Opinion
September 29, 1964.
November 10, 1964.
Negligence — Legal cause — Evidence — Insufficiency — Burden of proof.
In an action of trespass to recover damages resulting from alleged negligence the plaintiff must prove by a fair preponderance of the evidence that the defendant was negligent and that his negligence was the proximate cause of the injuries.
Before BELL, C. J., MUSMANNO, JONES, COHEN, EAGEN, O'BRIEN and ROBERTS, JJ.
Appeal, No. 85, March T., 1964, from judgment of Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, April T., 1959, No. 1530, in case of Harry J. Nock v. John H. Nock. Judgment affirmed.
Trespass for personal injuries. Before SMITH, JR., J.
Verdict for plaintiff in amount of $6500 and against defendant, defendant's motion for judgment non obstante veredicto granted and judgment entered. Plaintiff appealed.
Joseph B. Bagley, with him Harvey E. Schauffler and Robert N. Peirce, Jr., for appellant.
Wallace E. Edgecombe, with him Royston, Robb, Leonard, Edgecombe and Miller, for appellee.
In this action of trespass, a jury verdict for appellant was returned. Appellee's motion for judgment n.o.v. was granted, thereby giving rise to this appeal.
Reviewing the evidence and all reasonable inferences therefrom in the light most favorable to the verdict winning appellant, Lewis v. U.S. Rubber Co., 414 Pa. 626, 202 A.2d 20 (1964); Robbins v. Kaufman, 415 Pa. 192, 202 A.2d 826 (1964), we conclude that judgment n.o.v. was properly entered.
A plaintiff in an action of trespass must prove by a fair preponderance of the evidence that the defendant was negligent and that his negligence was the proximate cause of the accident. Gift v. Palmer, 392 Pa. 628, 141 A.2d 408 (1958), and cases cited therein. In the case at bar, even assuming that appellee was proved negligent, there is nothing in this record which would justify the conclusion that that negligence was the proximate cause of the accident. A jury may not be permitted to fasten liability on a litigant on the basis of guess or conjecture. Robbins v. Kaufman, supra.
Judgment affirmed.