Foy v. Little , 1939 La. App. LEXIS 523 ( 1939 )

This is a suit by the widow in her own behalf and for the use and benefit of her three minor children, issue of her marriage with Isaah Foy, for damages arising from the death of Isaah Foy, caused by an automobile collision between a truck driven by Foy and a touring car owned and driven by Dr. E.S. Little.

The collision occurred in the town of Winnsboro, Louisiana, in the intersection of Main Street with Pine. Winnsboro is a legally incorporated town under the laws of this state. Main Street is paved from the Missouri Pacific Railway tracks on the west to the easterly limits of the town and runs in an easterly and westerly direction. It forms a part of State Highway No. 15, and is practically straight for a distance of more than 1,200 feet west of Pine Street. Pine runs in a northerly and southerly direction and, from the corner of Prairie Street south of its intersection with Main to Main Street, it is paved. However, where it extends over and beyond Main Street north, it is not paved, but continues as a gravelled highway.

Ordinance No. 250 of the Town of Winnsboro makes Main Street a right of way or superior street to Pine, and provides that it is obligatory upon those using Pine Street to bring their cars to a complete stop before entering any right of way street on which stop signs have been installed. Rubber stop signs had been placed on Pine Street on both sides of Main years before this accident, and had been completely worn out. A metal stop sign had been placed on one side of Main where Pine Street intersects it, but not on the other. However, the record discloses that Dr. Little recognized the fact that Main Street was the superior one, and we feel justified in holding that it was.

The view to the west of one traveling south on Pine on reaching Main Street is obstructed by houses, fences, hedges, etc., until within a few feet of the intersection. The same obstructions are to the north view of Pine Street of one traveling east on Main.

On March 18, 1938, Isaah Foy, a 32-year-old negro, was in the employ of the Five Point Service Station, in Winnsboro, Louisiana. Part of his duties were to drive a Chevrolet pick-up truck of his employer's in going for and delivering tires and tubes when they were repaired. On about dusk of this day, he left the Service Station in the truck accompanied by a man by the name of Jenkins. Foy's mission was to go out to a truck owned by T.J. Owens, a short distance outside the corporate limits of Winnsboro, to bring in a tire for repairs. His course was east on Main Street. The weather was clear and there was no traffic on the street at the time. He was traveling on his right side of the street with the lights on the truck burning. At a speed which is a controversial question in this case. Dr. Little was at the time traveling south on Pine street. He was returning from a professional call. In the car with him were his wife and two gentlemen. Dr. Little's car had reached a point in the intersection of Main and Pine streets, approximately a car's length south of the black line designating the center of Main Street and near the center line of Pine, when it collided with the truck driven by Foy. The left headlight of the Foy truck left its imprint in the right door of the two-door sedan driven by Dr. Little. The force of the impact was sufficient to drive the Little car into the extreme southeast corner of the intersection and against a fire plug and telephone pole located just outside the curb in that corner. The intersection was at least 36 feet square. The truck turned end over end and stopped on its left side with its front end facing the northwest corner of the intersection and its back end under the rear bumper of Dr. Little's car.

The only result of the accident with which we are confronted here is that Isaah Foy was seriously injured and died from said injuries two or three days later. His widow was qualified as the natural tutrix of her minor children and instituted this suit against Dr. E.S. Little and his liability insurer praying for judgment in the sum of $20,544.50, with interest, the amount to be divided between her and her minor children in the proportion of one-half to her and one-half to them.

The acts of negligence charged to Dr. Little are as follows:

1. That he failed to bring his car to a complete stop before entering Main Street, known to him to be a highway, being a part of highway No. 15, as required by Ordinance 250 of the Town of Winnsboro, Louisiana;

2. That he was not keeping a proper lookout and drove into the highway, known to him to be a much traveled highway, without stopping, looking and listening, and in utter disregard of the rights of others;

3. That he drove from Pine Street, an inferior street, so designated by the ordinances of the Town of Winnsboro and by the Highway Regulatory Act, into Main Street, a superior street, and he drove into said Main Street in the center thereof, instead of on his right-hand side, as required by law;

4. That he suddenly dashed into the highway without looking either to the right or left, and drove directly into the path of the oncoming truck when that truck was so near and so close that it was impossible to avert a collision; that he did not sound his horn or give any other warning of his approach, and made no effort to avert the collision, which was brought about by his fault, recklessness and negligence; and

5. That he failed and refused to accord to Isaah Foy the right of way given him by Ordinance 250 of the Town of Winnsboro and by the Highway Regulatory Act being Act 21 of 1932, and on the contrary, drove into the highway at a time when he knew he could not cross with safety and when it was apparent to him or would have been apparent to him if he had looked, that the way was not clear and that the intersection was already preempted and occupied by the truck of the deceased.

Defendants admitted the accident, injuries and death of Isaah Foy and the issuance of the liability policy of insurance covering Dr. Little's car. They denied liability and denied that Dr. Little was negligent in any respect. They alleged that the accident was caused solely by the carelessness, recklessness and negligence of the deceased; they alleged he was driving 50 miles per hour, in violation of Ordinance 212 of the Town of Winnsboro; that he failed to maintain a proper lookout; that he did not have his truck under control; that he failed to accord to Dr. Little the right of preemption to which he was entitled, since he had entered the intersection first and had nearly negotiated it before the truck entered; and, in the alternative, they pleaded contributory negligence on the part of deceased, based upon the negligent acts above alleged.

