{
  "id": 8553148,
  "name": "JOHN HENRY LASSITER, Administrator of the Estate of WILLIAM BOBBIE LASSITER, Deceased v. DELPHINE G. JONES, Administratrix d.b.n. of the Estate of THOMAS AUGUSTUS LASSITER, III, Deceased, and DICKERSON, INC.; -and- JOHN HENRY LASSITER, Administrator of the Estate of DENNIS ALLEN LASSITER, Deceased v. DELPHINE G. JONES, Administratrix d.b.n. of the Estate of THOMAS AUGUSTUS LASSITER, III, Deceased, and DICKERSON, INC.",
  "name_abbreviation": "Lassiter v. Jones",
  "decision_date": "1970-06-24",
  "docket_number": "No. 701SC162",
  "first_page": "506",
  "last_page": "509",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "8 N.C. App. 506"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "N.C. Ct. App.",
    "id": 14983,
    "name": "North Carolina Court of Appeals"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 5,
    "name_long": "North Carolina",
    "name": "N.C."
  },
  "cites_to": [
    {
      "cite": "187 S.E. 562",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.",
      "year": 1936,
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "210 N.C. 476",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
      "case_ids": [
        8627187
      ],
      "year": 1936,
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc/210/0476-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "152 S.E. 2d 538",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.2d",
      "year": 1967,
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "269 N.C. 385",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
      "case_ids": [
        8563836
      ],
      "year": 1967,
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc/269/0385-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "171 S.E. 2d 83",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.2d",
      "year": 1970,
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "7 N.C. App. 56",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C. App.",
      "case_ids": [
        8547841
      ],
      "year": 1970,
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc-app/7/0056-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "161 S.E. 2d 521",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.2d",
      "year": 1968,
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "274 N.C. 18",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
      "case_ids": [
        8559321
      ],
      "year": 1968,
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc/274/0018-01"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "analysis": {
    "cardinality": 392,
    "char_count": 7768,
    "ocr_confidence": 0.594,
    "pagerank": {
      "raw": 2.1540046093849542e-07,
      "percentile": 0.7688567943536476
    },
    "sha256": "4a6d4eafc5790c119cd4f3545f5af5a927be3d922a0ae61f82386d4b940c5729",
    "simhash": "1:0ea4edd8d209e0da",
    "word_count": 1276
  },
  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T18:36:14.673474+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [
      "MoeRis and Graham, JJ., concur."
    ],
    "parties": [
      "JOHN HENRY LASSITER, Administrator of the Estate of WILLIAM BOBBIE LASSITER, Deceased v. DELPHINE G. JONES, Administratrix d.b.n. of the Estate of THOMAS AUGUSTUS LASSITER, III, Deceased, and DICKERSON, INC. -and-JOHN HENRY LASSITER, Administrator of the Estate of DENNIS ALLEN LASSITER, Deceased v. DELPHINE G. JONES, Administratrix d.b.n. of the Estate of THOMAS AUGUSTUS LASSITER, III, Deceased, and DICKERSON, INC."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Mallakd, C.J.\nPlaintiff administrator in each case alleged that the defendant\u2019s intestate Thomas was negligent in the operation of the automobile in causing the automobile to leave the road and \u201cdrove the said automobile into the right-hand temporary bridge railing and into the mill pond whereby the automobile was totally submerged in water and plaintiff\u2019s intestate was killed.\u201d The plaintiff administrator invoked the evidentiary doctrine of res ipsa loquitur to support this allegation. The plaintiff administrator also alleged that the defendant Dickerson, Inc., was negligent in the construction of the temporary bridge and railing and that the negligence of Dickerson, Inc., \u201cconcurred and combined\u201d with the negligence of Thomas to proximately cause injury to the plaintiff\u2019s intestates. Plaintiff administrator took a voluntary nonsuit as to defendant Dickerson, Inc.', and the case was sent to the jury as to the negligence of defendant\u2019s intestate, Thomas.\nThe doctrine of res ipsa loquitur is an evidentiary rule which is expressed as follows:\n\u201c \u2018When a thing which causes injury is shown to be under the management of the defendant, and the accident is such as in the ordinary course of things does not happen if those who have the control of it use the proper care, it furnishes evidence, in the absence of explanation by the defendant, that the accident arose from want of care.\u2019 When this combination of circumstances exists it is said that .res ipsa loquitur \u2014 the thing speaks for itself.\u201d Stansbury, N.C. Evidence 2d, \u00a7 227.\nIt has been held by our court in Greene v. Nichols, 274 N.C. 18, 161 S.E. 2d 521 (1968), that when an automobile leaves the road for unexplained reasons, the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur arises so as to create a prima facie case of negligence against the driver of the automobile. See also Cherry v. Smallwood, 7 N.C. App. 56, 171 S.E. 2d 83 (1970).\nTo invoke the doctrine, a plaintiff must show that the instrumentality was in the exclusive control of the defendant and that the accident is such as does not occur in the ordinary course of things if the person having control of the instrumentality uses proper care. O\u2019Quinn v. Southard, 269 N.C. 385, 152 S.E. 2d 538 (1967).