White v. Walker

• Decision Date: 20 June 1931
• Docket Number: 40760
• Citation: 237 N.W. 499,212 Iowa 1100
• Parties: ANNA B. WHITE, Appellant, v. J. E. WALKER, Appellee
• Court: Iowa Supreme Court

237 N.W. 499

212 Iowa 1100

ANNA B. WHITE, Appellant, v. J. E. WALKER, Appellee

No. 40760

Supreme Court of Iowa, Des Moines

June 20, 1931

Appeal from Madison District Court.--W. S. COOPER, Judge.

Action for damages resulting from overturning of automobile while it was being driven by defendant and while plaintiff was riding with him as his guest. Verdict for plaintiff. New trial granted. Plaintiff appeals.

Affirmed.

Percival & Wilkinson, for appellant.

C. E Hamilton, Walter L. Stewart, for appellee.

MORLING J. FAVILLE, C. J., and EVANS, STEVENS, ALBERT, KINDIG WAGNER, and GRIMM, JJ., concur.

OPINION

MORLING, J.

Plaintiff alleges reckless driving, high and dangerous speed, and as a witness in her own behalf testified "fast driving is what caused it." A statement signed by her in which she said, "We weren't going fast at all. * * * I don't think there was anything Mr. Walker could have done to avoid the accident. * * * The reason the accident happened was because the detour wasn't properly marked" was received in evidence on her cross examination without objection. The signed statement of two witnesses inconsistent with their testimony was likewise received. The statements were marked respectively Exhibits 1 and 2. The issue of recklessness, not having the car under control and turning while going at such speed that the car was turned over was submitted to the jury. Defendant requested that Exhibits 1 and 2 be sent to the jury room. They were "handed to the jury when the jury were leaving the room." Plaintiff's counsel objected that they were not proper "to be in the hands of the jury during their deliberations," and that they were taken "before we had time to make objections." The court ruled: "I was expecting this question to be raised and the question was raised just as the jury left the court room. I think under all the circumstances those exhibits should not remain in the jury room." The court directed the bailiff "Get the two papers, other than the instructions and bring them back. Now you can make whatever exceptions or record you want to." Defendant took exceptions. The jury returned a verdict for plaintiff. Motion for new trial made on various grounds was overruled except as the court held, "I am convinced that an error was made by the court to the prejudice of the defendant in the matter of the Exhibits 1 and 2. * * * No mention had been made of the exhibits, that is as to whether or not they should go out with the instructions to the jury room, until after the reading of the instructions when the jury retired with the instructions and the exhibits; plaintiff's counsel then suggested that those exhibits should not go out; there was some argument * * * and the court being of the opinion that these statements being simply a detailed statement of what the plaintiff and some witnesses had once said, ought not to have gone out with the jury, and directed the bailiff to get them, which was done after they had been actually delivered to the jury by the bailiff, and after the jury had been locked in their room and within not to exceed five minutes after the jury had left the box. If the ruling had been made before that the exhibits would not go out I do not believe any prejudice would have resulted, but under the circumstances, the withdrawal after the jury had gone into the room, I am afraid was prejudicial in that the jury would be apt to believe that these exhibits amounted to nothing. * * *" The motion for new trial was accordingly sustained on this ground.

The trial court exercises a wide discretion in granting a new trial and this Court is very reluctant to overrule its action in granting new trial. Werthman v. Railway Co., 128 Iowa 135, 103 N.W. 135; Ellyson v. Peden (Iowa), 146 N.W. 759 (not officially reported); Jelsma v English, 210 Iowa 1065, 231 N.W. 304; Utilities Holding Corporation v. Chapman, 210 Iowa 994, 232 N.W. 116; McQuillen v. Meyers, 211 Iowa 388, 233 N.W....