{ "id": 8553081, "name": "HAROLD EUGENE SMITH, JR., by His Next Friend, HAROLD EUGENE SMITH, SR. v. RABON BURLESON, ARNOLD BURLESON and C. DAVID SWIFT, Administrator of the Estate of TONY BURLESON, Deceased", "name_abbreviation": "Smith ex rel. Smith v. Burleson", "decision_date": "1970-11-18", "docket_number": "No. 7025SC569", "first_page": "611", "last_page": "618", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "9 N.C. App. 611" } ], "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": "125 S.E. 2d 396", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1962, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "257 N.C. 121", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8566050 ], "year": 1962, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/257/0121-01" ] }, { "cite": "113 S.E. 2d 578", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1960, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "252 N.C. 300", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8621287 ], "year": 1960, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/252/0300-01" ] }, { "cite": "70 S.E. 2d 670", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1952, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "235 N.C. 607", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8626235 ], "year": 1952, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/235/0607-01" ] }, { "cite": "136 S.E. 2d 214", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1964, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "262 N.C. 62", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8565425 ], "year": 1964, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/262/0062-01" ] }, { "cite": "131 S.E. 2d 312", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1963, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "259 N.C. 666", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8561955 ], "year": 1963, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/259/0666-01" ] }, { "cite": "121 S.E. 2d 726", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "year": 1961, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "255 N.C. 374", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8569674 ], "year": 1961, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/255/0374-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 686, "char_count": 16772, "ocr_confidence": 0.506, "pagerank": { "raw": 2.3754715819057526e-07, "percentile": 0.7962236408377477 }, "sha256": "fc5730b2185abf4437d393fba41086ebfd31148bd380e2a4dea57e63230d0c00", "simhash": "1:1f6b7fe08071e1c3", "word_count": 2882 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T14:50:15.842675+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Judge Britt concurs.", "Judge Hedrick dissents." ], "parties": [ "HAROLD EUGENE SMITH, JR., by His Next Friend, HAROLD EUGENE SMITH, SR. v. RABON BURLESON, ARNOLD BURLESON and C. DAVID SWIFT, Administrator of the Estate of TONY BURLESON, Deceased" ], "opinions": [ { "text": "CAMPBELL, Judge.\nThis appeal presents one question, and that is whether the trial court committed error in directing a verdict on the issue of negligence in favor of the plaintiff.\nThe burden of proof on the negligence issue rested upon the plaintiff. Ordinarily, it is not permissible to direct a verdict in favor of a litigant on whom rests the burden of proof. When facts are judicially admitted and are no longer a subject of inquiry, then it is not only permissible, but it is the duty of the judge to answer the issue. The function of the jury is to ascertain the facts. They have no duty when the facts are admitted. Chisholm v. Hall, 255 N.C. 374, 121 S.E. 2d 726 (1961).\nIn the case of Flintall v. Insurance Co., 259 N.C. 666, 131 S.E. 2d 312 (1963), the court held that a peremptory instruction should have been given in favor of a litigant on whom rested the burden of proof. While the court used the term peremptory instruction, it probably would have been preferable to have used the term directed verdict as the factual issue had been determined and thus the intervention of the jury was unnecessary.\nIn ordinary negligence cases where the defendant pleads contributory negligence, this raises an affirmative defense and the burden of proof upon that issue is always upon the defend-' ant. Nevertheless, the court has customarily adopted a rule of entering a judgment of nonsuit against the plaintiff when the plaintiff\u2019s own evidence establishes contributory negligence. This is tantamount to directing a verdict in favor of the party with the burden of proof.\nIn the case of Blake v. Mallard, 262 N.C. 62, 136 S.E. 2d 214 (1964), the Court stated:\n\u201c. . . However, the court will nonsuit a plaintiff-pedestrian on the ground of contributory negligence when all the evidence so clearly establishes his failure to yield the right of way as one of the proximate causes of his injuries that no other reasonable conclusion is possible. . . .\u201d\nThe test thus applied is one of looking at all of the evidence and if \u201cno other reasonable conclusion is possible\u201d then a directed verdict would be proper even though such directed verdict is in favor of the litigant upon whom rests the burden of proof.