The Five Point Service Station intervened to recover the amount of compensation paid and to be paid the widow of deceased, and for attorney's fees.

The lower court rendered the following opinion in the case:

"This suit involves an automobile collision at a street intersection in the Town of Winnsboro. Defendant, Dr. Little, violated all ordinances of the Town and also the rules of the road when he entered the intersection. The ordinance requires a full stop, and the rules of the road would require a stop when entering a paved highway from a graveled road, as was done here. Dr. Little did not slow down sufficiently to cause him to go either into low or second gear, and therefore he was traveling at least at a considerable rate of speed.

"Isaah Foy was driving the second car involved in the accident on the paved highway and right of way street at a speed fixed from 25 to 50 miles per hour. An ordinance fixed the speed limit at 15 miles per hour, but this regulation may not be effective as the Town may not have complied with the general state law in making this regulation.

"Defendant does not deny his negligence in entering the intersection without stopping, but relies on contributory negligence to bar recovery. He contends that he entered the crossing first, had preempted the intersection and that decedent's excessive speed caused the accident. Defendant has the burden of proof when relying upon contributory negligence.

"There is no way of determining the speed of the Foy car. It was probably traveling in excess of 35 miles per hour. It was certainly making more than 15 miles, provided by Town ordinance, but, even though it may have been violating this regulation, this in itself does not constitute negligence. The true test is whether Dr. Little in attempting to cross ahead of the Foy car, acted as any ordinary, prudent, reasonable and cautious person would have acted under like circumstances.

"From all of the facts in this case, we think the negligence of Dr. Little in attempting to cross the intersection without coming to a stop, as he was required to do, and without determining that he could safely cross ahead of the Foy car, which had the right of way, was the proximate cause, and, therefore, Isaah Foy was not guilty of contributory negligence.

"We agree with the many cases holding that where a car has lawfully and prudently entered an intersection, it has the right to proceed across the same. Most of these cases arose at intersections where neither car had the right of way or where an ordinance provided a car to slow down, but not necessarily come to a stop. In this case, if Dr. Little had stopped and then entered the crossing without realizing the excessive speed of the coming car, he might have had the right to proceed. However, if he had seen or should have seen the excessive speed of the other car, he would have been responsible had he pulled in front of it. Dr. Little did not stop and there is nothing to show that he could not have judged the speed of the Foy car, and for these reasons, the law on preempting an intersection do not apply.

"For the foregoing reasons, it is ordered that plaintiff, Arnice Foy, individually, have and recover judgment and against Dr. E.S. Little, and the American Surety Company of New York, in solido, in the full and true sum of $3000.00, with interest from judicial demand and the additional sum of $544.50, doctors' and sanitarium bill, with interest thereon at the rate of 5% from judicial demand.

"It is further ordered that plaintiff, Arnice Foy, in her capacity as natural tutrix for her minor children, Ruby Jean Foy, Isaah Foy and Joan Foy, have and recover judgment against Dr. E.S. Little and the American Surety Company of New York, in solido, in the sum of $6000.00, or $2000.00 for each minor, said amount to be for the use and benefit of said minors; and with interest thereon at the rate of 5% from February 1, 1939, being the date upon which suit was filed and all costs.

"It is further ordered that Arnice Foy, Individually, have and recover judgment against the defendant in solido in the sum of $250.00, as funeral expenses, with interest thereon from judicial demand.

"It is further ordered that the Five Point Service Station, Incorporated, Intervenor, have and recover judgment against the defendant in solido in the sum of $318.50, compensation paid by it to the widow and minors of Isaah Foy, to and inclusive of February 28, 1939, with legal interest thereon from March 17, 1939, and all costs of this suit and for all compensation paid by it to Arnice Foy, Individually, and to her as tutrix, for the use and benefit of the minors, as fixed by the Compensation Law, which may be paid by it prior to the date of the collection of this judgment; and all amounts paid since February 28, 1939. And the further sum of $200.00 as attorney's fees; all with interest at the rate of 5% from March 17, 1939, and all of which amount in favor of the Intervenor shall be payable out of the judgment above rendered in favor of Arnice Foy, individually, and as natural tutrix of her said minor children hereinabove named.

"Formal judgment putting these reasons in formal judgment may be prepared and presented for signature in open court."

Defendants are prosecuting an appeal from a judgment which was in accordance with this opinion.

Plaintiff has answered the appeal praying that the amount of the award be increased to the original demand.

For the purpose of this opinion, we shall consider the intersection as being 36 feet square. If this is not exactly correct, it can make no difference as the ratios will be the same whether it was larger or smaller. The actual collision occurred in the southwest portion of the intersection. Dr. Little's car had negotiated 25 or 26 feet of the intersection and the truck driven by deceased had covered approximately 12 feet of it at that time. The speed of the Little car was not in excess of 10 miles per hour and that of the truck was certainly not less than 40 miles per hour. It was negligence per se for Dr. Little not to have brought his car to a complete stop before entering the intersection. This negligence is actionable if the proximate cause, and liability will attach to him for whatever damages caused, unless the deceased was negligent and his negligence was a proximate cause or such as to have contributed to the accident and his contributory negligence a proximate cause.

