{ "id": 8625823, "name": "JASON LANE, JR., by his next friend, JASON LANE, Plaintiff v. DAIZEL CHATHAM and JOYCE CHATHAM, Defendants", "name_abbreviation": "Lane v. Chatham", "decision_date": "1959-12-16", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "400", "last_page": "406", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "251 N.C. 400" } ], "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": "146 N.E. 2d 663", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "283 P. 655", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.", "case_ids": [ 1245711 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/kan/129/0462-01" ] }, { "cite": "51 N.W. 437", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.W.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "103 A. 831", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "A.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "69 S.W. 2d 249", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "case_ids": [ 8511024 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/tenn-app/17/0573-01" ] }, { "cite": "261 P. 2d 551", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "70 Pa. Superior Ct. 247", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Pa. Super.", "case_ids": [ 635454 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/pa-super/70/0247-01" ] }, { "cite": "191 N.E. 555", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "267 N.Y.S. 256", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.Y.S.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "160 N.E. 334", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "12 A.L.R. 812", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "44 A.L.R. 1509", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "155 A.L.R. 85", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "74 Am. St. Rep. 801", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Am. St. Rep.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "14 S.E. 2d 503", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "219 N.C. 535", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8625248 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/219/0535-01" ] }, { "cite": "11 S.E. 2d 372", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "218 N.C. 423", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8620333 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/218/0423-01" ] }, { "cite": "90 S.E. 134", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "172 N.C. 203", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11253096 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/172/0203-01" ] }, { "cite": "77 S.E. 1096", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "162 N.C. 95", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11270286 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/162/0095-01" ] }, { "cite": "66 S.E. 128", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "151 N.C. 299", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8654643 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/151/0299-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 820, "char_count": 16135, "ocr_confidence": 0.41, "pagerank": { "raw": 4.50217036927963e-07, "percentile": 0.9229578635665632 }, "sha256": "155d8c7736a9f85bc2ab672fd4697e1d9d18c74cc64f8752ce6c0de0d64d09fd", "simhash": "1:43267116c62ab8fd", "word_count": 2727 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:26:21.126874+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "JASON LANE, JR., by his next friend, JASON LANE, Plaintiff v. DAIZEL CHATHAM and JOYCE CHATHAM, Defendants." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Bobbitt, J.\nDefendants\u2019 only assignments of error are (1) to the overruling of their demurrers, and (2) to the overruling of their motions .for judgment of nonsuit.\nAs \u00a1to the rulings on the demurrers: Suffice to \u00a1say, certain unsupported alleged facts would strengthen plaintiff\u2019s position. Hence, defendants\u2019 contention that the evidence w>as insufficient for jury consideration poses the more \u00a1serious question.\n\u201cAt common law it is well established that the mere relation of parent and child imposes on the parent no liability for the torts of the child . . .\u201d 67 C.J.S., Parent and Child \u00a7 66; 39 Am. Jur., Parent \u2022and Child \u00a7 55. Our decisions are in full accord: Brittingham v. Stadiem, 151 N.C. 299, 66 S.E. 128; Linville v. Nissen, 162 N.C. 95, 77 S.E. 1096; Taylor v. Stewart, 172 N.C. 203, 90 S.E. 134; Bowen v. Mewborn, 218 N.C. 423, 11 S.E. 2d 372; Hawes v. Haynes, 219 N.C. 535, 14 S.E. 2d 503.\nIn Brittingham v. Stadiem, supra, this statement is quoted with approval: \u201cRelationship does not alone make a father answerable for the wrongful acts of his minor child. There must be something besides relationship to connect him with such acts before he becomes liable. It must be shown that he approved such acts, or that the child was his servant or agent.