{ "id": 8625867, "name": "G. N. CHILDRESS, Trading and Doing Business as G. N. CHILDRESS TRANSPORTATION COMPANY, v. JOHNSON MOTOR LINES, INC.", "name_abbreviation": "Childress v. Johnson Motor Lines, Inc.", "decision_date": "1952-05-07", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "522", "last_page": "532", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "235 N.C. 522" } ], "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": "68 S.E. 2d 258", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "234 N.C. 600", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8624969 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/234/0600-01" ] }, { "cite": "58 S.E. 2d 351", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "231 N.C. 577", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8631162 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/231/0577-01" ] }, { "cite": "61 S.E. 2d 916", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "232 N.C. 642", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8611951 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/232/0642-01" ] }, { "cite": "6 A.L.R. 2d 896", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "17 N.C. 329", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8690821 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "p. 336" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/17/0329-01" ] }, { "cite": "59 S.E. 58", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "145 N.C. 261", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11252967 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/145/0261-01" ] }, { "cite": "199 S.E. 923", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "214 N.C. 572", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8632068 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/214/0572-01" ] }, { "cite": "193 S.E. 386", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "212 N.C. 376", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8611061 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/212/0376-01" ] }, { "cite": "93 S.E. 901", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "174 N.C. 324", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11253728 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/174/0324-01" ] }, { "cite": "61 S.E. 2d 613", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "232 N.C. 542", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8609043 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/232/0542-01" ] }, { "cite": "130 S.E. 842", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "190 N.C. 783", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8614567 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/190/0783-01" ] }, { "cite": "47 S.E. 2d 484", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "229 N.C. 20", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 12164507 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/229/0020-01" ] }, { "cite": "63 S.E. 2d 212", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "233 N.C. 195", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8601387 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/233/0195-01" ] }, { "cite": "37 S.E. 2d 112", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "226 N.C. 161", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8615232 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/226/0161-01" ] }, { "cite": "52 S.E. 2d 804", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "230 N.C. 269", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8629509 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/230/0269-01" ] }, { "cite": "199 S.E. 725", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "214 N.C. 489", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8631521 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/214/0489-01" ] }, { "cite": "68 S.E. 2d 316", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "234 N.C. 627", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8625256 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/234/0627-01" ] }, { "cite": "52 S.E. 2d 145", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "189 Va. 109", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Va.", "case_ids": [ 2152678 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/va/189/0109-01" ] }, { "cite": "84 S.E. 519", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "168 N.C. 382", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8659890 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/168/0382-01" ] }, { "cite": "195 S.E. 11", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "212 N.C. 823", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8620800 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/212/0823-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 1056, "char_count": 28207, "ocr_confidence": 0.486, "pagerank": { "raw": 6.93944620845399e-07, "percentile": 0.9651738383203036 }, "sha256": "6673b756dfec06e341cfb56c9d0aeca1f6b1991b12dd08c80ddd2ccf9fda8568", "simhash": "1:b6a31aeb339aa0df", "word_count": 4841 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:52:11.505162+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "G. N. CHILDRESS, Trading and Doing Business as G. N. CHILDRESS TRANSPORTATION COMPANY, v. JOHNSON MOTOR LINES, INC." