Bohner v. Stine
| Decision Date | 15 July 1983 |
| Citation | 316 Pa.Super. 426,463 A.2d 438 |
| Parties | Homer A. BOHNER and Frances W. Bohner, His Wife, Appellants, v. Jeffrey R. STINE. |
| Court | Pennsylvania Superior Court |
Argued Sept. 9, 1982. [Copyrighted Material Omitted]
Bruce D. Desfor, Harrisburg, for appellants.
David E. Lehman, Harrisburg, for appellee.
Before BROSKY, ROWLEY and MONTGOMERY, JJ.
Following an automobile collision which occurred on October 1, 1976 plaintiffs-appellants filed an action in trespass against defendant-appellee seeking recovery for personal injuries and other damages. A jury trial was held before the Honorable Harold A. Sheely, and a verdict was returned in favor of defendant-appellee. Appellants' timely filed motion for a new trial was denied, and an appeal to this court was taken. The appeal was quashed as the verdict had not been reduced to judgment. Bohner v. Stine, 292 Pa.Super. 31, 436 A.2d 705 (1981). Judgment was thereafter entered and the instant appeal was perfected. We reverse the judgment of the trial court and remand for a new trial.
Appellants assert that the trial court's charge to the jury was misleading and an inaccurate statement of the law. They argue that the jury was not properly advised that skidding on a wet roadway is not, in and of itself, justification for crossing the center line; and, that the trial court's instructions regarding the shifting of the burden of proof to defendant-appellee, who crossed the center line, was misleading.
That portion of the trial court's charge which is relevant to appellants' specific claims reads as follows:
"... these particular statutes [1] dictate the duty of care normally required of a person in the same situation as the defendant. Ordinarily the unexplained violation of these statutes or any one of them would constitute negligence as a matter of law. In this case however, the defendant has presented evidence in excuse or justification for being on the other side of the road. He has explained it by saying that under these circumstances what he did, his car skidded.
When a driver permits his car to deflect from its cause [sic] and to skid across the highway into another car, the jury may infer that he was negligent. Under the circumstances here presented, the law says that the defendant who offers such an excuse has the burden of proof that he was on the other side without any fault of his own.
Therefore, if you find that there was a violation of any of these three statutes, it would be evidence of negligence which you should consider along with all the other evidence presented on the question of whether the defendant was negligent."
In evaluating a claim of erroneous instructions to the jury, we must analyze the court's charge in its entirety. Morris v Moss, 290 Pa.Super. 587, 435 A.2d 184 (1981). A review of the above exerpt within the context of the entire charge evinces no error on the part of the trial court.
At the conclusion of the court's instructions to the jury, appellants requested that the court read several points for charge concerning issues of liability. Appellants asserted that the court had not adequately covered the shift of the burden of proof to appellee who was on the wrong side of the road at the time of the accident. The trial court refused the request on the ground that he had substantially covered the subject in his charge.
If a legally valid requested point for charge is sufficiently and adequately covered in the trial court's instructions to the jury, it is appropriate to deny the request. Perigo v. Deegan, 288 Pa.Super. 93, 431 A.2d 303 (1981); Buchecker v. Reading Company, 271 Pa.Super. 35, 412 A.2d 147 (1979).
Furthermore, this court in Kenworthy v. Burghart, 241 Pa.Super. 267, 282, 361 A.2d 335, 343 (1976), set forth the standard form of instructions to be given when evidence is presented in excuse or justification of a Motor Vehicle Code violation. The trial court herein followed the Kenworthy charge almost verbatim. He clearly, fairly and thoroughly covered the shifting of the burden of proof, the assured clear distance rule, [2] and weather and road conditions as they relate to the rule.
Appellants also claim that the trial court erred by not permitting trial counsel to explain the effect of the Pennsylvania No-Fault Motor Vehicle Insurance Act [3] (hereinafter "No-Fault Act") to the jury during opening and closing remarks. The court explained the propriety of the denial of the request by stating in response to the motion for a new trial that the jury never reached the issue of damages.
