Henley v. Lollar

On Rehearing

Subsequently to the rendition of the original opinion in this cause, the clerk of the lower court forwarded to this court the photograph taken of appellee’s automobile. The clerk confesses that it was due to his oversight that the exhibit was not sent up with the record. Under the circumstances, we think it is only fair that we should consider this exhibit along with the record on this rehearing.

However, we do not have the diagram referred to in our original opinion.

We do not now declare a departure fom our prior view. Our holding is supported by a long line of authorities. We here cite some' additional cases. Hale v. Tennessee Coal, Iron & Ry. Co., 183 Ala. 507, 62 So. 783; Godfrey v. Vinson, 215 Ala. 166, 110 So. 13; Downey v. Johnson, 31 Ala.App. 514, 19 So.2d 85; Jefferson v. Republic Iron & Steel Co., 208 Ala. 143, 93 So. 890; Schmidt v. Mobile Light & R. Co., 204 Ala. 694, 87 So. 181; Birmingham Ry., Light & Power Co. v. Canfield, 177 Ala. 422, 59 So. 217; Southern R. Co. v. E. L. Kendall & Co., 14 Ala.App. 242, 69 So. 328; Seaboard Air Line R. Co. v. Pemberton, 202 Ala. 55, 79 So. 393.

Our prior decision on the matters of instant concern was based on the fact that both the photograph and the diagram were omitted from the record. With the photograph now before us, we have given added study to the record with a view of determining whether or not we are compelled to apply the rule with only the omission of the diagram or drawing.

The doctrine we followed should be subject to some elasticity and variation if the purpose and reason for its applicability does not appear from the record. This was the effect of the holding in the case of Louisville & N. R. Co. v. Jenkins, 196 Ala. 136, 72 So. 68.

The diagram was first injected into the proceedings near the close of the introduction of the testimony. Apparently counsel for appellee made the drawing in the presence of the jury on a blackboard or some other surface. Only one witness was interrogated by the aid of the drawing. We set out these questions and answers in our original opinion. Independently of any reference to the diagram the witness gave a clear and understandable depiction of the locale according to his contention.

In this state of the record we will now review the questions of the propriety of the refusal of the general affirmative charge and the action of the court in denying the motion for a new trial.

*186In the matter of -the affirmative charge, we must accept as true the evidence favorable to the plaintiff and look to the strongest tendencies of the testimony in his behalf. Alabama Power Co. v. Buck, 250 Ala. 618, 35 So.2d 355; Godfrey v. Vinson, 215 Ala. 166, 110 So. 13.

The collision occurred in the daytime at the intersection of 9th Street and 26th Avenue in the City of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 9th Street is among the streets and avenues which had been previously declared “through highways” by an ordinance of the City. It appears, however, that no stop sign had been erected on 26th Avenue at its point of intersection with 9th Street. The latter street is also known as U. S. Highway No. 11 and was more heavily traveled than 26th Avenue.

Appellee was traveling east on 9th Street, and the appellant was proceeding south on 26th Avenue. As the two cars approached the intersection, there was a large moving van, with a high bed, parked against the curb on the north side of 9th Street and about 8 or 10 feet west of 26th Avenue.

According to the testimony of the plaintiff below, as he neared the intersection he was traveling at a rate of about 25 miles per hour and his car was about 4 feet south of the middle line of the street. The highway on which he was traveling is 60 feet wide and the intersecting avenue is 30 feet in width. Except for the parked van he did not see any other vehicle near the intersection. He proceeded in this course and at this speed into the center of the intersection, at which point his automobile was struck on its left side by the car driven by the appellant. He did not observe the latter vehicle until just an instant before the impact.

The appellant testified that as he (appellant) approached the intersection he slowed down almost to a complete stop and then proceeded into 9th Street at a slow rate of speed, in the meantime looking to his left and right for approaching traffic. When he had practically reached the center line of 9th Street he observed for the first time the rapid approach of appellee’s automobile. Appellant put on his brakes and brought his car to a stop. Appellee proceeded without change of speed, and just before the impact turned slightly to • his (appellee’s) right and then to his left and “sideswiped” the' front end of appellant’s car.

The photograph of appellee’s car dis; closes that it was ‘Struck on its left side nearer the back than the front. A rather severe blow is indicated.

Title 36, Sec. 18, Code 1940 provides in pertinent part that “when two vehicles approach or enter an intersection at approximately the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right of way to the vehicle .on the right”.

The application and purport of this statute were discussed by Chief Justice Gardner in Echols et al. v. Vinson, 220 Ala. 229, 124 So. 510.

The complaint is counted on simple negligence, but there is also included the doctrine of subsequent negligence. Osborn et al. v. Grizzard, 251 Ala. 275, 37 So.2d 201; Newsome v. Louisville & N. R. Co., 20 Ala.App. 349, 102 So. 61.

The evidence, taken in its various aspects and applied to the law of the case, clearly presented a jury question. McMillan v. Aiken, 205 Ala. 35, 88 So. 135; Morrison et al. v. Clark, 196 Ala. 670, 72 So. 305; Armour & Co. v. Alabama Power Co., 17 Ala.App. 280, 84 So. 628; Mobile Light & R. Co. v. R. O. Harris Grocery Co., 17 Ala.App. 659, 88 So. 55; Alabama Great Southern R. Co. v. Bolton, 242 Ala. 562, 7 So.2d 296; Birmingham Electric Co. v. Turner, 241 Ala. 66, 1 So.2d 299; Brown v. Bush, 220 Ala. 130, 124 So. 300.

We entertain the view also that the action of the lower court in overruling the motion for a new trial should not be disturbed. Cobb v. Malone, 92 Ala. 630, 9 So. 738; Harden, Inc., v. Harden, 29 Ala.App. 411, 197 So. 94; Francis v. Imperial Sanitary Laundry & Dry Cleaning Co., 241 Ala. 327, 2 So.2d 388; Montgomery City Lines v. Moore, 33 Ala.App. 388, 34 So.2d 177.

The application for rehearing is overruled.