Dearing v. City of Marceline

• Court: Missouri Court of Appeals
• Writing for the Court: Before ULRICH; ULRICH
• Citation: Dearing v. City of Marceline, 928 S.W.2d 9 (Mo. App. 1996)
• Decision Date: 27 August 1996
• Docket Number: No. WD,WD
• Parties: Howard L. DEARING and Marjorie M. Dearing, Appellants, v. CITY OF MARCELINE, Respondent. 51755.

Page 9

928 S.W.2d 9

Howard L. DEARING and Marjorie M. Dearing, Appellants, v. CITY OF MARCELINE, Respondent.

No. WD 51755.

Missouri Court of Appeals Western District.

Aug. 27, 1996.

Douglas S. Roberts, Chillicothe, for appellants.

Scott Othic, Marceline, Joseph W. Elliott, St. Joseph, for respondent.

Before ULRICH, C.J., and BRECKENRIDGE and SPINDEN, JJ.

ULRICH, Chief Judge.

Howard Dearing and Marjorie Dearing appeal the judgment of the trial court entered on a jury verdict in favor of the City of Marceline, Missouri, and the order overruling the Dearings' motion for a new trial on their claims for personal injuries arising out of an automobile accident. They assert that the trial court erred in (1) overruling their motion for a new trial and (2) submitting Instructions No. 9 and 12 and Verdict Form A on the issue of comparative fault. The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

On September 2, 1993, Chester Harrington, an employee of the City of Marceline, was driving a dump truck owned by the City west on Santa Fe Street in Marceline. At the same time, Howard Dearing was traveling north on Kansas Avenue. Both were approaching the intersection of the two streets. Travel through the intersection on Kansas Avenue was not regulated by any traffic control device. Traffic approaching the intersection on Santa Fe was controlled by a stop sign.

Approximately 75 to 100 feet from the intersection, the left rear brake line on the dump truck ruptured without warning, and the brakes failed. Mr. Harrington attempted to pull the emergency brake, but he was unable to stop the dump truck before it went through the stop sign and collided with the automobile driven by Mr. Dearing.

Subsequently, the Dearings filed a petition for damages against the City of Marceline and Mr. Harrington alleging that Mr. Harrington's negligence, acting as an agent of the City of Marceline, caused the accident and injury to them. Specifically, the Dearings allege that Mr. Harrington failed to yield the right-of-way; failed to stop at an intersection controlled by a stop sign; operated a dump truck with defective brakes; operated the truck without properly and adequately maintaining and inspecting the braking system; operated the truck at an excessive rate of speed; failed to keep a careful lookout; failed to operate the truck in a careful and prudent manner; and failed to stop, swerve, reduce speed or sound a warning to avoid the collision. In their answer, the City of Marceline and Mr. Harrington admitted that a collision occurred on September 2, 1993, involving a vehicle driven by Mr. Dearing and a dump truck operated by Mr. Harrington but denied all other allegations. Following trial, the jury returned a verdict assessing no fault to the City of Marceline, Mr. Harrington or Mr. Dearing. This appeal followed.

I. Motion for New Trial

As their first point on appeal, the Dearings claim that the trial court erred in overruling their motion for a new trial. They argue that the jury's verdict was against the weight of the evidence.

When a motion for a new trial has been overruled, an appellate court reviews to determine whether there was sufficient evidence to support the verdict. Miller v. Gillespie, 853 S.W.2d 342, 343-44 (Mo.App.1993). The evidence is viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict. Id. at 344. A jury verdict will not be overturned unless there is a complete absence of probative facts to support it. Id.

Missouri courts recognize that evidence of sudden brake failure may refute allegations of negligence regarding an automobile accident. Oldaker v. Peters, 817 S.W.2d 245, 251 (Mo. banc 1991); Miller, 853 S.W.2d at 344-45. In Miller v. Gillespie, 853 S.W.2d 342 (Mo.App.1993), the brakes on the defendant's dump truck failed suddenly while the truck was traveling down a hill towards an intersection. Id. at 343. The driver applied the emergency brake, but the truck collided with a van causing a chain reaction collision involving eleven vehicles, including the plaintiff's. Id.

The plaintiff in Miller filed a petition alleging that the driver was negligent for operating the truck at a high and excessive rate of speed and for failing to keep a proper lookout. Id. At trial, the driver of the truck testified that he inspected the brakes at the accident scene and observed that a seal had erupted, a line was leaking, and brake fluid was on and around the rear passenger wheel. Id. at 344. The jury returned a verdict for the defendant. Id. at 343.

On appeal, the plaintiff claimed that the defendant's evidence of sudden brake failure was insufficient as a matter of law to submit to the jury. Id. The Eastern District held that evidence of...