\u201d\nIn the Brittingham case, a pistol was involved; and recovery against the feme defendant (mother) was upheld on the ground that her twelve-year old son\u2019s negligent act was committed while he w-as acting a-s her servant within the scope of his employment in her pawn shop. The liability of the defendant father was 'based on Section 2105 of the Revisal of 1905, which provided, in part: \u201cEvery husband living with Ms wife shall foe j o-intly liable with her for -all damages accruing from any tort committed by her ...\u201d It is noted that this statutory provision was repealed in 1921 and that the present statute, G.S. 52-15, provides in -part: \u201cNo husband shall be liable for damages accruing from any tort committed by his wife . . .\u201d\nIn Taylor v. Stewart, supra, evidence that the death of plaintiff\u2019s intestate was proximately caused by the negligent operation of his father\u2019s automobile by a thirteen-year -old fo'oy, and that the father habitually permitted his said son to operate his automiobi-les in violation of statute, was held sufficient to impose liability on the father. The actionable negligence of the boy was not -imputed to the father on account of their relationship. His responsibility for his son\u2019s actionable negligence was -based on foie own negligence.\nIn -the Restatement of the Law of Torts, \u00a7 316, the general rule is stated -as follows: \u201cA parent is under -a duty to exercise reasonable care -so to control his minor child' as to prevent it from intentionally harming others or from so conducting itself as to create an unreasonable risk of bodily harm to -them, if the parent (a) knows or has reason -to know that he has the ability to control his -child, and (b) knows or should know of the necessity and opportunity for exercising such -control.\u201d\nTo impose liability upon the parent for the wrongful act of his child (-absent evidence of agency or of the parent\u2019s participation in the child\u2019s wrongful act), for which the child, if sui juris, would be liable, it must be shown that the parent was guilty of -a breach of legal duty, which concurred with the wrongful act of the child in causing the injury. \u201cA parent is liable if his negligence combines with the negligence of the child -and the two contribute to injury by the child.\u201d 67 C.J.S., Parent and Child \u00a7 68.\nUncorutradicted evidence tends to show:\nThe Lane and Chatham families lived in close proximity to the \u201cChatham Store.\u201d The Lanes and Ohath-am-s had been good friends, had attended the same church and the children bad attended the same school. Plaintiff and Raymond often played together and were good friends. Defendants had purchased and given to Raymond -a BB gun o\u00edt air rifle at Christmas of 1956. Plaintiff, also Howard Lane, 'plaintiff\u2019s younger brother, had been given air rifles by their father. Prior to his injury, plaintiff\u2019s air rifle was broken and thereafter he shot Raymond\u2019s air rifle \u201csome.\u201d BB .shot were sold at the \u201cChatham Store.\u201d On Thanksgiving Day, two days before plaintiff was injured, Joyce Chatham, Raymond\u2019s mother, had given -him two boxes of BB shot.\nThe evidence offered by plaintiff is the only evidence as to what occurred on the occasion of plaintiff\u2019s injury. (Raymond did not testify.) It 'tends to show: Between 1:00 and 1:30 p.m., after eating dinner, plaintiff, then fourteen years old, was sitting on the back porch of his home. Raymond jumped from behind a nearby tree, pointed his BB gun straight at plaintiff and shot him, \u201cthe bullet\u201d entering plaintiff\u2019s eye \u201cstraight range.\u201d\nAs to Raymond\u2019s alleged prior misuse of his air rifle, plaintiff\u2019s evidence tends to show:\n1. On Thanksgiving Day, two days before plaintiff was injured, a married sister (Peggy Jo Lane Owens) and a younger sister (Margaret Lane) of plaintiff went to the \u201cChatham Store,\u201d purchased coca-colas; and as they walked out of .the store \u201cthe little boy\u201d (Raymond) jumped out from the side of the store and shot Peggy Jo with his air rifle, striking her on the hip 'and making a blister. Peggy Jo went right back into 'the store and told the feme defendant what Raymond had done. The feme defendant bad nothing to say.\n2. About two or three weeks 'before plaintiff was injured, Raymond shot Howard Lane, plaintiff\u2019s younger brother, then nine yeans old, with match .stems that he put into the BB gun. Raymond shot \u201cabout ten or twelve times\u201d and hit Howard \u201cabout four times\u201d on his arms and legs \u00a1and \u201cmade some marks.\u201d Howard told one Davis what Raymond had done. On the same day, Davis talked with the feme defendant. In their conversation, the feme defendant brought up the \u25a0subject of said incident and \u201cstated that she did not punish him because Raymond told her that Howard had shot him first.\u201d\n3. A few weeks before plaintiff was injured, Marshall Hollifield, \u25a0then eleven years old, went to the \u201cChatham Store.