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "JohnsoN, J.\nThe defendant places chief stress upon exceptions which relate (1) to the refusal of the trial court to allow the motion for judgment as of nonsuit, (2) to the charge of the court, and (3) the order of injunction restraining the prosecution of an action in Virginia involving the same subject matter.\nIt is admitted that the collision occurred in Virginia. Therefore the questions of liability for negligence must be determined by the law of that State. The rule in such cases is that matters of substantive law are controlled by the law of the place \u2014 the lex lo.ci, whereas matters of procedure are controlled by the law of the forum \u2014 the lex fori. Thus the methods by which the parties are required to prove their allegations, such as the rules of evidence and the quantum of proofs necessary to make out a prima facie case, are matters of procedure governed by the law of the place of trial. Clodfelter v. Wells, 212 N.C. 823, 195 S.E. 11. Therefore, the question whether the evidence offered was sufficient to carry the case to the jury over the defendant\u2019s motion for judgment as of nonsuit is to be determined under application of the principles of law prevailing in this jurisdiction. Clodfelter v. Wells, supra; Harrison v. Atlantic Coast Line R. Co., 168 N.C. 382, 84 S.E. 519.\n1. The refusal to nonsuit. \u2014 The controlling background facts are these: The highway is straight for a considerable distance both north and south of the scene of the collision, but is over rolling country with crests and hills. The highway runs approximately north and south. It is 30 feet wide, paved with black asphalt materials, and divided into three traffic lanes. South. of the point of collision these lanes are separated and marked by broken white lines, each lane being about ten feet wide. Beginning at a point about 235 feet south of the point of collision, the westernmost traffic lane (the one on the extreme left looking north) is separated from the middle lane by a solid white line and a broken white line, constituting a double line. The solid line runs parallel with the broken white line northwardly for a distance of about 100 feet, at which point the solid line runs diagonally to the east and north across to the easternmost and outside traffic lane (looking north), continuing in a solid white line from the point of collision up to the crest of a hill north of the scene of the collision. This solid line is east (to the right looking north) of the broken white line which parallels the solid line from the point where the solid line begins to run diagonally across the highway and until the solid white line reaches the easternmost traffic lane. After the solid line reaches the easternmost traffic lane, it is paralleled by another solid white line from that point up to the crest of the hill north of the scene of the collision.\nIn force at the time of the collision were these pertinent rules of the road, as prescribed by the Code of Virginia, 1950 (Miehie) :\n\u201c46-222. Special Eegttlations Applicable on Streets and Highways Laned fob Traffic.' \u2014 Wherever any highway has been divided into clearly marked lanes for traffic, drivers of vehicles shall obey the following regulations:\n\u201c(1). A vehicle shall normally be driven in the lane nearest the right-hand edge or curb of the highway when such lane is available for travel except when overtaking another vehicle or in preparation for a left turn or as permitted in paragraph (4) of this section;\n\u201c(2) A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as is practicable entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from such lane until the driver has first ascertained that such movement can be made with safety;\n\u201c(3) Upon a highway which is divided into three lanes a vehicle shall not be driven in the center lane except when overtaking and passing another vehicle or in preparation for a left turn or unless such center lane is at the time allocated exclusively to traffic moving in the direction the vehicle is proceeding and is signposted or marked to give notice of such allocation;\n\u201c(4) (not applicable to instant case).\n\u201c(5) Wherever a highway is marked with double traffic lines consisting of a solid line immediately adjacent to a broken line, no vehicle shall be driven to the left of such solid line if the solid line is on the right of the broken line;\n\u201c(6) Wherever a highway is marked with double traffic lines consisting of two immediately adjacent solid lines, no vehicle shall be driven to the left of such lines.