\nIn the trial of the. case the plaintiff administrator offered no evidence as to the negligent construction of the temporary bridge railing and took a voluntary nonsuit as to defendant Dickerson, Inc. The evidence in the - case' demonstrated that .the inference could be drawn that the deaths of plaintiff\u2019s intestates .were proximately caused by the negligent operation of the automobile by Thomas. The identity of the driver of a vehicle may be established by circumstantial evidence. Greene v. Nichols, supra.\nAs a general rule, a defective bridge railing will not be considered as the probable reason that a car might run off a bridge. Love v. Asheville, 210 N.C. 476, 187 S.E. 562 (1936).\nIn the application of the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur, it is not necessary that the plaintiff show conclusively that driver negligence was the sole proximate cause of the injury. Greene v. Nichols, supra. Plaintiff administrator alleged that driver negligence was a proximate cause of the deaths of his intestates. The evidence offered demonstrated that this conclusion could reasonably be drawn. It is clear in this case that the negligence, if any, of defendant Dickerson, Inc., in constructing the bridge and railing, did not cause the car operated by Thomas to run off the \u201cthread of the road.\u201d\n\u201cIf a person\u2019s negligence is in any degree a proximate cause of the injury, he may be held liable, since he may be exonerated from liability only if the total proximate cause of the injury is attributable to another or others.\u201d 6 Strong, N.C. Index 2d, Negligence, \u00a7 10.\nThe evidence, taken in the light most favorable to plaintiff, shows that the exclusive control of the car was in defendant\u2019s intestate Thomas and that the car ran off the road through the guard rail and into the pond. This is not a normal occurrence without negligence on the part of the driver. The doctrine of res ipsa loquitur properly applies.\n. In this case the defendant administratrix contends that the evidence of plaintiff administrator was conflicting as to whether there was ice or frost on the bridge. There was no evidence presented in this case as to whether there was ice on the bridge at the time the car.ran off the road into the mill pond. There was no evidence as to skidding, and the general condition of the road is unknown. There was evidence that sometime prior to the occurrence the roadway was dry. There is no merit in defendant administratrix\u2019s contention. See Cherry v. Smallwood, supra.\nWe have reviewed all other assignments of error set forth by defendant administratrix and find no merit in them.\nAffirmed.\nMoeRis and Graham, JJ., concur.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Mallakd, C.J."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Jones, Jones & Jones by L. Bennett Oram, Jr., for plaintiff ap-pellee.",
      "Leroy, Wells, Shaw, Hornthal & Riley by L. P. Hornthal for defendant appellant."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "JOHN HENRY LASSITER, Administrator of the Estate of WILLIAM BOBBIE LASSITER, Deceased v. DELPHINE G. JONES, Administratrix d.b.n. of the Estate of THOMAS AUGUSTUS LASSITER, III, Deceased, and DICKERSON, INC. -and-JOHN HENRY LASSITER, Administrator of the Estate of DENNIS ALLEN LASSITER, Deceased v. DELPHINE G. JONES, Administratrix d.b.n. of the Estate of THOMAS AUGUSTUS LASSITER, III, Deceased, and DICKERSON, INC.\nNo. 701SC162\n(Filed 24 June 1970)\n1. Negligence \u00a7 6\u2014 res ipsa loquitur \u2014 applicability of doctrine\nTo invoke tbe doctrine of res ipsa loquitur, a plaintiff must show that -an instrumentality was in the exclusive control of the defendant and that the accident is such as does not occur in the ordinary course of things if the person having control of the instrumentality uses proper care.\n2. Automobiles \u00a7 66\u2014 identity of driver \u2014 proof\nThe identity of the driver of a vehicle may be established by circumstantial evidence.\n3. Automobiles \u00a7 42\u2014 accident on bridge \u2014 defective railing\nAs a general rule, a defective bridge railing will not be considered as the probable reason that a car might run oft a bridge.\n4. Automobiles \u00a7 44\u2014 res ipsa loquitur \u2014 car running off bridge\nDoctrine of res ipsa loquitur was applicable to raise prima fade case of negligence against the driver of an automobile that ran through the railing of a temporary bridge and sank in a millpond.\nAppeal by defendant administratrix Delphine G. Jones from Mintz, J., October 1969 Civil Session of Superior Court held in Gates County.\nOn 26 December 1967 plaintiff\u2019s intestate William Bobbie Lass-iter, age 15, and plaintiff\u2019s intestate Dennis Allen Lassiter, age 16, were riding as guest passengers in an automobile being operated by their older brother, defendant\u2019s intestate, Thomas Augustus Lassiter, III (Thomas). The two younger brothers had no driver\u2019s license, but Thomas did have a driver\u2019s license. The boys were last seen alive at 1:00 a.m. with Thomas driving the car. They were found the next morning at 7:00 a.m. in the Green Mill Pond. The car had run off the road, through the temporary barrier on the temporary bridge, and into the pond. When found, the car was totally submerged and Thomas was found in the driver\u2019s seat. Plaintiff administrator filed suit against defendant administratrix and against Dickerson, Inc., which built the temporary bridge and railing, alleging concurrent negligence. A voluntary nonsuit was taken as to the defendant Dickerson, Inc., and the cases were submitted to the jury on the issues of the negligence of defendant\u2019s intestate, Thomas.\nThe cases were consolidated for trial, and upon the verdict and judgment for the plaintiff administrator in each case, .defendant ad-ministratrix appealed to the Court of Appeals.\nJones, Jones & Jones by L. Bennett Oram, Jr., for plaintiff ap-pellee.\nLeroy, Wells, Shaw, Hornthal & Riley by L. P. Hornthal for defendant appellant."
  },
  "file_name": "0506-01",
  "first_page_order": 530,
  "last_page_order": 533
}