STIKL v. WILLIAMS, 261 Wis. 426 (1952)

53 N.W.2d 440

Supreme Court of Wisconsin.April 7, 1952 —
May 6, 1952.

Page 427

APPEALS from an order and judgment of the circuit court for Milwaukee county: WM. F. SHAUGHNESSY, Circuit Judge. Order reversed; judgment affirmed.

Action by Ruby Stikl, plaintiff, against Richard Gene Williams and Henry Stikl and their respective insurance carriers, defendants, to recover damages for personal injuries sustained in an automobile accident. There was a cross complaint by the defendant Henry Stikl against the defendant Williams and his insurance carrier to recover damages for personal injuries and property damage resulting from the accident. There was a jury trial of the issues and the jury, by its special verdict, found neither defendant negligent. Following motions after verdict an order for judgment was entered on January 16, 1951, dismissing the plaintiff’s complaint and the cross complaint of the defendant Henry Stikl as to the defendants Richard Gene Williams and his insurance carrier, and ordering a new trial as between the plaintiff, Ruby Stikl, and the defendants Henry Stikl and Northwestern National Casualty Company. Judgment was entered on January 30, 1951, dismissing the plaintiff’s complaint and the defendant Stikl’s cross complaint as to the defendants Richard Gene Williams and Hartford Accident Indemnity Company. Plaintiff appeals from that part of the judgment dismissing her complaint as to the defendant Williams and his insurer, and from the order so far as it grants a new trial against her husband and his insurer only. The defendant Stikl appeals from the order granting a new trial to the plaintiff against him, and from the order and

Page 428

judgment dismissing his cross complaint. The defendant Northwestern National Casualty Company appeals from the order granting a new trial against it and the defendant Stikl. The facts will be stated in the opinion.

N. Paley Phillips and Irving D. Gaines, attorneys, an Howard A. Hartman of counsel, all of Milwaukee, for the plaintiff.

For the defendants Richard Gene Williams and Hartford Accident Indemnity Company there was a brief by Shaw, Muskat Paulsen, attorneys, and F.H. Prosser of counsel, all of Milwaukee, and oral argument by Mr. Prosser.

For the defendants Henry Stikl and Northwestern National Casualty Company there was a brief by Quarles, Spence Quarles, attorneys, and Arthur Wickham an Richard S. Gibbs of counsel, all of Milwaukee, and oral argument by Mr. Gibbs.

On the cross-appeal of the defendant Henry Stikl the cause was submitted on the brief of A. W. Richter of Milwaukee.

BROADFOOT, J.

The plaintiff Ruby Stikl and the defendant Henry Stikl are husband and wife. They left their home in Milwaukee on the afternoon of April 18, 1947, in an automobile owned and driven by Henry Stikl. At about 4:30 in the afternoon of said day they were driving north on Highway 51, a short distance north of the village of Endeavor. In attempting to pass a car driven by the defendant Williams, which was going in the same direction, the left wheels of the Stikl car went off the pavement onto the shoulder of the highway. The shoulder had been recently graded and it was muddy and covered with snow and slush. After passing the Williams car, Stikl turned back upon the pavement but in some manner lost control of the car, which crossed the pavement and went into the ditch on the east side of the highway. The car overturned and was badly damaged, and both Mr. and Mrs. Stikl suffered personal injuries.

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There was a dispute as to the facts. The plaintiff and her husband testified that both cars were proceeding at a moderate rate of speed; that Henry Stikl sounded his horn as he started to pass the Williams car but that Williams turned his automobile to his left to such an extent that Stikl was forced to leave the paved portion of the highway. Williams had a passenger in his car named Virginia Fish. They were married between the time of the accident and the time of the trial. They testified that the Williams car at all times was on his side of the highway, and Williams further testified that Stikl was driving at an excessive rate of speed at the time he passed. There was no evidence that the cars collided or touched in any manner.

In its memorandum decision the trial court stated:

“It should be noted that in the opinion of the court the plaintiff at no time during the. trial of the case, nor in the arguments made to the jury, assumed the burden of proof to establish negligence on the part of the defendant Henry Stikl. I am of the opinion that the plaintiff deliberately attempted to absolve the defendant Stikl of any responsibility for the accident which occurred. The trial court in this situation was placed in the compromising position of having to instruct the jury that the burden of proof to establish, by a preponderance of the evidence and to a reasonable certainty, any negligence on the part of the defendant Henry Stikl in respect to management and control of his automobile was upon the plaintiff and the defendant Richard Gene Williams.

“Furthermore, the plaintiff had the advantage, by naming Henry Stikl and his insurance carrier defendants, of, under the statute, calling Henry Stikl adversely as her first witness and then proceeding through the rest of the trial, to virtually abandon the responsibility of burden of proof upon the subject of that defendant’s alleged negligence.

“In addition, counsel for the defendant Stikl, during the argument on his behalf, announced to the jury that the court would undoubtedly instruct the jury upon sudden emergency, and so vehemently and thoroughly discussed that subject that the court, under the circumstances, felt that the definition

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of sudden emergency and unavoidable accident, applicable to both of the defendants and the plaintiff, should be given. Under the circumstances outlined, the court rejects the suggestion that the verdict returned by the jury is perverse. It becomes understandable when counsel, because of what they conceive to be trial `strategy,’ failed to fairly present the evidence or to assume the responsibility of carrying forward the proofs consistently with the issues framed by the pleadings filed.”

For the reasons there stated the trial court granted a new trial to the plaintiff against her husband and his insurer in the interest of justice.

Mr. and Mrs. Stikl had the burden of proof as to their claims of negligence on the part of the defendant Williams. They failed to meet this burden of proof, and there was ample credible evidence in the record to sustain the finding of the jury that Williams was not negligent in his conduct and in his operation of his automobile at and immediately prior to the time of the accident.

The plaintiff also had the burden of proof as to the negligence of her husband if she wished to recover from him. Although it was the opinion of the trial court that she “failed to fairly present the evidence or to assume the responsibility of carrying forward the proofs consistently with the issues framed by the pleadings,” the defendant Williams, by way defense, consistently maintained that Henry Stikl was negligent in the operation of his automobile and that his negligence was the sole cause of the accident. It is apparent that the jury had before it all of the testimony which could be adduced. All of the issues were litigated. There was testimony that there was slush and snow upon the highway, that it was wet, and that it was slippery.

Although neither party pleaded unavoidable accident, there may undoubtedly be accidents of that character in which neither party is liable in damages. The mere fact that Stikl drove upon the shoulder of the highway does not constitute negligence on his part as a matter of law. Stikl had no knowledge

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of the recent grading of the shoulder or its soft and muddy condition, and this situation was concealed from him by the snow and slush that covered the shoulder. There is evidence that supports the finding of the jury. The claimants failed to meet the burden of proof and to establish actionable negligence. Judgment should have been entered upon the verdict.

By the Court. — Order reversed and cause remanded with directions to enter judgment dismissing plaintiff’s complaint. The judgment appealed from is affirmed.