\nThis necessitates a study of the evidence adduced in the instant case.\nThe plaintiff offered only one witness who testified to the automobile wreck itself. This witness, Carolyn Lingle (Cannon), was 17 years old on the night of 29 October 1967. She and Janice Buchanan were working in a grill on that night. She and Janice closed the grill between midnight and 1:00 a.m. Janice left with the defendant Rab\u00f3n Burleson, whom she has since married, and Carolyn left with Rabon\u2019s brother, Tony Burleson. Tony was driving a 1962 black Chevrolet and Rab\u00f3n was driving a 1964 red Chevrolet Impala. Carolyn and Tony left the grill first and were proceeding in a westerly direction towards Morganton on Highway 64-70. Tony was driving about 55 m.p.h., and on a straight stretch of the highway which was some six-tenths of a mile in length. Rab\u00f3n passed and got in front of Tony. The two cars proceeded on down the highway about four or five car lengths apart. They went around a curve and then got on another straight stretch of road. Both drivers accelerated their respective automobiles and attained a speed of somewhere between 80 and 100 m.p.h. Tony began to overtake Rab\u00f3n, and pulled into the left lane to pass. At this time the two vehicles overtook a Mustang automobile also proceeding in a westerly direction and operated by the plaintiff. The Mustang was traveling about 55 m.p.h. Rab\u00f3n pulled out into the left lane in front of Tony in order to avoid running into the rear of the Mustang. When Rab\u00f3n did this, Tony applied the brakes to his car in order to avoid striking Rab\u00f3n. When the brakes were applied, Tony\u2019s automobile skidded, and that was the last Carolyn remembered until she regained consciousness after the wreck.\nThe plaintiff sustained serious head injuries as a result of the wreck, and he did not remember any of the facts pertaining to the wreck itself.\nJoseph Babb, a friend of the plaintiff who was riding in the automobile with him, had gone to sleep just prior to the wreck and knew nothing about the wreck until he \u201cwoke up\u201d with the automobile turning over. He was rendered unconscious and regained consciousness in the hospital.\nThe Chevrolet driven by Tony struck a power pole. Tony was killed in the wreck.\nThere is nothing in the evidence offered by the plaintiff to show what, if any, vehicles struck each other. The evidence indicates that both Tony\u2019s vehicle and the plaintiff\u2019s Mustang left the hard surface of the highway and the respective occupants of both vehicles were injured.\nThe motion of the defendant for a directed verdict was denied. The defendant Rab\u00f3n then introduced evidence.\nThe defendant\u2019s first witness, Ronnie Dula, testified to the effect that he was standing on a side road near his home talking to five other young men in the vicinity of an automobile. While thus engaged, he heard a loud noise like automobiles racing, and he looked up at the main highway and saw two sets of headlights. It looked as if the two automobiles were side by side, and then he heard a scraping sound, and both cars hit and started leaving the road into the pine trees. He testified, \u201cThese were the only two cars I saw.\u201d He further testified that he was not expecting a wreck to happen; that he saw the headlights coming down the road just for an instant. He had not paid any attention to the highway before, and if anyone else had gone down the road, he had not paid any attention to them. He went to the scene and found the Chevrolet driven by Tony a complete wreck and also the Mustang driven by the plaintiff. He did not see any other automobile and did not see the Chevrolet driven by Rab\u00f3n.\nGerald Russ, another witness for the defendant, testified that he and Ronnie Dula were talking when he heard a sudden burst of r.p.m.\u2019s like cars going fast. He then looked in the direction the cars were coming and saw two sets of headlights side by side and just suddenly they went together and overturned. He testified that he did not see more than two cars. He testified that the point where he was standing was several hundred feet off the highway, and that in order to see the highway and the automobiles, he had to look through some pine trees. He testified that if any other car went by, he did not see it. He testified that the two automobiles went together and went off the road just an instant after he looked up. He stated, \u201cI wasn\u2019t paying any attention to the highway before looking up and seeing that wreck.\u201d\nTony Nichols testified for the defendant that on this occasion he was in his front yard sitting beside some bushes on a bank smoking. He observed a Mustang pass and then a red Chevrolet (Rabon\u2019s automobile was a red Chevrolet) passed the Mustang, and then he heard another vehicle coming fast, and the next thing he knew he heard brakes and saw this last vehicle skid into the Mustang, and they went off the road. He stated that he did not see the red Chevrolet at that time. The wreck itself occurred after all the vehicles had passed where he was. He then went to the scene of the accident and saw Ronnie Dula there and \u201cI asked him what happened.