Brewer v. Hayes , 285 Mass. 144 ( 1934 )

Rugg, C.J.

This is an action of tort to recover compensation for personal injuries and property damage alleged to have been sustained by the plaintiff as a result of negligence of the defendant in operating an automobile owned by him. The only defence argued is that the plaintiff’s automobile was an “outlaw” upon the highway because not registered as required by G. L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 90, § 2, in that the application did not contain “a statement of the name, place of residence and address of the applicant.” It was agreed that the motor vehicle owned by the plaintiff was registered under the name “Eastman’s Express.” The application showed that in answer to the question “Is this vehicle owned by you individually?” the answer “Yes” was made, that it was signed “Eastman’s Express H. U. Brewer Prop,” and that the mail address was “93 Myrtle St. Melrose” which is the address of the plaintiff. There was evidence tending to show that the plaintiff conducted business under the name Eastman’s Express, that that was a registered trade name, that the plaintiff came by the business under that trade name, and that it was a name “from ancient history.” This evidence as a whole was readily susceptible of the meaning that the business was long and well known in the community by its trade name.

The burden of establishing the defence that the motor vehicle of the plaintiff was being operated upon the highway in violation of the statute respecting registration rested upon the defendant. Conroy v. Mather, 217 Mass. 91. Dean v. Boston Elevated Railway, 217 Mass. 495, 497. Potter v. Gilmore, 282 Mass. 49, 56. The evidence warranted a finding that the motor vehicle was registered under the trade name of the plaintiff as owner. Crompton v. Williams, 216 Mass. 184. The plaintiff’s own name as owner of the business conducted under the trade name was" plainly shown upon the application for registration and therefore was a matter of public record accomplishing thereby the purposes of registration. Koley v. Williams, 265 Mass. 601, 603. Nash v. Lang, 268 Mass. 407, 409. The finding in favor of the plaintiff was justified by the evidence. The motion for a directed verdict on the ground of illegal registration was denied rightly. Janusis v. Long, 284 Mass. 403, 407-408. The case is distinguishable from Fine v. Kahn, 270 Mass. 557.

Exceptions overruled.