The legislature's findings and intended purposes are delineated in section 102 of the No-Fault Act. Pertinent portions of the section provide:
§ 1009.102 Findings and purposes
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly hereby finds and declares that:
* * *
(3) the maximum feasible restoration of all individuals injured and compensation of the economic losses of the survivors of all individuals killed in motor vehicle accidents on Commonwealth highways, in intrastate commerce, and in activity affecting intrastate commerce is essential to the humane and purposeful functioning of commerce;
(4) to avoid any undue burden on commerce during the intrastate transportation of individuals, it is necessary and proper to have a Statewide low-cost, comprehensive, and fair system of compensating and restoring motor vehicle accident victims and the survivors of deceased victims;
* * *
(b) Purposes.--Therefore, it is hereby declared to be the policy of the General Assembly to establish at reasonable cost to the purchaser of insurance, a Statewide system of prompt and adequate basic loss benefits for motor vehicle accident victims and the survivors of deceased victims. 40 Pa.S.A. § 1009.102 (Emphasis added).
The above statutory language clearly indicates that the legislature intended the Act's primary purpose to be one of compensation or, in other words, damages. Cf., Pennsylvania Assigned Claims Plan v. Insurance Commissioner of the Commonwealth, 54 Pa.Cmwlth. 93, 420 A.2d 25 (1980).
Appellants' suit was founded upon the tort liability remedy preserved by section 301 of the No-Fault Act. [4] They argue that despite the compensatory nature of the Act, the jury should not have been asked to determine an issue of fault without first hearing an explanation of a statute which declares that Pennsylvania is a "No-Fault" jurisdiction. The court's instructions, however, negate appellants' assertions.
The jury was instructed that liability or fault could attach to defendant-appellee if they found that his negligence was the proximate cause of husband-appellant's injuries. This and other instructions included in the charge evince that a reasonable person serving as a juror could not have inferred that the existence of the No-Fault Act dictated a finding of no liability. The trial court, therefore, properly denied appellants' request. The action of the court is reinforced by the intended purpose of the Act, as a discussion of the Act could have served to confuse the jurors instead of enlightening them.
Appellants' next assignment of error is that the trial court erred when it refused to permit further exploration of the jury panel's background during voir dire. Prior to trial, appellants moved for permission to ask seventeen questions of the panel on voir dire examination. The trial court granted the motion as to twelve of the proposed questions and denied it as to the remainder. Appellants argue that the denied questions were necessary to expose any contingent financial interests in the outcome of the case which are not readily ascertainable from more general inquiries.
The sole purpose of voir examinations is to secure a fair, competent and impartial jury. Bentiviglio v. Ralston, 447 Pa. 24, 288 A.2d 745 (1972). Using these guidelines, the trial court determines the scope and extent of the examinations. Lenkiewicz v. Lange, 242 Pa.Super. 87, 363 A.2d 1172 (1976). Its rulings will not be disturbed on appeal absent a clear abuse of discretion. Lenkiewicz v. Lange, supra. Our review of the following proposed questions reveals that the trial court's denial was not an abuse of discretion.
7. Whether any member of the jury or their immediate families are stockholders in any company which, in whole or in part, is engaged in the casualty or liability insurance business.
8. Whether any member of the jury or their immediate families are now or have been employed as a claims adjustor or otherwise by a company or concern which, in whole or in part, was engaged in the casualty or liability insurance business.
11. Whether any of the jurors have served on prior civil juries and if they have, whether they have ever heard of a case which they regard to be similar and further, whether they understand that each case is different and is to be decided on its own merits.
12. Whether, if appropriately satisfied under the evidence and the law, any member of the jury would, for any reason, hesitate to award a substantial verdict.
17. Have any of the prospective jurors read large advertisements in national news magazines advocating smaller damage awards or changes in our system of law which would limit a plaintiff's right to recover for personal injuries?
The preferred practice during voir dire examinations is to permit general inquiries regarding the direct or indirect interest of the jurors in the parties to, and the result of, the litigation. Price v. Yellow Cab Company of Philadelphia, 443 Pa 56, 278 A.2d 161 (1971). The trial court herein permitted appellants to make several general inquiries designed to elicit information from prospective jurors relevant to any fixed opinions about, or interests in, the matter they were about to hear. Appellants were also able to...
To continue reading
Request your trial