\u201d He further testified, \u201cAll I was doing was watching the two cars go off the road. I was not watching the red Chevrolet so I don\u2019t know whether it had gone out of sight by that time or not.\u201d\nThe defendant, Rab\u00f3n Burleson testified in his own behalf. He testified, \u201cWhen I passed the Mustang, Tony Burle-son was behind me. He was about three or four car lengths behind me probably. After I passed the Mustang, I got back in my lane and went on down the road.\u201d He testified that he did not know anything about the accident until sometime later. He further testified that he entered a plea of guilty to reckless driving arising out of this accident.\nThe defendant then offered in evidence paragraph 11 of the plaintiff\u2019s complaint, which reads as follows:\n\u201cXI. That on October 29, 1967, at approximately 12:45 A.M., the minor plaintiff was driving a 1966 Ford automobile in a western direction on U. S. Highway 64-70 approximately two miles east of the city limits of Morgan-ton, North Carolina; that at the time and place herein complained of the minor plaintiff was operating said 1966 Ford automobile in a careful and prudent manner and in compliance of all of the motor vehicles laws of the State of North Carolina; that as the minor plaintiff approached the western end of the straight section of road known as \u2018Drum Straight, the defendant, Rab\u00f3n Burleson, was driving his 1963 Chevrolet automobile at a high, reckless, and unlawful rate of speed in a western direction; that the minor deceased defendant, Tony Burleson, was operating the 1962 Chevrolet automobile in a western direction over Highway 64-70 at a high speed and in a reckless manner and as the two vehicles reached the section of U. S. Highway 64-70 known as \u2018Drum Straight,\u2019 the automobile being operated by Rab\u00f3n Burleson was in front of the automobile being driven by the defendant, Tony Burleson; that as they proceeded west on \u2018Drum Straight,\u2019 the defendant, Rab\u00f3n Burleson, increased his speed to a high and reckless rate of speed and the defendant, Tony Burleson, drove approximately 10 to 12 feet behind Rab\u00f3n Burleson\u2019s automobile for a considerable distance; that both automobiles were being accelerated at a high, rapid and dangerous rate of speed and as the Rab\u00f3n Burleson automobile came up behind the 1966 Mustang automobile being operated by the plaintiff in the northern lane of travel on U. S. 64-70 for automobiles traveling in a westerly direction, and at the same time, the defendant, Tony Burleson, was attempting to pass the Rab\u00f3n Burleson automobile at which time the defendant, Rab\u00f3n Burleson, cut to the left into the lane of travel of the Tony Burleson automobile which was in the passing lane and thereupon the said Tony Burleson and Rab\u00f3n Burleson automobiles collided and the defendant, Tony Burleson, lost control of the 1962 Chevrolet automobile and said automobile crashed into the left rear of the Ford automobile being operated by the minor plaintiff knocking the automobile which the plaintiff was driving off of the road and down an embankment, turning said automobile over several times, knocking the plaintiff about the interior of his automobile and resulting in the serious and permanent injuries hereinafter complained of.\u201d\nAfter introducing paragraph 11 of the plaintiff\u2019s complaint, the defendant rested his case.\nAt the close of all of the evidence, the plaintiff took a voluntary dismissal without prejudice as against the defendants Arnold Burleson and the Estate of Tony Burleson. Both plaintiff and defendant, Rab\u00f3n Burleson, moved for a directed verdict. Defendant\u2019s motion was denied, and plaintiff\u2019s motion was granted as against defendant Rab\u00f3n Burleson on the issue of negligence.\nThe trial judge then submitted two issues to the jury, one pertaining to the contributory negligence of the plaintiff which was answered by the jury in favor of the plaintiff, and the other as to the amount of damages which was answered in favor of the plaintiff in the amount of $20,000.\nThe evidence introduced by the plaintiff fails to disclose what caused the Mustang to leave the highway and turn over. Thus, for failure on the part of the plaintiff to show the proximate cause of injuries sustained by him, the motion of the defendant for a directed verdict possibly should have been sustained at the close of plaintiff\u2019s evidence. Sowers v. Marley, 235 N.C. 607, 70 S.E. 2d 670 (1952). This situation is not presented to us, however, as the plaintiff is now in a position to rely upon all of the evidence introduced at the trial, including the evidence introduced on behalf of the defendant.