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Vest v. Bitner

Court of Appeals of Tennessee. Eastern Section
Jan 13, 1951
241 S.W.2d 438 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1951)

Opinion

August 28, 1950. Petition for Certiorari denied by Supreme Court, January 13, 1951.

1. Appeal and error.

Where there are disputed issues of fact, Court of Appeals will not assume duty of determining liability or non-liability in actions of tort, but will leave such duty with jury as triers of facts.

2. Appeal and error.

Court of Appeals will not disturb a jury verdict if supported by any material evidence.

3. Appeal and error.

In determining whether there is material evidence to support jury verdict so that verdict will not be disturbed by Court of Appeals, Court of Appeals must take strongest legitimate view of all evidence to uphold verdict, and must assume truth of all that tends to support verdict and must discard all to the contrary, and must allow all reasonable inferences to sustain verdict.

4. Automobiles.

In action for damages resulting when defendant was making a left turn from highway into driveway of defendant's home and truck, which had been traveling behind defendant's automobile and in same direction, collided with defendant's automobile, negligence of defendant in failing to put out his hand or signal his intention to turn into driveway was for jury under evidence.

5. Automobiles.

In action for damages resulting when defendant was making a left turn from highway into driveway of defendant's home and truck, which had been traveling behind defendant's automobile and in same direction, collided with defendant's automobile, contributory negligence of truck driver in failing to sound horn on truck before attempting to pass defendant's automobile was for jury under evidence.

6. Appeal and error.

In action for damages resulting when defendant was making a left turn from highway into driveway of defendant's home and truck, which had been traveling behind defendant's automobile and in same direction, collided with defendant's automobile, permitting witness to testify as to location of skid marks on highway observed by witness on morning following collision was not ground for reversal of judgment for defendant where exception to testimony was sustained, and testimony was cumulative, and it was not shown that alleged error in permitting such testimony affected results of trial (Code, Sec. 10654).

7. Appeal and error.

Under code no verdict or judgment should be set aside or new trial granted by Court of Appeals because of improper admission or rejection of evidence unless it affirmatively appears that error complained of affected results of trial (Code, Sec. 10654).

8. New trial.

A new trial will not be granted because of newly discovered evidence which is merely cumulative.

9. New trial.

"Cumulative evidence" as respects new trial is evidence which speaks to facts in relation to which there was evidence on trial.

10. New trial.

Newly discovered evidence merely to contradict a witness is not sufficient to warrant a new trial.

11. New trial.

Trial court did not abuse discretion in granting new trial to unsuccessful plaintiffs in action for damages to truck which resulted when defendant was making a left turn from highway into driveway of defendant's home and truck, which had been traveling behind defendant's automobile and in same direction collided with defendant's automobile, which new trial was sought on ground of newly discovered evidence in that witness for the defendant had stated that he swore falsely at trial, where witness by counter affidavit denied making such statement, and some testimony of witness was cumulative, and other matters complained of were collateral and affected only credibility of witness.

12. Appeal and error.

Assignment of error that trial court erred in certain portions of charge to jury in action for damages resulting from collision between defendant's automobile and truck, could not be considered by Court of Appeals where matters complained of were never made a basis for a motion for new trial (Rules of Court of Appeals, rule 11(5)).

13. Appeal and error.

The Court of Appeal will not consider an assignment of error, the grounds of which have not been specifically set out in motion for a new trial (Rules of Court of Appeals, rule 11(5)).

FROM GREENE.

Bernice Vest brought an action against Tom Bitner for damages to plaintiff's truck which resulted when defendant was making a left turn from highway into driveway of defendant's home and plaintiff's truck, which had been traveling behind defendant's automobile and in same direction, collided with defendant's automobile, and Bee Normal Vest, driver of the truck, brought an action against the same defendant for injuries, and defendant filed a cross action against Bee Normal Vest for damages to defendant's automobile. The Greene County Law Court, Greene County, Shelburne Ferguson, J., overruled plaintiffs' motions for a new trial which were made after jury returned verdicts in favor of Bitner, which were approved by trial judge, and Bee Vest appealed. The Court of Appeals, Howard, J., held, inter alia, that negligence of defendant and contributory negligence of plaintiff Bee Normal Vest were for jury under evidence.

Judgments affirmed.

Leon Easterly, of Greeneville, for plaintiffs in error.

James N. Hardin, Greeneville, for defendant in error.


These cross-actions grew out of an automobile accident which occurred on the Andrew Johnson Highway near the town of Chucky, eight miles east of Greeneville, Tennessee. Involved in the accident was an automobile owned and driven by Tom Bitner, and a small truck owned by Bernice Vest and driven by her husband, Bee Normal Vest. Both vehicles were traveling in an eastwardly direction at from 30 to 35 miles per hour, the truck following the automobile. The collision occurred while Bitner was making a left (north) turn into the driveway of his home, which was only a few feet from the highway. The truck struck the Bitner car near the left rear wheel, causing the alleged damages and injuries. Bernice Vest sued Bitner for damages to her truck, and Bee Normal Vest sued Bitner for damages for personal injuries. In a cross-action Bitner sued Vest for damages to his car. In both cases the jury returned verdicts in favor of Bitner, which were approved by the trial judge. Motions for new trials were duly made and overruled, and the Vests were granted and have perfected this appeal.

