experience, training, discretion, alertness, of exercising care in a given situation he is amenable to the consequences of his contributory negligence in transaction resulting in his injury.”

Establishes the governing legal standard that child liability for contributory negligence depends on capacity and capability rather than fixed age

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Facts & Procedural History

Cherry Turner, nearly six years old, was waiting beside the road with other children before going to school. Appellee approached in his automobile at …

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Opinion of the Court
ADAMS, J.:

ADAMS, J.:

These appeals are from final judgments for defendant based on jury verdicts.

Two appeals are involved, that of Cherry Turner, a minor, and her father, where damages were sought *645against appellee. Cherry Turner, a child nearing six years of age, was injured by appellee’s- automobile. She, with other children, was waiting beside the road before going to school. Appellee approached in his car at a moderate rate of' speed. It was a clear day with no traffic and no obstructions of view. Cherry Turner suddenly entered the road in front of the. oncoming car but was not observed by appellee until the moment of impact. The car was promptly stopped. There was dispute as to the speed of the car as well as to the warning. We find ample evidence upon which the jury might have concluded that the speed was reasonable and warning, if necessary, was given.

The first question we will consider is whether a child of less than six years of age can be guilty of contributory negligence. There is a division of authority on this question. This Court however, upon logic and authority settled this question adversely to appellant in Dupuis v. Heider, 113 Fla. 679, 152 So. 659, wherein it was said: ■

“Age is not the determining factor always on the question of the capability of exercising care. If a person is capable by reason of mentality, intelligence, experience, training, discretion, alertness, of exercising care in a given situation he is amenable to the consequences of his contributory negligence in transaction resulting in his injury. Lederer v. Connecticut Co., 95 Conn. 520, 111 Atl. Rep. 785; Fishburn v. Burlington & N. W. R. Co., 127 Iowa 483, 103 N.W. Rep. 481; Meserve v. Libby, 115 Me. 282, 98 Atl. Rep. 754; Mattey v. Whittier Machine Co., 140 Mass. 337, 4 N.E. Rep. 575; Rinaldi v. Levgar Structural Co., 97 N.J.L. 162, 117 Atl. Rep. 42.”

*646The Court properly charged the jury on this question as follows:

“It is a matter of comman knowledge that age alone is not sufficient to determine whether or not a child is capable of appreciating danger and of exercising care for his own safety, or that if he fails to do so he may be held guilty of contributory negligence which will bar his recovery. In determining whether or not a child is guilty of contributory negligence in addition to his age much depends upon his mental development, previous training, and experience; therefore, if you find from the evidence that by reason of her mentality, intelligence, experience, alertness and training, that Cherry Turner was capable of appreciating danger and exercising care for her own safety, and failed to do so, and that such failure proximately contributed to her injuries then she cannot recover in this action and you must find for the defendant. In your entire consideration of the question of contributory negligence including your consideration of all instructions relating to same, you should bear in mind the foregoing instruction.”

It is next contended that error was committed by refusing to charge the jury on the doctrine of last clear chance. It is insisted that if contributory negligence was an issue, then necessarily, the charge on last clear chance should be given. The purpose of this rule of law is to require persons to continue the exercise of due care for his fellowman’s safety after it is apparent that the latter has by his own neglect placed himself in danger. The facts of this case made no such case. The facts would not have supported a verdict upon that theory hence it was proper to refuse *647to charge thereon. See Davis v. Cuesta, 146 Fla. 471, 1 So. (2nd) 475.

We have examined the other questions and find them without merit.

The two judgments are affirmed.

BROWN C. J., and WHITFIELD, J., concurs.

BUFORD, J., concurs specially.

BUFORD, J.,

concurring specially:

I concur in what is said in the opinion prepared by Mr. Justice ADAMS, but I also am convinced that if any error had been made as complained of it would have been harmless because no actionable negligence was shown to have been committed by the defendant and therefore there was no ground upon which plaintiff could recover. .

Concurrence
BUFORD, J.,

BUFORD, J.,

concurring specially:

I concur in what is said in the opinion prepared by Mr. Justice ADAMS, but I also am convinced that if any error had been made as complained of it would have been harmless because no actionable negligence was shown to have been committed by the defendant and therefore there was no ground upon which plaintiff could recover. .

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Citator

Cited By (11 total)

  • Tamiami GUN Shop v. Klein, 116 So. 2d 421 (Fla. 1959)
    …itution, F.S.A., to determine whether or not a decision of the District Court of Appeal, Third District, is in direct conflict with former decisions of this court. Petitioner directed our attention principally to the cases of Turner v. Seegar, 1942, 151 Fla. 643, 10 So. 2d 320; Vandencar v. David, Fla.App.1957, 96 So. 2d 227, 66 A.L.R.2d 912; and Deane v. Johnston, Fla.1958, 104 So. 2d 3, 65 A.L.R. 2d 957. The facts of this case are relatively simple. This is a personal injury action in which the responden…
  • Poindexter v. Seaboard Air Line R. Co., 56 So. 2d 905 (Fla. 1951)
    …, 137 Fla. 561, 188 So. 95; Miami Beach Ry. Co. v. Dohme, 131 Fla. 171, 179 So. 166; Davis v. Cuesta, 146 Fla. 471, 1 So. 2d 475; Ward v. City Fuel Oil Co., 147 Fla. 320, 2 So. 2d 586; Williams v. Sauls, 151 Fla. 270, 9 So. 2d 369; Turner v. Seegar, 151 Fla. 643, 10 So. 2d 320. It was the trial Court's view that the verdict of the jury was contrary to the weight of the evidence and the applicable law, and contrary to substantial justice. It will be observed that the trial Court correctly instructed the jur…
  • Tamiami GUN Shop v. Klein, 109 So. 2d 189 (Fla. 3d DCA 1959)
    …he summary judgment entered in favor of plaintiff on the issue of liability was proper, and the final judgment appealed from is accordingly affirmed. HORTON, Acting Chief Judge, and PEARSON, J., concur. . F.S. § 790.18, F.S.A. . Turner v. Seegar, 151 Fla. 643, 10 So. 2d 320; Teddleton v. Florida Power & Light Co., 145 Fla. 671, 200 So. 546. . 94 C.J.S. Weapons § 31 p. 532; 56 Am. Jur., Weapons and Firearms, § 32. . McMillen v. Steele, 275 Pa. 584, 119 A. 721; Pizzo v. Wiemann, 149 Wis. 235, 134 N.W. 89…

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