\u201d\nTherefore, according to the motor vehicle laws of Virginia and the manner in which the highway admittedly was marked and laned for traffic at the scene of the collision, the easternmost lane was reserved for use of northbound traffic and the center and westernmost lanes were reserved for the use of southbound traffic only.\nThus at the point of collision it was unlawful, and therefore negligence per se (Crist v. Fitzgerald, 189 Va. 109, 52 S.E. 2d 145), for the driver of a northbound vehicle to cross to his left over the solid line, or for the driver of a northbound vehicle to travel into and upon the center traffic lane; whereas, for some distance north and south of the point of collision it was lawful and permissible for the driver of a southbound vehicle, in the exercise of due care, to travel into and upon the center traffic lane for the purpose of overtaking and passing a southbound vehicle traveling in the westernmost lane.\nThe plaintiffs tractor-trailer unit was proceeding north. The defendant\u2019s unit, going south, was overtaking and attempting to pass to the left of a Chevrolet automobile which was proceeding southwardly in the same direction. The collision occurred before the passing movement was completed. All three vehicles were involved in the collision.\nThe plaintiff alleges and contends that his tractor-trailer was where it rightly belonged \u2014 -within the easternmost traffic lane, reserved for northbound traffic, and that the driver of defendant\u2019s vehicle, in overtaking and pulling out to pass the Chevrolet automobile, negligently swung too far to his left into the easternmost traffic lane and struck the plaintiff\u2019s tractor-trailer, thus causing the collision in suit.\nThe defendant, on the other hand, alleges and contends that its driver in so passing the Chevrolet automobile remained within the confines of the middle lane which at that point the defendant\u2019s driver had the right to use for passing purposes, and that the plaintiff\u2019s driver suddenly swerved across the forbidden solid line to his left and struck the defendant\u2019s tractor-trailer unit over in the middle lane.\nAn examination of the record discloses that the evidence is sharply conflicting on the crucial question of whether the collision occurred inside the easternmost lane reserved for northbound traffic. However, as bearing on tbe question of nonsuit, these phases of the evidence, tending to support the plaintiff\u2019s theory of the ease, come into focus :\n(1) The witness J. S. Baker, who was driving' another tractor-trailer unit belonging to the plaintiff, testified that at the time of the collision he was just ahead of the plaintiff\u2019s vehicle that was in the collision. He said he left Sanford the morning of the collision with Neville, the driver of the tractor involved in the collision; that after various stops along the way they reached Dinwiddie, Virginia, in the late afternoon; that he got ahead of Neville coming out of Dinwiddie, and drove along northwardly therefrom at a speed of from 40 to 45 miles per hour; that Neville did not try to pass him, but drove along, keeping behind \u201ca good 300 feet or more,\u201d to the scene of the collision. He said: \u201cAt various times I was looking in the mirror at what was behind me . . . Neville was traveling directly behind me ... in the northbound lane of traffic. ... I could see his lights in my rear-view mirror. ... I was as far on the right-hand side as I could get and his right-hand light was in the view of my mirror, where I could see in the mirror.\u201d The witness Baker further stated that at a point about a mile and a half north of Dinwiddie he met the defendant\u2019s tractor-trailer unit. It was immediately behind a Chevrolet automobile. He said: \u201cAt the time I met the Johnson Motor Lines truck, Mr. Neville was right behind me.\u201d The defendant\u2019s truck \u201cwas traveling a very close distance, ... 12 or 15 feet from . . . the Chevrolet car. . . . As I got past the car and truck coming over the hill, the Johnson truck swings to the middle lane in order to pass the car. . . . That\u2019s when the wreck taken place. ... I saw the truck when it pulled out to pass the automobile. ... It made a left turn to the middle of the road. . . . He was going toward the middle lane of the road going out from behind the automobile in order to get in the middle lane to pass.