The pavement of the highway where the collision occurred was 18 feet wide and had a black line in the center which separated the lanes of traffic. The Bitner driveway was located on a curve of the highway which, approaching from either direction, had yellow lines painted on the right side of the center line. The ends of these yellow lines did not meet, but terminated 5 or 10 feet from the driveway. The yellow lines were painted by the State Highway Department and were a warning to motorists not to attempt to pass other cars at these particular points. The accident occurred about 9:30 p.m.

It is insisted on behalf of the plaintiffs-in-error that the verdicts are contrary to the evidence and are not supported by any material evidence. Where there are disputed issues of fact, this court will not assume the duty of determining liability or nonliability in actions of tort, but will leave such duty with the jury as triers of facts. Jackson v. B. Lowenstein Bros., 175 Tenn. 535, 136 S.W.2d 495. Nor will this court disturb a jury verdict if there is any material evidence to support it. In determining whether or not there is such evidence "it must be governed by the rule, safeguarding the constitutional right of trial by jury, which requires us to take the strongest legitimate view of all the evidence to uphold the verdict, to assume the truth of all that tends to support it, to discard all to the contrary, and to allow all reasonable inferences to sustain the verdict." D.M. Rose Co. v. Snyder, 185 Tenn. 499, 206 S.W.2d 897, 901. Applying the foregoing rule, we think that this assignment is without merit.

According to the undisputed proof, the Vest truck followed the Bitner car for a considerable distance before the collision occurred. Bitner stated that when he first saw the lights of the truck it was approximately a quarter of a mile away, and that more than 100 steps before reaching his driveway he put his left hand out of the car window indicating that he intended to turn; that he kept his hand in this position until he was ready to turn, at which time he shifted into second gear; that the Vest truck struck his car and knocked it more than 90 feet east of the driveway, and that after his car stopped the left window was down; that immediately after the accident Vest came to him and said: "Mr. Bitner, did you give any signal," and I said, "Sure, I did," and he said, "If you did I didn't see it," and I said "I did."

Bitner introduced several witnesses who arrived on the scene immediately after the accident. Two of these witnesses were peace officers who made an investigation of the accident. All of these witnesses testified that they saw skid marks on the left side of the highway near Bitner's driveway, and that these skid marks extended from the yellow line to where the collision occurred. These witnesses also testified that they heard the foregoing conversation between Bitner and Vest, and that the left window of the Bitner car was down. Bitner further testified that the driver of the truck never sounded his horn, and that he had never seen a car pass another on the curve in front of his house.

Besides testifying themselves, the Vests called three witnesses who were riding in the truck with them at the time of the accident. The Vests and their witnesses testified in substance that they saw the Bitner car traveling ahead of them, and that Vest, the driver of the truck, sounded the horn before attempting to pass the Bitner car; that Bitner did not put out his hand or signal his intention to turn to the left on the highway. Two of these witnesses stated that they went to the Bitner car immediately after the accident; that they found Bitner sitting in his car, and that the glass in the left door was up. Vest stated that there was no yellow line on the highway where he started to pass the Bitner car, and that the line was painted on the road within a few days following the accident.

Under the proof, there being disputed issues of fact, a jury question was presented, and the jury having adopted Bitner's theory as to how the accident occurred, we find there was ample evidence to support the verdicts. In the following cases this court has heretofore held that issues of negligence and contributory negligence are questions for the jury. Tubb v. Boyd, 13 Tenn. App. 432; Duling v. Burnett, 22 Tenn. App. 522, 124 S.W.2d 294; Patillo v. Gambill, 22 Tenn. App. 485, 124 S.W.2d 272; McBroom v. S.E. Greyhound Lines, Tenn. App., 193 S.W.2d 92; Campbell v. Campbell, Tenn. App., 199 S.W.2d 931. Likewise, questions of ordinary care and proximate cause. Southeastern Greyhound Lines v. Groves, 175 Tenn. 584, 136 S.W.2d 512, 127 A.L.R. 1378; Campbell v. Campbell, Tenn. App., 199 S.W.2d 931; Fields v. Gordon, Tenn. App., 203 S.W.2d 934.

Insistence is made that the court erred in admitting certain evidence with reference to the location of the yellow lines on the highway; that said lines were repainted shortly after the accident, and that the evidence was too remote and should not have been permitted to go to the jury. This assignment is also without merit. Five witnesses stated that the location of the lines had not been altered, and that except for re-painting they were the same as on the date of the accident. There was no proof to the contrary.