The principal question to decide is whether or not the speed at which deceased's car was being driven was excessive. If it was — and we find little difficulty in reaching that conclusion — a decision of the case ceases to be difficult.

We had occasion to pass upon the validity of Ordinance 212 of the Town of Winnsboro in the case of Martin v. Missouri Pacific Transportation Company, La.App., 172 So. 558, and held there that the Ordinance was without effect for the reason that the officers of the Town had not complied with Rule 20 of Title 2, Section 3, of Act 2i of 1932, and Rule 4(d) of Title 2, Section 3 of the same Act, in fixing the speed limit within the corporate limits of the Town. There is no evidence in this case to cause us to change our opinion or finding as to the validity of that Ordinance. It therefore follows that whether or not deceased was driving his truck at an excessive and unlawful speed will have to be governed by the general rule which is set out in Rule 4(a) of Title 2, Section 3 of Act 21 of 1932 (this accident occurred prior to the passage of the Highway Regulatory Act of 1938, Act No. 286 of 1938). The rule is as follows: "``(Speed — General Rule). (a) Except as herein provided and subject to the provisions of Rules 3 and 17, and subject to the special speed limits specified in this Act, it shall be unlawful for any person to drive or operate any motor or other vehicle upon the public roads, highways and bridges of this State at other than a careful, prudent, reasonable and proper speed, having due regard to the traffic, surface and width of the highway, the location and neighborhood, and any other conditions or circumstances then existing, and no person shall, under any circumstances or conditions, drive any vehicle upon the public roads, highways or bridges of this State, at such a speed as will endanger the life, limb or property of any other person; and, subject to the special provisions and limitations contained in this Act, the person so driving or operating, or causing to be driven or operated, a motor vehicle upon such public roads, highways and bridges, shall be held and deemed to be prima facie at fault in and responsible for any accident or damage proximately flowing therefrom or connected therewith, which presumption, however, may be rebutted and overcome by proper showing of the contrary.'"

Considering the directions from which the two cars were coming, their respective views of each other were totally obstructed until one or the other had reached the intersection. It could well be termed a blind intersection, insofar as the deceased and Dr. Little were concerned at that time and, to our minds, there can be no argument to the contrary when we find that the deceased, in approaching this blind intersection at a speed of not less than 40 miles per hour, was driving the truck at an excessive and unlawful rate of speed and was grossly negligent in so doing. The law placed the obligation and duty upon him to approach this intersection at such a speed and have the truck under sufficient control that he might stop it quickly and within a short distance, if confronted with an emergency. The mere fact that he was on a right of way or superior street did not relieve him of this obligation. The law does not give to one using a superior street a right to entirely disregard and ignore those making use of a less favored street.

The record makes it clear to our minds that when Dr. Little drove his car into the intersection, the truck driven by deceased was at least 100 feet west of the intersection. He undoubtedly saw the Doctor's car at that time for he began blowing his horn, but did not slow down until he applied his brakes which took effect about 30 feet west of the point of impact, as was shown by the skidmarks on the pavement. After skidding 30 feet, the impact was with such force as to drive the car owned by Dr. Little a distance of at least 15 feet sideways and into a water plug and telephone pole, almost completely demolishing both vehicles. The truck turned over end over end, the rear end coming over the front end.

We are convinced that if Dr. Little or deceased had used any precautions at all, this accident would not have occurred. If Dr. Little had stopped before entering the intersection, he could have seen the car driven by deceased and allowed it to pass; and at the speed he was traveling he would have had little difficulty in stopping his car. On the other hand, if deceased had been observing the law and had his own car under control, as is required of him by law, he could have stopped his car within the 100 or more feet distance he had in which to do so after Dr. Little entered the intersection. There was apparently no effort made by either to avoid the accident.

For either of these parties to be given any special preference by right of preemption for Dr. Little or by Main Street being a favored street for deceased, would be to put a premium on law violation and negligence. We think the law of this state is well settled that both drivers lost their respective preferences or rights by their negligence and violation of the law; Dr. Little in not coming to a stop before entering the intersection, and deceased in driving at an excessive and unlawful speed, under the conditions existing at this intersection.

It might be urged that if Dr. Little had come to a complete stop before entering the intersection, the truck driven by deceased would have cleared the intersection in safety. We think that is true, but it might as truly be said that if deceased had been proceeding at a lawful rate of speed, Dr. Little would have cleared the intersection in safety. We are sure that is true for in one second more Dr. Little's car would have been clear of the intersection, even at the slow speed it was traveling. Both Dr. Little and deceased were negligent and their combined negligence was the proximate cause of the collision and resulting damage; and certainly neither is entitled to recover.

The judgment of the lower court is erroneous and is now reversed and the demands of the plaintiff and intervenor are both rejected at their cost.

On Rehearing.