Collas v. Regan

Decision Date04 June 1954
Docket NumberNo. 754,754
Citation240 N.C. 472,82 S.E.2d 215
PartiesCOLLAS, v. REGAN.
CourtNorth Carolina Supreme Court

John T. Manning, Chapel Hill, for plaintiff.

Bonner D. Sawyer, Hillsboro, for defendant.

ERVIN, Justice.

Counsel for the plaintiff concedes with his customary candor that his client's pleadings do not invoke the last clear chance or discovered peril doctrine, and that in consequence his client is not entitled to prevail on this appeal unless we overrule the decisions holding that the last clear chance or discovered peril doctrine must be pleaded by a plaintiff in order to be available as a basis for recovery. Bailey v. North Carolina R. Co., 223 N.C. 244, 25 S.E.2d 883; Hudson v. Norfolk Southern R. Co., 190 N.C. 116, 129 S.E. 146. This we cannot do. These decisions are simply practical applications of the basic rule that a plaintiff can recover only on the case made by his pleadings. The plaintiff's legal plight would be no better, however, had his pleadings invoked the doctrine under discussion. This is true because there is no evidence indicating that the infant defendant might have averted the injury by using proper care after his discovery of the plaintiff's peril. Wade v. Jones Sausage Co., 239 N.C. 524, 80 S.E.2d 150.

No error.

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8 cases
  • Vernon v. Crist
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • January 31, 1977
    ...(1966); Phillips v. R.R., 257 N.C. 239, 125 S.E.2d 603 (1962); Gunter v. Winders, 256 N.C. 263, 123 S.E.2d 475 (1962); Collas v. Regan, 240 N.C. 472, 82 S.E.2d 215 (1954); Wagoner v. R.R., 238 N.C. 162, 77 S.E.2d 701 (1953); Bailey v. R.R. and King v. R.R., 223 N.C. 244, 25 S.E.2d 833 (1943......
  • Andrews v. Bruton
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • April 13, 1955
    ...Barnes v. Caulbourne, 240 N.C. 721, 83 S.E.2d 898. There can be no recovery except on the case made by his pleadings. Collas v. Regan, 240 N.C. 472, 82 S.E.2d 215. Proof without allegation is no better than allegation without proof. Messick v. Turnage, 240 N.C. 625, 83 S.E.2d 654. When ther......
  • Exum v. Boyles, 283
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • February 2, 1968
    ...true that no invoke the doctrine of the last clear chance the plaintiff must plead it and the burden of proof is upon him. Collas v. Regan, 240 N.C. 472, 82 S.E.2d 215; Wagoner v. North Carolina R. Co., 238 N.C. 162, 77 S.E.2d 701; Bailey v. North Carolina R. Co. and King v. North Carolina ......
  • Kline v. McCorkle
    • United States
    • U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Virginia
    • August 31, 1971
    ...advantage of the last clear chance doctrine because he did not plead and prove it as the North Carolina law requires. Collas v. Regan, 240 N.C. 472, 82 S.E.2d 215 (1954); Exum v. Boyles, 272 N.C. 567, 158 S.E.2d 845 (1968). Kline did not plead the last clear chance doctrine in his federal c......
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