It is further insisted that the court erred in permitting Dearl Bitner, son of Tom Bitner, to testify with reference to the location of skid marks on the highway observed by him the following morning. The record discloses that the exception to this testimony was sustained. Besides the testimony of this witness was cumulative and harmless since others who were there the night before had previously testified regarding the location of the skid marks. Moreover, under Code Section 10654, no verdict or judgment shall be set aside or new trial granted by this court on account of the improper admission or rejection of evidence unless it shall affirmatively appear that the error complained of affected the results of the trial. Prejudicial error must affirmatively appear and the burden is upon the complaining party to make the error apparent and manifest, which has not been done.

Insistence is also made that the trial court erred in refusing plaintiffs-in-error a new trial based on newly discovered evidence. According to affidavits signed by Bee Normal Vest and his two brothers, Dee Vest and Claude Vest, as well as by Everett Crisp and Jess W. Gentry, one of Bitner's witnesses, Carl Lawing, told them that he had sworn falsely at the trial with reference to the skid marks on the highway and an empty whiskey bottle alleged to have been found in the Vest truck, and that he was induced to do so by Tom Bitner. It appears that the information in one of these affidavits was based upon statements alleged to have been made by Lawing in the presence of Bee Normal Vest, Crisp and Gentry the night following the trial, at about 9:30 p.m., when they went to the Lawing home at Chucky. In a counter-affidavit Lawing denied that he had made the alleged statements, and said "that he had not told anyone that he swore falsely, or that . . . Tom Bitner induced him to do so, and if he should testify again in said case his testimony would be the same as that before given by him."

There was no evidence that Vest, the driver of the truck, had either been drinking or was under the influence of an intoxicant. There was positive proof, however, that Jess W. Gentry was intoxicated and that he had passed out, and that a wet place on the floorboard of the truck smelled strongly of whiskey. With reference to the skid marks, Lawing's testimony was cumulative, several other witnesses having testified to their location on the highway, and the other matters complained of were collateral and affected only the credibility of Gentry as a witness. Under our decisions, a new trial will not be granted because of newly discovered evidence which is merely cumulative. Noel v. McCrory, 47 Tenn. 623; Tabler v. Connor, 60 Tenn. 195; Mercer v. Ewing, 6 Higgins Tenn. Civ. App. 384. Cumulative evidence is evidence which speaks to facts in relation to which there was evidence on the trial. McGavock v. Brown, 23 Tenn. 251. Moreover, newly discovered evidence merely to contradict a witness is not sufficient to warrant a new trial. Shelton v. Southern Ry. Co., D.C., 255 F. 182; McAlister's Lessee v. Williams, 1 Tenn. 119; Gentry v. State, 184 Tenn. 299, 198 S.W.2d 643, 648. In Gentry v. State, supra, our Supreme Court adopted the rule stated in 39 Am. Jur. as follows: "It is well settled that a new trial will not be granted upon the ground of newly discovered evidence where it appears that such new evidence can have no other effect than to discredit the testimony of a witness at the original trial, contradict a witness's statements, or impeach a witness, unless the testimony of the witness who is sought to be impeached was so important to the issue, and the evidence impeaching the witness so strong and convincing, that a different result must necessarily follow. Newly discovered evidence, to be a ground for new trial, must go to the merits of the case, and not merely impeach the character of a former witness. In a criminal prosecution, an application for a new trial will be denied where it appears that the only tendency of the newly discovered evidence is to impeach or discredit the prosecuting witness or other witness for the state, or to contradict dying declarations." Sec. 167, p. 173.

Besides, the granting or refusing of a new trial on grounds of newly discovered evidence of a contradictory and impeaching character was within the sound discretion of the trial court, and under the circumstances we have found no abuse of discretion. Chambers v. Anderson, 6 Cir., 58 F.2d 151; Old Dominion Stages v. Cates, 6 Cir., 65 F.2d 258; Zirkle v. Stegall, 163 Tenn. 323, 43 S.W.2d 192; Darnell v. McNichols, 22 Tenn. App. 287, 122 S.W.2d 808.

By their last assignment, plaintiffs-in-error insist that the trial court erred in certain portions of the charge to the jury. We are unable to consider this assignment because the matters complained of were never made a basis for a motion for a new trial. The rule is well established that this court will not consider any assignment of error, the grounds of which have not been specifically set out in the motion for a new trial. Rule 11, subsec. 5, Rules of Court of Appeals; Tenn. Procedure in Law Cases, Section 1592; Curtis v. Kyte, 21 Tenn. App. 115, 106 S.W.2d 234; Southern Ry. Co. v. Hooper, 16 Tenn. App. 112, 65 S.W.2d 847; Hargraves v. Hamilton Nat. Bank, 27 Tenn. App. 655; 184 S.W.2d 397.

Finding no reversible error, the judgment below will be affirmed and plaintiffs-in-error will be taxed with the costs.


Summaries of

Vest v. Bitner

Court of Appeals of Tennessee. Eastern Section
Jan 13, 1951
241 S.W.2d 438 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1951)
Case details for

Vest v. Bitner

Case Details

Full title:VEST et al. v. BITNER. BITNER v. Vest et al

Court:Court of Appeals of Tennessee. Eastern Section

Date published: Jan 13, 1951

Citations

241 S.W.2d 438 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1951)
241 S.W.2d 438

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