\nThe evidence on behalf of the defendant did not in any way contradict the plaintiff\u2019s evidence, but on the contrary tended to explain and fill in the missing links of the plaintiff\u2019s case. The defendant himself admitted that he had entered a plea of guilty to reckless driving in connection with this automobile wreck. He also introduced a part of the plaintiff\u2019s complaint set out above. It has long been the rule in North Carolina that a party offering into evidence, without limitation, portions of his opponent\u2019s pleadings is bound thereby. Meece v. Dickson, 252 N.C. 300, 113 S.E. 2d 578 (1960); reversed on other grounds, Melton v. Crotts, 257 N.C. 121, 125 S.E. 2d 396 (1962).\nWhen all of the evidence had been introduced, the facts were established and the defendant had proved himself negligent. There was no factual issue of negligence remaining as a subject of inquiry, and on this issue there was no duty resting upon the jury. In a situation of this kind, it is no longer necessary for the jury to intervene, and the trial judge enters the answer to the issue. G.S. 1A-1, Rule 50(a) provides:\n. . The order granting a motion for a directed verdict shall be effective without any assent of the jury.\u201d\nWe therefore approve the action of the trial court in this instance.\nAffirmed.\nJudge Britt concurs.\nJudge Hedrick dissents.", "type": "majority", "author": "CAMPBELL, Judge." } ], "attorneys": [ "Mitchell & Teele by W. Harold Mitchell for plaintiff ap-pellee.", "Simpson & Martin by Dan B. Simpson for defendant appellant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "HAROLD EUGENE SMITH, JR., by His Next Friend, HAROLD EUGENE SMITH, SR. v. RABON BURLESON, ARNOLD BURLESON and C. DAVID SWIFT, Administrator of the Estate of TONY BURLESON, Deceased\nNo. 7025SC569\n(Filed 18 November 1970)\n1. Rules of Civil Procedure \u00a7 50\u2014 motion for directed verdict \u2014 party having burden of proof\nOrdinarily, it is not permissible to direct a verdict in favor of a litigant having the burden of proof.\n2. Rules of Civil Procedure \u00a7 50\u2014 facts judicially admitted \u2014 duty of judge and jury\nWhen facts are judicially admitted and are no longer a subject of inquiry, it is the duty of the judge to answer the issue; the jury has no duty in such case.\n3. Negligence \u00a7\u00a7 13, 26\u2014 plea of contributory negligence \u2014 burden of proof\nA defendant\u2019s plea of contributory negligence raises an affirmative defense, and the burden of proof upon that issue is always upon the defendant.\n4. Negligence \u00a7 30; Rules of Civil Procedure \u00a7 50\u2014 directed verdict in negligence cases \u2014 consideration of evidence\nIn determining whether the trial court may properly direct a verdict in favor of the plaintiff on the issue of negligence, the applicable test is one of looking at all of the evidence, and if no other reasonable conclusion is possible then a directed verdict would be proper even though such verdict be in favor of the litigant having the burden of proof.\n5. Automobiles \u00a7\u00a7 70, 91\u2014 automobile accident case \u2014 directed verdict in favor of plaintiff\nIn plaintiff\u2019s action to recover for personal injuries sustained in an automobile accident involving his car and the two cars driven by the defendant and the defendant\u2019s brother, the trial court properly granted plaintiff\u2019s motion for a directed verdict in his favor on the issue of the defendant\u2019s negligence, notwithstanding plaintiff\u2019s failure to show which car, if any, struck his car, where the defendant\u2019s negligence was effectively established by defendant\u2019s own evidence that consisted of (1) his testimony that he had entered a guilty plea to reckless driving in connection with the accident and (2) a portion of the plaintiff\u2019s complaint alleging that the defendant had lost control of his car and had crashed into the rear left side of the plaintiff\u2019s car.\n6. Evidence \u00a7 23\u2014 admission of opponent\u2019s pleadings\nA party offering into evidence, without limitation, portions of his opponent\u2019s pleadings is bound thereby.\n7. Rules of Ciyil Procedure \u00a7 50\u2014 directed verdict in negligence case\nWhere the defendant in an automobile accident case established the facts of his own negligence, the trial court properly entered a directed verdict in favor of the plaintiff. G.S. 1A-1, Rule 50(a).\nJudge Hedrick dissents.\nAppeal by defendant from Martin (Harry G.), Superior Court Judge, 4 May 1970 Session Burke County Superior Court.\nThis was an action for personal injuries sustained by plaintiff in an automobile wreck which occurred on U. S. 64 and 70 in Burke County a few miles east of Morganton.\nAt the close of all of the evidence, the motion of the plaintiff for a directed verdict on the issue of negligence of the defendant Rab\u00f3n Burleson was allowed. The trial court submitted an issue of contributory negligence and an issue of damages to the jury, both of which were answered in favor of the plaintiff, and judgment was signed in favor of the plaintiff.\nFrom this judgment the defendant appealed.\nThe facts are set forth in the opinion.\nMitchell & Teele by W. Harold Mitchell for plaintiff ap-pellee.\nSimpson & Martin by Dan B. Simpson for defendant appellant." }, "file_name": "0611-01", "first_page_order": 635, "last_page_order": 642 }