{
  "id": 8606153,
  "name": "J. F. O'KELLY v. C. L. BARBEE",
  "name_abbreviation": "O'Kelly v. Barbee",
  "decision_date": "1943-06-02",
  "docket_number": "",
  "first_page": "282",
  "last_page": "284",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "223 N.C. 282"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "N.C.",
    "id": 9292,
    "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 5,
    "name_long": "North Carolina",
    "name": "N.C."
  },
  "cites_to": [
    {
      "cite": "166 S. E., 599",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.",
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "203 N. C., 605",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
      "case_ids": [
        8616523
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc/203/0605-01"
      ]
    },
    {
      "cite": "219 N. C., 25",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
      "case_ids": [
        8620873
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc/219/0025-01"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "analysis": {
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    "sha256": "f4ec8aae8d07c9fcea5fc48eae288764b48af7d8cedfddf90e97f3bd0e26ffde",
    "simhash": "1:b7a13a6ee47405bb",
    "word_count": 817
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T18:13:50.990749+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "J. F. O\u2019KELLY v. C. L. BARBEE."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "DeNNY, J.\nWe do not think the evidence on this record, when considered in the light most favorable to plaintiff, establishes actionable negligence on the part of defendant. The accident occurred at night, after the lights on defendant\u2019s automobile blew out and before the car was stopped, which according to the evidence was immediately thereafter. The automobile was stopped within about the car\u2019s length of where the accident occurred. The defendant was confronted with an emergency, and the evidence does not disclose a failure on his part to exercise ordinary care in the operation of his automobile under the circumstances. Mills v. Moore, 219 N. C., 25, 12 S. E. (2d), 661; Grimes v. Coach Co., 203 N. C., 605, 166 S. E., 599.\nThe judgment of the court below is\nAffirmed.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "DeNNY, J."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Victor 8. Bryant for plaintiff.",
      "Fuller, Beade, Umstead & Fuller for defendant."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "J. F. O\u2019KELLY v. C. L. BARBEE.\n(Filed 2 June, 1943.)\nAutomobiles \u00a7 9d\u2014\nWhere plaintiff, a guest passenger, and defendant were driving, at night on a paved road in defendant\u2019s car, when suddenly the lights on the car went out and defendant, as he was slowing down to stop, asked plaintiff to open the door and look out and warn him of danger, which plaintiff did, and in response to such warning defendant cut his wheels back on the pavement so suddenly that plaintiff was thrown from the car and was injured, the ear traveling its own length only after the accident, defendant was confronted with an emergency and motion for judgment as of nonsuit properly allowed.\nAppeal by plaintiff from Blaclcstock, Special Judge, at January Term, 1943, of Dueham.\nCivil action instituted by plaintiff, a guest passenger in an automobile, to recover for personal injuries alleged to bave resulted from the defendant\u2019s negligent operation of the automobile.\nPlaintiff and defendant are partners engaged in the retail grocery business. On the night of 11 December, 1941, the plaintiff had gone with the defendant, in defendant\u2019s automobile, on an errand of personal business for the defendant. As they were returning to Durham over the new Duke Road, somewhere between 8:00 and 10:00 o\u2019clock, the lights on the car blew out. At that time the defendant was not traveling fast, probably 30 or 35 miles an hour. Plaintiff testified: \u201cWhen the lights went out everything was real black. Mr. Barbee said, \u2018Open the door and look out and see where we are in the road, so I will know what v to do.\u2019 I opened the door and said, \u2018You are on the shoulder now,\u2019 and when I said that he just pulled the wheel over like that. He turned it to the left to get back on the highway. He was off the right side of the road and he turned it back into the highway to the left, and when he turned it he was so quick that I pitched right out of the car.\u201d\nThe defendant testified, as a witness for plaintiff, as follows: \u201cAfter the lights went out I asked Mr. O\u2019Kelly to watch and not let me run off the road. When I asked him to watch he opened the door, and after he opened the door he said something about I was off the road, and- about that time I felt my front wheels run off the pavement. He said that I was about to run off the road. About the same time I felt my front wheels drop from the pavement, and I cut it pretty sharp. I cut the steering wheel to the left. When I cut my wheel to the left I saw Mr. O\u2019Kelly\u2019s feet, or rather I felt them, and I stopped the car and jumped out and ran back and found him lying on the pavement. At the time I cut my wheel to the left I knew that Mr. O\u2019Kelly had the door open and was looking out the door.\u201d On cross-examination, this witness identified a written statement signed by him on 17 December, 1941, in which he said: \u201cI had been driving about 40 or 50 miles an hour on the right side of the road, and as soon as my lights went off I started to stop. I said something to Mr. O\u2019Kelly about watching his side of the road and letting me know if I was about to run off the road. I did not ask him at any time to open the door, and look out. However, Mr. O\u2019Kelly did open the door, and somehow fell out. My car was stopped about a car\u2019s length from where I found Mr. O\u2019Kelly on the road, and he was unconscious. My car was in the center of the pavement, and I at no time ran off the pavement.\u201d\nAt the close of plaintiff\u2019s evidence, defendant moved for judgment as of nonsuit. Motion allowed. Judgment signed ac\u00f3ordingly. Plaintiff appeals, assigning error.\nVictor 8. Bryant for plaintiff.\nFuller, Beade, Umstead & Fuller for defendant."
  },
  "file_name": "0282-01",
  "first_page_order": 334,
  "last_page_order": 336
}