Dallas Ry. & Terminal Co. v. Sullivan, 9190.

• Decision Date: 07 February 1940
• Docket Number: No. 9190.,9190.
• Parties: DALLAS RY. & TERMINAL CO. v. SULLIVAN.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Fifth Circuit

108 F.2d 581 (1940)

DALLAS RY. & TERMINAL CO. v. SULLIVAN.

No. 9190.

Circuit Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.

January 6, 1940.

Rehearing Denied February 7, 1940.

Allen Charlton, of Dallas, Tex., for appellant.

W. E. Johnson and W. L. Oliphant, both of Dallas, Tex., for appellee.

Before FOSTER, HUTCHESON, and McCORD, Circuit Judges.

HUTCHESON, Circuit Judge.

The suit was for damages for personal injury. The claim was that plaintiff, while riding a bicycle on a street in Dallas, was struck and seriously injured, as a result of the negligent operation of defendant's bus. The defense was, (1) a denial of each and every of the grounds of negligence charged, and that any of them was the proximate cause of the collision; (2) an affirmative plea that plaintiff was himself contributorily negligent; and (3) that plaintiff changed the course of his bicycle just before the collision, without giving notice of his intention to do so, and thus himself caused the injury.

There was a verdict for plaintiff for $35,000, a suggestion of the court that the verdict was excessive to the amount of $17,500, a remittitur entered by the plaintiff, of that amount, and a judgment for $17,500. Defendant, appealing from this judgment, presents eight assignments of error. One and two, are to the failure of the trial court to define "new and independent cause." Three, four and five, are to the failure to submit special issues. Six complains that the court did not, prior to the arguments to the jury, inform counsel of its proposed action upon the written requests for charges. Seven insists that the verdict manifested passion and prejudice and should rather have been set aside, than reduced. Eight assigns error on the argument.

Disposing of them in inverse order, we overrule as wholly without merit, assignment eight, complaining of the argument as to the bus driver's inexperience in driving, as improper. No error can be charged to the court in respect of it, for at defendant's request, and over appellee's objection¹ the court instructed the jury not to consider it. Cf. Maryland Casualty Co. v. Reid, 5 Cir., 76 F.2d 30. Likewise, with reference to the seventh assignment, it is not necessary for us to determine whether appellant is right in its contention, that the verdict for $35,000 was excessive, or appellee, that it was amply supported by the evidence. For, no claim is made, nor indeed, could any be, that the record does not amply support the verdict as reduced by remittitur.

Under these circumstances and in view of the fact appearing of record, that the case has been several times tried, we think it plain that in suggesting a remittitur and in entering judgment on it, there was no abuse, but rather a wise use of, judicial discretion, and that the seventh assignment must be overruled.

The sixth assignment, "The court erred in not indicating prior to the beginning of the argument which of the special charges would be given," proceeds we think, upon a misconception of the nature and operation of the rule and as to what the record shows. The rule is not designed to, it does not, make an affirmative showing, that the Judge did inform counsel, essential to the validity of a trial. It is designed to afford counsel an opportunity to know in advance of the argument, the guiding principles under which the argument should be made. It will be presumed in the absence of a showing to the contrary, that the rule was complied with, and that counsel did not begin his argument until sufficiently advised to enable him to properly conduct it. The record contains no contrary showing. All that there appears, is this. Mr. Charlton, for the defendant, submitted some special issues to the court, whereupon the jury was retired and a colloquy occurred between court and counsel, after which, there was an adjournment to the morning following. At that time, Mr. Ford, for defendant, asked, "Will your Honor give us an idea which one of the special charges your Honor will give?" And the court replied, "I gave you that time last night." No further request was made, no objection was raised, nothing was done to indicate that counsel was not fully satisfied. Certainly we cannot assume, in view of the plain language of Rule 51, Rules of Civil Procedure, for District Courts, 28 U.S.C.A. following section 723c, and this showing in the record, that defendant's counsel were not fully advised of the court's proposed action. Nor can we, in view of Rule 61, Rules of Civil Procedure and of Section 391, 28 U. S.C.A., assume on this record, that there was prejudicial error.

Appellant's assignments, three to five, on the failure of the trial court to submit special issues to the jury, must be overruled. The case having been submitted on a general charge, and not, under Rule 49, on special issues, defendant may not complain that the special issues it requested were not submitted. Especially may it not do so, since it clearly appears that defendant knew, that the case was to be submitted on a general charge, and filed and had given several written requests for instructions, in connection with such a submission.

There remains for consideration, only the first two assignments upon the failure of the court to define "new and independent cause." In view of the earnestness and vigor of appellant's counsel, in pressing these assignments, we have carefully and painstakingly read all of the Texas Cases he cites, and many of the cases those cases cite, to determine, if we can, the rule in the Texas Courts,...