\u201d At that time he said Neville was traveling in the \u201cnorthbound lane of traffic directly behind me. I could see his lights in my rear-view mirror. . . . I was as far on the right-hand side as I could get and his right-hand light was in the view of my mirror, where I could see in the mirror. ... I looked in the mirror and seen the truck and when I looked back to see if he was doing all right, I looked in the mirror and the thing was on fire. ... I can\u2019t say I seen anything that happened. I was looking in my mirror when the fire went up. I couldn\u2019t see the trucks when they went together. ... I could not completely see over . . . the hill where the fire or collision took place, \u2014 riding in a truck like this I could not completely see across the hill and down to the bottom on the other side. . . . I could see the truck. I could not see down to the ground, but I could see any moving vehicle that was traveling in that lane in the mirror. . . . When I saw the flash of fire, I wasn\u2019t exactly to the bottom of that hill north of the accident; I was nearing the bottom; I was going down the slope of the bill, wbicb is not too much of a grade. . . Tbe last mile or mile and a half \u201cbe (Neville) stayed right directly behind me and I was on my right-hand side of the road all the time. . . . Neville turned his marker lights on the truck after we left the store at Dinwiddie. The only thing I was going by was the marker lights on the trailer and the bumper lights on each one of his headlights.\u201d\n(2) Jesse Holland, the driver of another tractor-trailer unit belonging to the plaintiff Childress, testified he was following along behind the Neville unit that was in the collision. He said: \u201cAs we left . . . Din-widdie, I was just a good traveling distance behind the nearest truck. . . . Both of the trucks were in my view. As I approached the point of the accident I could see the truck in front of me. He was on his right-hand side of the road in the right-hand lane. . . . (Two cars were between the witness and the Neville unit which was in the collision.) I was keeping a good safe distance behind these cars, at least 400 or 500 feet, ... No, I did not see the accident. ... I just saw the flash of the fire. At the time I saw the flash my truck was right in a hollow right back of him. Immediately before the flash, \u201cI could see better than the top of his (Neville\u2019s) trailer, half way.\u201d It was \u201con the right-hand side, the right-hand lane. ... It seemed to raise up and fall over kind of off the road, bias the road, you might say. . . . No it wasn\u2019t dark enough to turn on the headlights. \u00a5e had on clearance lights. I could see the clearance lights on the trailer. From the top to about half way down the body. . . .\u201d\n(3) There was evidence tending to show that the points of impact on the two tractors were as follows: The left-hand front fender and wheel of the defendant\u2019s tractor made contact with the \u201cleft corner of the cab\u201d of the plaintiff\u2019s tractor.\n(4) The Chevrolet ear which the defendant\u2019s driver was attempting to pass appears to have been hit on the left side, opposite the rear wheel and door.\n(5) There was evidence that the defendant\u2019s driver was about the defendant\u2019s business at the time of the collision.\nThis evidence when considered with the rest of the evidence, in its light most favorable to the plaintiff, as is the rule on motion to nonsuit (Donlop v. Snyder, 234 N.C. 627, 68 S.E. 2d 316), was sufficient to sustain the inference that the plaintiff\u2019s vehicle was in the easternmost traffic lane where it rightly belonged at the time of the collision and that plaintiff\u2019s loss and damage was proximately caused by the negligence of the driver of the defendant\u2019s tractor in swinging too far to his left in overtaking and attempting to pass the Chevrolet car. See Robinson v. Transportation Co., 214 N.C. 489, 199 S.E. 725; Gladden v. Setzer, 230 N.C. 269, 52 S.E. 2d 804; Wallace v. Longest, 226 N.C. 161, 37 S.E. 2d 112; 61 C.J.S., Motor Vehicles, Sec. 518.\nIt follows, then, that the motion for judgment as of nonsuit was properly overruled.\n2. The Charge of the Court. \u2014 The defendant urges that the court erred in failing to declare and explain the statutes of Virginia regulating the speed of motor trucks on public highways as required by the provisions of G.S. 1-180 as amended. Here the defendant insists that the speed of its tractor-trailer was a substantive phase of the case on which it was the duty of the trial court to charge fully and completely.\nIt is specifically alleged in the complaint that the defendant \u201coperated its truck at a speed greater than that allowed by law.\u201d And the witness Torain (who was in a car in front of the Chevrolet at the time of the collision) testified that the defendant\u2019s vehicle followed along behind him from Petersburg to the scene of the collision, a distance of 11 or 12 miles. The plaintiff\u2019s counsel on cross-examination further drew from the witness Torain these statements : \u201cFrom Petersburg to the place of collision, I was driving between 40 and 50 miles an hour, pretty regular speed. I passed the Johnson truck in the city limits of Petersburg coming out. . . . He followed me all the way to the scene of the accident. I ran in behind the Chevrolet and passed, and then the Chevrolet was between me and the Johnson truck. He (the Johnson driver) kept up with me. . . .