Hutchinson v. H.E. Shaw Co.

• Decision Date: 03 October 1930
• Citation: 172 N.E. 788,273 Mass. 51
• Parties: HUTCHINSON v. H. E. SHAW CO.
• Court: United States State Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts Supreme Court

273 Mass. 51

172 N.E. 788

HUTCHINSON

v.H. E. SHAW CO.

Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, Worcester.

Oct. 3, 1930.

Exceptions from Superior Court, Worcester County; Raoul H. Boudreau, Judge.

Action by George Hutchinson against H. E. Shaw Company. Verdict for plaintiff. On defendant's exceptions.

Exceptions overruled.

E. A. Ryan, of Worcester, for plaintiff.

C. C. Milton and S. B. Milton, both of Worcester, for defendant.

RUGG, C. J.

This is an action of tort by a pedestrian to recover compensation for injuries sustained by him by being struck by a motor truck of the defendant. There was testimony to the effect that the plaintiff, intending to cross from the east to the west side of a public way, looked in both directions before leaving the sidewalk and saw no automobiles approaching; that at that time none was parked on his side of the street; that he then walked to the middle of a trolley car track where he paused to permit an automobile coming from his right to pass in front of him; that while walking on the street and also while waiting for that automobile to pass, he looked again to his left but saw no vehicle approaching and while still waiting he was struck by the truck of the defendant which came from his left. There was testimony of a contrary nature which, if believed, showed that the plaintiff came suddenly out from behind an obstruction into the path of the oncoming truck without looking. Credence might have been given to the part of the testimony supporting the contention of the plaintiff. The plaintiff's testimony was not incompatible with conceded or incontrovertible facts. The question of his due care on all the evidence, including that most favorable to him, was for the jury. It could not rightly have been ruled that he was wanting in due care or was guilty of contributory negligence. The rights and duties of the plaintiff and of the defendant were reciprocal and must be so exercised by each as not to injure the other, and each might rely to some extent upon the due care of the other. The case at bar is governed by Hennessey v. Taylor, 189 Mass. 583, 76 N. E. 224,3 L. R. A. (N. S.) 345;Gauthier v. Quick, 250 Mass. 258, 145 N. E. 436;Newman v. Hill, 250 Mass. 578, 146 N. E. 46;Di Rienzo v. Goldfarb, 257 Mass. 272, 280, 153 N. E. 784;Hepburn v. Walters, 263 Mass. 139, 160 N. E. 783; and Barrett v. Checker Taxi Co., 263 Mass. 252, 254, 160 N. E. 792. It is distinguishable from cases like Swetzoff v. O'Brien, 226...