McCormack v. Griffith, 3834.

• Decision Date: 27 March 1930
• Docket Number: No. 3834.,3834.
• Citation: McCormack v. Griffith, 27 S.W.2d 549 (Tex. App. 1930)
• Parties: McCORMACK v. GRIFFITH.
• Court: Texas Court of Appeals

Page 549

27 S.W.2d 549

McCORMACK v. GRIFFITH.

No. 3834.

Court of Civil Appeals of Texas. Texarkana.

March 27, 1930.

Rehearing Denied April 10, 1930.

Appeal from Collin County Court; E. W. Merritt, Judge.

Action by L. H. Griffith against J. A. McCormack. Judgment for plaintiff, and defendant appeals.

Reversed and remanded.

L. J. Truett, of McKinney, for appellant.

Wallace Hughston, of McKinney, for appellee.

LEVY, J.

The suit was by the appellee to recover damages for the death of a mule and injury to a wagon caused by an automobile owned by appellant and negligently driven on the highway by the appellant's minor son. On Saturday night, about 11 o'clock, June 18, 1927, the appellee and his wife and two children were riding in a wagon drawn by two mules, going in a westerly direction on a highway which leads from Blue Ridge to Melissa. As they passed over a one-way bridge across Pilot creek an automobile going in a westerly direction ran into the wagon, causing injury to it and the death of one of the mules. The automobile was driven by appellant's son, aged nineteen years, who was accompanied by a boy companion. The automobile was owned by appellant.

The appellee pleaded as grounds of liability of appellant that: (1) The automobile was driven by the son with the permission of the father; (2) the automobile was maintained by the father for the general use and convenience of the family, and the son as a member of the family had general authority to drive it; and (3) the father permitted the son to drive the automobile, knowing that the son was a careless and reckless driver. The appellant answered by a general denial.

The case was submitted to the jury upon the following special issues:

"1. Did defendant's son, Jack McCormack, on the occasion in question negligently and carelessly drive said automobile against plaintiff's wagon and thereby damage the plaintiff's wagon and mule?" Jury answer: "Yes."

"6. Was defendant's son, Jack McCormack, at the time of said collision engaged in any work or labor for defendant, or in the transaction of any business for defendant?" Jury answer: "Yes."

"7. Did Jack McCormack on the occasion of the collision use said automobile with the knowledge and consent of the defendant?" Jury answer: "Yes."

"8. At the time of the collision in question was defendant's son, Jack McCormack, living with defendant as a member of his family?" Jury answer: "Yes."

"9. At the time of the collision was defendant's son, Jack McCormack, using the car of defendant with the express or implied permission of defendant for the purpose for which the car was owned?" Jury answer: "Yes."

By the other issues submitted the jury found the damages sustained on account of injury to the wagon and death of the mule, which was in the amount of $120. The evidence warrants the verdict of the jury as to negligence of the son, Jack McCormack, and as to the amount of damages sustained by the appellee.

The appellant does not question the finding as to the negligence of Jack McCormack, but he challenges findings Nos. 6, 7, and 9, and claims that there is no legal support for the judgment against him. It is believed that the evidence, when construed most favorably for the appellee, does not warrant an inference that upon the occasion in question the son was driving the automobile in performance of either the work or the business of the father, as found in issue No. 6; or with the knowledge and consent, or with the permission or general authority of the father, as found in issues Nos. 7 and 9. The positive testimony to the contrary of the findings should therefore be held to prevail. Accordingly the judgment should be reversed and the cause...