\u201d\nThe trial court read to the jury the Virginia statute on reckless driving (46-208, Code of Virginia, 1950 (Michie)), which is as follows: \u201cIrrespective of the maximum speeds herein provided, any person who drives a vehicle upon a highway recklessly or at a speed or in a manner so as to endanger life, limb or property of any person shall be guilty of reckless driving; . . .\u201d\nThe Virginia statute which prescribes speed limits, 46-212 (3), Code of Virginia, 1950 (Michie), provides (subject to the reckless driving statute \u2014 46-208), for a maximum allowable speed of 50 miles per hour for trucks.\nAfter reading the statute on reckless driving (46-208), the court failed to tell the jury what the maximum speeds referred to in the statute were. The court neither read to the jury the Virginia speed statute, 46-212 (3), nor explained the law concerning the maximum allowable speed for trucks as fixed by the statute. This was error for failure to comply with the provisions of G.S. 1-180 as amended. See Chambers v. Allen, 233 N.C. 195, 63 S.E. 2d 212; Lewis v. Watson, 229 N.C. 20, 47 S.E. 2d 484.\nThat this error was prejudicial to the defendant seems all the more likely in view of the fact that the maximum allowable speed of the defendant\u2019s tractor-trailer under the North Carolina law is 45 miles per hour (G.S. 20-141 as rewritten by Chapter 1067, Session Laws of 1947), and until 1947 the prima facie limit was 35 miles per hour. (G.S. 20-141).\nIn connection with another group of exceptions the defendant urges that the court below erred in reading to the jury a number of highway safety statutes which had no application to the evidence in the case. The challenged statutes were read to the jury as being \u201cthe law in the State of Yirginia in respect to the matters we are now considering. . . .\u201d\nIt is established by our decisions that an instruction about a material matter not based on sufficient evidence is erroneous. Dorsey v. Corbett, 190 N.C. 783, 130 S.E. 842, and cases there cited. See also Maddox v. Brown, 232 N.C. 542, 61 S.E. 2d 613.\nAnd it is an established rule of trial procedure with us that an abstract proposition of law not pointing to the facts of the case at hand and not pertinent thereto should not be given to the jury. Cashwell v. Bottling Works, 174 N.C. 324, 93 S.E. 901; Farrow v. While, 212 N.C. 376, 193 S.E. 386; Williams v. Hunt, 214 N.C. 572, 199 S.E. 923.\nHere the defendant challenges the action of the court in reading to the jury these portions of 46-209 of the Yirginia Code of 1950 (Michie), which provide that \u201cA person shall be guilty of reckless driving who shall: (1) Drive a vehicle . . . with inadequate or improperly adjusted brakes. ... (2) While driving a vehicle, overtake and pass another vehicle proceeding in the same direction, upon or approaching a crest or grade or upon or approaching a curve in the highway, where the driver\u2019s view along the highway is obstructed; . . . (3) Pass or attempt to pass two other vehicles abreast moving in the same direction. . . . (4) Overtake or pass any other vehicle proceeding in the same direction at any steam or electric railway grade crossing or at any intersection of highways, or while pedestrians are passing or about to pass in front of such vehicle unless permitted to do so by traffic light or police officer.\u201d\nA perusal of the record fails to disclose any evidence whatsoever tending to show either (1) that the defendant\u2019s truck was driven with inadequate or improperly adjusted brakes, (2) that his driver\u2019s view was obstructed while attempting to pass the Chevrolet automobile, (3) that the defendant\u2019s driver was attempting to pass two other vehicles abreast moving in the same direction, or (4) that the collision occurred at or near a grade crossing, intersection, or that pedestrians were affected by the movement of the vehicles. It follows, then, that neither of these statutes was pertinent to any phase of the evidence. See Williams v. Hunt, supra; Maddox v. Brown, supra.\nThe record discloses that the dominant theory of the trial below revolved around application of the statute which prescribes regulations in respect to driving on highways which have been divided into clearly marked lanes for traffic (46-222). This being so, the prejudicial character of error here pointed out is made more manifest by reason of the apparent conflict between this statute and the statute prohibiting overtaking and passing when the driver\u2019s view is obstructed (46-209 (2)).