Dunlap v. Goldwin
| Citation | 425 N.E.2d 724 |
| Decision Date | 23 September 1981 |
| Docket Number | No. 2-181A12,2-181A12 |
| Parties | Richard DUNLAP, Betty Dunlap, Appellants (Plaintiffs Below), v. George GOLDWIN d/b/a Longacre Park, Appellee (Defendant Below). |
| Court | Indiana Appellate Court |
Patrick J. Bennett, Andrew P. Sheff, Bennett & Sheff, Indianapolis, for appellants.
Danford R. Due, Stewart, Irwin, Gilliom, Fuller & Meyer, Indianapolis, for appellee.
Plaintiffs-appellants Richard Dunlap (Richard) and Betty Dunlap appeal from an adverse verdict and judgment in their claim against George Goldwin d/b/a Longacre Park (Goldwin), claiming the trial court erred in instructing the jury.
We reverse.
The pertinent facts are that Richard dove from a twenty-foot platform into the pool at Longacre Park. After entering the water, he struck the bottom of the pool, injuring both knees.
In an action which the Dunlaps brought against Goldwin, evidence indicated that depth markings were inaccurate and that the pool was unsafe. Appealing from a jury verdict and judgment against him, Richard raises several issues for our consideration.
ISSUE Did the trial court err in instructing the jury? 1
PARTIES' CONTENTIONS The Dunlaps say the instruction is tantamount to a mere accident instruction, which is an incorrect statement of Goldwin's duty under Indiana law.
Goldwin's retort is that the instruction properly describes his duty of reasonable care under the circumstances.
CONCLUSION The trial court committed reversible error in giving a "mere accident" instruction.
Over proper objection, the following instruction was read by the court:
An owner of a swimming pool is not an insurer of the safety of the users thereof, nor is he required to maintain a pool which is accident-proof or to use every possible precaution to avoid the occurrence of injury. Rather, the defendant's duty under the circumstances was to use reasonable care in maintaining the pool so that it would be reasonably safe for its intended purpose. (Emphasis added).
In Miller v. Alvey, (1965) 246 Ind. 560, 207 N.E.2d 633, the supreme court was confronted with an instruction similar to the one the Dunlaps claim is faulty. In Miller the jury was instructed
that a pure accident is an accident which arises where one is pursuing a lawful occupation or pursuit in a lawful manner, and something occurs which ordinary skill or precaution could not foresee or prevent, and as a consequence thereof, an accident occurs. If the damages complained of in this case resulted from a pure accident, then the defendant is not liable for the damages caused thereby. (Emphasis added).
Concluding that the giving of this mere accident instruction was reversible error, the court explained
that the word "accident" does not necessarily preclude fault or negligence. The term is susceptible of different meanings and constructions and to tell a jury there is no liability in case of "unavoidable accident" or "pure accident" i. e., an unintentional, careless, or unknown occurrence, is misleading and confusing to say the least, and is not compatible with the principles of tort law imposing liability on persons who fail to exercise ordinary or reasonable care.
Id. at 565, 207 N.E.2d at 636.
Although reversible error has not been found if an instruction contains the word "accident" and essentially deals with the burden of proof, Perry v. Goss, (1970) 253 Ind. 603, 255 N.E.2d 923; Ernst v. Sparacino, (1978) Ind.App., 380 N.E.2d 1271; Anderson v. Baker, (1975) 166 Ind.App. 324, 335 N.E.2d 831; Adkins v. Elvard, (1973) 155 Ind.App. 672, 294 N.E.2d 160; Wilson Freight Co. v. Scheurich, (1968) 143 Ind.App. 53, 238 N.E.2d 25, or the issue of proximate causation, Chamberlain v. Deaconess Hospital, Inc., (1975) 163 Ind.App. 324, 324 N.E.2d 172; Jessop v. Werner Transportation Co., (1970) 147 Ind.App. 408, 261 N.E.2d 598, reversible error has been found if the instruction speaks to the issue of liability and in substance describes liability in terms of a mere accident. See Miller v. Alvey, ("pure...
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Pilkington v. Hendricks County Rural Elec. Membership Corp.
...plaintiffs." Pilkingtons argue that the above instruction is a "pure accident instruction" of the type disapproved in Dunlap v. Goldwin, (1981) Ind.App., 425 N.E.2d 724 and Miller v. Alvey, (1965) 246 Ind. 560, 207 N.E.2d 633. Plaintiff-appellants objected to the use of non-liability verbia......
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Dameron v. City of Scottsburg, Ind.
...equipment." Cases involving injuries at private swimming facilities also lend support to plaintiffs in this case. In Dunlap v. Goldwin, 425 N.E.2d 724, 725 (Ind.App.1981), the focus of the injured swimmer's appeal was a "pure accident" instruction, see Chaffee v. Clark Equipment Co., 496 N.......
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Chaffee v. Clark Equipment Co.
...dissent's perception that this language creates a "pure-accident" instruction. 1 It does not, and to the extent that Dunlap v. Goldwin (1981), Ind.App., 425 N.E.2d 724 supports the dissenting view, we believe Dunlap to be in Here, as the trial judge indicated to the parties, there was some ......
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Kostidis v. GENERAL CINEMA CORP., OF INDIANA
...causation. Indianapolis Athletic Club, Inc. v. Alco Standard Corp., 709 N.E.2d 1070, 1076 (Ind.Ct.App.1999) (citing Dunlap v. Goldwin, 425 N.E.2d 724, 726 (Ind.Ct.App.1981)), trans. denied. Reversible error should be found, however, where the instruction addresses the issue of liability, an......