National Freight, Inc. v. Southeastern Pa. Transp. Auth.

• Decision Date: 30 September 1988
• Docket Number: Civ. A. No. 87-3334.
• Citation: 698 F. Supp. 74
• Parties: NATIONAL FREIGHT, INC. and Landis Leasing, Inc. v. SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY.
• Court: U.S. District Court — Eastern District of Pennsylvania

698 F. Supp. 74

NATIONAL FREIGHT, INC. and Landis Leasing, Inc. v. SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY.

Civ. A. No. 87-3334.

United States District Court, E.D. Pennsylvania.

September 30, 1988.

William R. Hourican, Manta and Welge, Philadelphia, Pa., for plaintiff.

Felix P. Gonzalez, Philadelphia, Pa., for defendant.

MEMORANDUM

RAYMOND J. BRODERICK, District Judge.

Plaintiffs National Freight, Inc. and Landis Leasing, Inc. (hereinafter collectively "National Freight") commenced this action against defendant Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority ("SEPTA"), alleging that SEPTA's negligence caused a collision between National Freight's tractor-trailer and SEPTA's commuter train on April 3, 1986, at the River Road Crossing near the Miquon Rail Station, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. SEPTA filed a counterclaim alleging that the negligence of Mr. Alfred Smith, the driver of National Freight's tractor-trailer, was the cause of the collision. Following a three day trial at which the parties stipulated to damages, the jury returned a verdict finding National Freight 90% at fault for the collision and SEPTA 10% at fault.

National Freight has filed a motion for a new trial on the following two grounds: (1) that the Court erred in precluding the introduction of evidence of previous accidents involving SEPTA commuter trains at the River Road Crossing; and (2) that the Court erred in its jury instructions as to the respective standards of care owed by National Freight and SEPTA. In addition, National Freight has filed a motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. For the reasons stated below, this Court will deny National Freight's motions.

1. Judgment Notwithstanding the Verdict

It is well established that judgment notwithstanding the verdict may be granted only if, as a matter of law, the record is critically deficient of that minimum quality of evidence from which a jury might reasonably afford relief. Danny Kresky Enterprises Corp. v. Magid, 716 F.2d 206, 209 (3d Cir.1983). In considering such a motion, the Court may not weigh evidence, pass on the credibility of witnesses, or substitute its judgment of facts for that of the jury. Blair v. Manhattan Life Insurance Co., 692 F.2d 296, 300 (3d Cir. 1982). In considering the motion, the court "must expose the evidence to the strongest light favorable to the party against whom the motion is made and give him the advantage of every fair and reasonable inference." Inventive Music Limited v. Cohen, 617 F.2d 29, 31 (3d Cir.1980). Based upon a review of the record in the light most favorable to SEPTA, this Court finds that there is sufficient evidence from which a jury could reasonably afford the aforementioned relief.

The evidence showed that on April 3, 1986, at approximately 11:30 a.m., a tractor-trailer, driven by an employee of National Freight, approached the River Road rail crossing. At approximately the same time, a two-car SEPTA commuter train was travelling in a northbound direction at 40 m.p.h. between the Shawmont and Miquon train stations. Subsequent to the train leaving the Shawmont station, the SEPTA conductor sounded his whistle on three separate occasions prior to the train reaching the River Road crossing. Moreover, 2137 feet prior to the River Road Crossing (a distance covered by the train in approximately 35 to 39 seconds), the train automatically tripped the warning signal lights at the River Road Crossing. Two sets of rail signals, clearly visible to vehicular traffic at the crossing, flashed a warning of an approaching train. An inspection of the signalling equipment made immediately after the accident revealed that it was fully operational and in working order. The triggering of the crossing signals approximately 35 to 39 seconds prior to the arrival of the train exceeded the minimum industry-wide standard by at least 15 to 19 seconds.

The driver of the National Freight truck, as he approached and reached the River Road crossing had a clear and unobstructed view of the railroad tracks in both directions. The driver, without coming to a complete stop, and never turning his head to observe the track in the direction from which the train was approaching, entered the crossing despite the flashing of the crossing signals. Travelling at approximately three miles per hour, the National Freight truck was struck by the SEPTA commuter train in the River Road Crossing. The driver of the tractor trailer never saw the train or heard any whistles prior to the collision. Based upon the aforementioned evidence, we find that the jury's verdict was reasonably rendered.

2. Exclusion of Evidence of Prior Accidents

During the course of the trial, plaintiff National Freight sought to introduce into evidence three prior collisions (occurring on January 13, 1982, February 18, 1984, and November 12, 1985) at the River Road Crossing. Pursuant to Federal Rule of Evidence 403, this Court, after balancing the probative value of and need for the evidence against the harm likely to result from its admission, excluded the evidence of the prior accidents on the ground that its probative value was substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, and misleading the jury.