\n3. The Order of Injunction. \u2014 After the commencement of this action, the defendant instituted an action against the plaintiff in Virginia involving the same subject matter. Thereafter, an order was entered in the instant action permanently restraining the defendant from prosecuting the Virginia action. The defendant\u2019s exception to the order has been brought forward on this appeal. However, the exception seems to be without merit.\nIt is fundamental that a court of one state may not restrain the prosecution of an action in a court of another state by order or decree directed to the court or any of its officers. 21 C.J.S., Courts, Sec. 554.\nNevertheless, it is well established that \u201ca court . . . which has acquired jurisdiction of the parties, has power, on proper cause shown, to enjoin them from proceeding with an action in another state . . ., particularly where such parties are citizens or residents of the state, or with respect to a controversy between the same parties of which it obtained jurisdiction prior to the foreign court.\u201d 43 C.J.S., Injunctions, Sec. 49, p. 499. See also 21 C.J.S., Courts, Sec. 554; 28 Am. Jur., Injunctions, Secs. 204 and 205.\nHowever, the rule is that this power of the court should be exercised sparingly, and only where \u201ca clear equity is presented requiring the interposition of the court to prevent manifest wrong and injustice.\u201d 43 C.J.S., Injunctions, Sec. 49. See also Wierse v. Thomas, 145 N.C. 261, 59 S.E. 58; Boyd v. Hawkins, 17 N.C. 329, p. 336; Anno.: 6 A.L.R. 2d 896.\nIn accordance with these principles, an action or proceeding in another state ordinarily may be enjoined where it is made to appear that its prosecution will interfere unduly and inequitably with the progress of local litigation or with the establishment of rights properly justiciable in the local court; or that it is unduly annoying, vexatious, and harassing to the complainant, and reasonably calculated to subject him to oppression or irreparable injury. See 43 C.J.S., Injunctions, Sec. 49, p. 499; 28 Am. Jur., Injunctions, Sec. 211.\nThe court below, after hearing the affidavits of each side, found facts and entered an order permanently enjoining the prosecution of the Virginia action. It would serve no useful purpose to recapitulate here the facts found by the court. They are set out in meticulous detail in the order. Under application of the controlling rules of equity jurisprudence, the facts found by the court are sufficient to support the order of injunction.\nThe defendant\u2019s only exception is to the signing of the order. This is insufficient to bring up for review the findings of fact. The exception challenges only the sufficiency of the findings to support the order. Weaver v. Morgan, 232 N.C. 642, 61 S.E. 2d 916; Burnsville v. Boone, 231 N.C. 577, 58 S.E. 2d 351; Thompson v. Thompson, ante, 416. It follows then that since the order is supported by the findings, the order of injunction will be upheld. The case of Evans v. Morrow, 234 N.C. 600, 68 S.E. 2d 258, cited by the defendant, is distinguishable. There, among other factual differences, the North Carolina court had not acquired jurisdiction of the action prior to the commencement of the out-of-state proceeding, as in the instant case.\nThe errors herein pointed out, when considered in the aggregate, necessitate a new trial, and it is so ordered. This being so, it is not necessary to discuss the rest of the defendant\u2019s assignments of error.\nNew trial.", "type": "majority", "author": "JohnsoN, J." } ], "attorneys": [ "Gavin, Jackson \u25a0& Gavin and PiUman & Siaion for plaintiff, appellee.", "Smith, Leach \u25a0& Anderson, W. M. Seymour, and J. G. Edwards for defendant, appellant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "G. N. CHILDRESS, Trading and Doing Business as G. N. CHILDRESS TRANSPORTATION COMPANY, v. JOHNSON MOTOR LINES, INC.\n(Filed 7 May, 1952.)\n1. Courts \u00a7 15\u2014\nIn an action instituted in this State involving a collision in the State of Virginia, the substantive law of Virginia applies while the adjective law of North Carolina, including the rules of evidence and the quantum of proof necessary to make out a prima facie case, controls.\n2. Automobiles \u00a7\u00a7 IS, 18h (2) \u2014 Evidence held sufficient for jury on question of defendant\u2019s negligence in invading traffic lane reserved exclusively for vehicles traveling in the opposite direction.\nThe accident in suit took place on a three lane highway in the State of Virginia between plaintiff\u2019s vehicle traveling north and defendant\u2019s vehicle traveling south. At the place of the collision the highway was divided into three lanes and marked so that only the east lane was allotted to vehicles traveling north while the west lane and the center lane were reserved for vehicles traveling south. Plaintiff\u2019s evidence, considered in the light most favorable to him, was sufficient to sustain the inference that plaintiff\u2019s vehicle was being driven in its right hand lane and that defendant\u2019s vehicle was driven out of its right hand lane into the center lane in order to pass a car in front of it, but that it was driven too far to the left so that it protruded into plaintiff\u2019s traffic lane and collided with the left side of plaintiff\u2019s vehicle opposite the cab. Held: The evidence was sufficient to be submitted to the jury on the question of defendant\u2019s negligence per se in the violation of the statutes of the State of Virginia regulating travel on three lane highways, and defendant\u2019s motions to nonsuit were properly overruled.\n3. Automobiles \u00a7 18i\u2014\nIt is error for tlie court to read to the jury the reckless driving statute in force in the state in which the accident occurred without charging the jury in regard to the maximum speeds referred to in the statute, and when all the evidence tends to show that defendant\u2019s vehicle was not exceeding the speed limit of that state, although its speed was in excess of the maximum allowable speed for such vehicles in this State, the error must be held prejudicial.\n4. Tidal \u00a7 3Tb\u2014\nIt is error for the court to charge the jury in regard to abstract propositions of law which are not pertinent to the facts in evidence.\n5. Automobiles \u00a7 18i\u2014\nIt is error for the court to instruct the jury in regard to safety statutes relating to principles of law which are not based upon or pertinent to any facts in evidence.\n6. Injunctions \u00a7 4f\u2014\nWhile the courts of this State will not seek to restrain the prosecution of an action in the court of another state by order directed to such court or any of its officers, our courts may restrain a party from prosecuting an action in another state when it is made to appear that such action will unduly and inequitably interfere with the progress of litigation here or with the establishment of rights properly justiciable in our courts, particularly where the parties are residents of this State.\n7. Same\u2014\nSubsequent to the institution of an action here involving the rights of the parties growing out of a collision in another state, defendant in the action here instituted suit against plaintiff in a court of such other state to determine the liabilities of the parties arising out of the same collision. Held: Our State court, upon supporting findings, properly issued an order restraining defendant from prosecuting such other suit.\n8. Appeal and Error \u00a7 6c (2)\u2014\nAn exception to the signing of an order is insufficient to bring up for review the findings of fact upon which the order is predicated, and the order will be upheld when it is supported by the findings.\nAppeal by defendant from Burgwyn, Special Judge, and a jury, at November Special Term, 1951, of Lee.\nCivil action to recover for damage to property resulting from a collision of two tractor-trailer units, in wbieb tbe defendant pleads contributory negligence and also sets up a counterclaim.\nTbe plaintiff, a resident of Lee County, North Carolina, is engaged in operating a fleet of large tractor-trailer units for tbe transportation of freight for hire. Tbe defendant, a corporation, with office and principal place of business in tbe City of Charlotte, is engaged in a similar business.\nTbe collision occurred on U. S. Highway No. 1 about a mile and a half north of Dinwiddie Courthouse, Virginia. Tbe two vehicles were meeting and were about to pass. The plaintiff\u2019s tractor-trailer unit was traveling northward, the defendant\u2019s southward.\nAs the two vehicles approached each other, the defendant\u2019s tractor-trailer, which had been following behind a passenger type automobile, pulled out to its left to overtake and pass the automobile, but before completing the passing movement the collision occurred. Both vehicles were badly wrecked. They turned over, immediately caught fire, and became enveloped in flames. Both drivers, and also the defendant\u2019s relief driver, died almost instantly, and both tractor-trailer units and their cargoes were completely demolished and burned up. This action relates only to issues of property damage.\nThe defendant\u2019s motion for judgment as of nonsuit, first made when the plaintiff rested his case and renewed at the conclusion of all the evidence, was overruled, after which the issues of negligence, contributory negligence, and damages arising upon the pleadings were submitted to the jury. The issues of negligence and contributory negligence were answered in favor of the plaintiff and the jury awarded the plaintiff damages of $11,925 for the tractor-trailer, and $24,439.78 for loss of the cargo. Thereupon judgment was entered for the plaintiff in the sum of $36,364.78.\nFrom judgment so entered, the defendant appealed, assigning errors.\nGavin, Jackson \u25a0& Gavin and PiUman & Siaion for plaintiff, appellee.\nSmith, Leach \u25a0& Anderson, W. M. Seymour, and J. G. Edwards for defendant, appellant." }, "file_name": "0522-01", "first_page_order": 572, "last_page_order": 582 }