It is clearly established that the district court enjoys broad discretion under Rule 403 to exclude relevant evidence which it determines to be confusing, misleading, or unfairly prejudicial to the opposing party. See Hamling v. United States, 418 U.S. 87, 124-25, 94 S.Ct. 2887, 2911, 41 L.Ed.2d 590 (1974); United States v. Clifford, 704 F.2d 86, 89 (3d Cir.1983). Indeed, as the Third Circuit stated in United States v. Long:

It is manifest that the draftsmen intended that the trial judge be given a very substantial discretion in balancing probative value on the one hand and unfair prejudice on the other, and that he should not be reversed simply because the appellate court believes that it would have decided the matter otherwise ...The trial judge, not the appellate judge, is in the best position to assess the extent of the prejudice caused by a piece of evidence.

574 F.2d 761, 767 (3d Cir.), cert. denied, 439 U.S. 985, 99 S.Ct. 577, 58 L.Ed.2d 657 (1978). Thus, a trial court's rulings under 403 must stand absent a clear showing that the judge abused his discretion. United States v. Clifford, 704 F.2d at 89.

Evidence of prior similar accidents is a proper and significant means of proving both the existence and knowledge of dangerous conditions. See e.g., Colangelo v. Penn Hills Center, Inc., 221 Pa.Super. 381, 292 A.2d 490, 491-92 (1972); Com., Penn. Dept. of Transp. v. Phillips, 87 Pa. Cmwlth. 504, 488 A.2d 77, 84 (1985). Indeed, as stated by the Third Circuit in DiFrischia v. N.Y. Central Railroad Co.,

Knowledge of the likelihood of injury is imparted by information of like occurrences under similar circumstances, and is a fact to be considered by the jury in determining whether proper precautions were taken. (emphasis added).

307 F.2d 473, 476 (3d Cir.1962). The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has explicitly limited the admissibility of evidence of prior accidents to those situations where the accidents "occurred at substantially the same place and under the same or similar circumstances." Stormer v. Alberts Construction Co., 401 Pa. 461, 165 A.2d 87, 89 (1960); see also Whitman v. Riddell, 324 Pa.Super. 177, 471 A.2d 521, 523-24 (1984).

Irrespective of the specific purpose for which the prior accidents are sought to be introduced, it is clear that there must be a basic similarity of conditions and facts between the prior accidents and the accident in question. See 1 J. Weinstein & M. Berger, Weinstein's Evidence, Par. 401(10) at XXX-XX-XX (1988). Thus, courts have uniformly recognized that where the requisite similarity of facts is not present, the probative value of such prior accident evidence will, in most circumstances, be outweighed by its prejudicial or misleading nature. See e.g., Evans v. Pennsylvania Railroad Company, 255 F.2d 205, 210 (3d Cir.1958); Kelsay v. Consolidated Rail Corp., 749 F.2d 437, 443-46 (7th Cir.1984); Gardner v. Southern Railway Systems, 675 F.2d 949, 952-53 (7th Cir.1982); Stoler v. Penn Central Transp. Co., 583 F.2d 896, 898 (6th Cir.1978); Callis v. Long Island Railroad, 372 F.2d 442, 444 (2d Cir.1967); Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp. v. Matherne, 348 F.2d 394, 400 (5th Cir.1965); Payne v. A.O. Smith Corp., 99 F.R.D. 534, 537 (S.D.Ohio 1983); Roundtree v. Seaboard Coast Line R. Co., 418 F.Supp. 220, 223 (M.D.Fla.1976).

In the instant case, National Freight proceeded to trial against SEPTA on only two theories of negligence: (1) negligent operation of the signalling equipment at the River Road crossing and (2) negligent operation of the train, to wit, unduly excessive rate of speed, inadequate lookout, and failure to properly brake. We note that inasmuch as the state Public Utility Commission has exclusive authority to design and construct railroad crossings, see 66 Pa. C.S.A. § 2702(a) & (c); National R.R. Passenger Corp. v. Com. of Pa. P.U.C., 665 F.Supp. 402, 403 (E.D.Pa.1987), National Freight was precluded from maintaining a defective railroad crossing design cause of action against SEPTA. Accordingly, in order to meet the similarity of conditions standard discussed supra, the prior accidents sought to be introduced would have to involve either the negligent operation of the signalling equipment or the negligent operation of the commuter train (to wit, excessive speed, inadequate lookout, or failure to properly brake).

The only materials presented to this Court concerning the prior accidents were the police reports of each of the three accidents and SEPTA's responses to National Freight's request for admissions. Based upon this material and the presentations of counsel, we concluded that the substantial dissimilarities between the present and earlier occurrences tipped the balance against...