\u201d Raymond and the feme defendant were there. Raymond chased him around the store \u201ca couple of times\u201d \u2014 \u201cwith his gun\u201d \u2014 but did not shoot at him. Marshall told the feme defendant, then went on home. The afternoon of November 30, 1957, after plaintiff had been shot and taken to the doctor, Raymond chased Marshall home from the store with his gun and shot at him, hitting him once \u201con the britches leg.\u201d\nIt is noted: The testimony tending to show notice to the feme defendant of Raymond\u2019s conduct on said three prior occasions was contradicted ;by her in 'all particulars. Moreover, she testified that \u201cRaymond\u2019s daddy took the air rifle away from him just as soon as the accident happened.\u201d\nThere was ample evidence to support a finding that plaintiff\u2019s injury was caused by Raymond\u2019s wrongful act. The crucial question is whether the evidence was sufficient to support a jury finding that defendants or either of them was guilty of a breach of legal duty that combined and concurred with Raymond\u2019s wrongful act and so contributed to plaintiff\u2019s injury.\nOases relating generally to the liability of a parent for the wrongful acts of his minor child, under diverse factual situations, are collected in Annotation, 74 Am. St. Rep. 801, and in Annotation, 155 A.L.R. 85. Cases relating to the liability of a parent for injuries inflicted by a minor child when the parent permits his minor child to have firearms or access thereto are collected in Annotation, 44 A.L.R. 1509, and in Annotation, 12 A.L.R. 812.\nThis Court has had no occasion to pass upon a case involving a parent\u2019s liability for injury inflicted 'by a minor son\u2019s wrongful use of .an air rifle. Indeed, the number of decisions in other jurisdictions involving this factual situation is quite small. Recovery by plaintiff was upheld in Gudziewski v. Stemplesky (Mass.), 160 N.E. 334; Kuchlik v. Feuer, 267 N.Y.S. 256, affirmed 191 N.E. 555; Archibald v. Jewell, 70 Pa. Superior Ct. 247. Recovery was denied in Martin v. Barrett (Cal.), 261 P. 2d 551; Highsaw v. Creech (Tenn.), 69 S.W. 2d 249; Fleming v. Kravitz (Pa.), 103 A. 831; Harris v. Cameron (Wis.), 51 N.W. 437; Capps v. Carpenter (Kan.), 283 P. 655; Norlin v. Connolly (Mass.), 146 N.E. 2d 663.\nIt is universally held that an air rifle is not a dangerous instrumentality per se. It should be noted that we have no statute such as Section 1896 of the New York Penal Code, which provides, in part, that it is a misdemeanor to give to a person under the age of sixteen years . . any air-gun, spring-gun ot other instrument or weapon in which the propelling force is a .spring or air or any instrument or weapon commonly known as a toy pistol ...\u201d True, an air rifle may be so used as to inflict injury (particularly injury to an eye); but this is true of a bow and arrow set, a baseball bat, a knife, a bicycle, and many other devices with which children of Raymond\u2019s age are accustomed to play.\nIt is noted that there was no evidence as to the make or power of Raymond\u2019s air rifle. Nothing else appearing, we assume it was of the type and kind given to plaintiff and his younger brother and used generally by boys of comparable age in the community. Although the evidence is not specific, the implication is that the Lanes and Chath-ams lived in a rural Community or email settlement where it was customary for boys of Raymond\u2019s age to have and -to use air ri\u00f1es in the course of -their -outdoor activities.\nEvidence -that defendants gave Raymond an air rifle at Christmas 1956, and permitted him to use it, is insufflcient, standing \u00a1alone, to support a jury finding that defendants are liable -for Raymond\u2019s wrongful act.\nThe applicable rule is this: Where -parents entrust their nine-year old son with -the possession -and use of an \u00a1air rifle and injury to another -is inflicted by a shot intentionally or negligently discharged therefrom by their son, the parents are liable, based on their own negligence, if under the -circumstances they \u00a1could -and should, by -the -exercise of due care, -have reasonably foreseen that the boy was likely to use the air rifle in such manner as to cause -injury, -and failed to exercise reasonable -care to prohibit, restrict or supervise his further use thereof.\nApplying this rule, \u00a1the evidence is insufficient to establish liability on the prat of Daizel Chatham. Prior to \u00a1plaintiff\u2019s injury, Raymond had used the -air rifle for more than eleven months. There is no evidence of \u00a1any incident (prior to plaintiff\u2019s injury) involving Raymond\u2019s misuse thereof in his father\u2019s presence. D-aizel -Chatham testified: \u201cNo one had ever mentioned to me -about my son Raymond shooting people with -his -air rifle.\u201d We find no evidence -tending to contradict or in \u00a1conflict with this \u00a1statement. Nothing appears in the evidence to support \u00a1a finding that Daizel Chatham should -have reasonably -foreseen -that Raymond was -likely to use \u00a1the air rifle in such manner as to cause injury. We have -found no decision in this jurisdiction or elsewhere that wouidi support \u00a1a recovery by plaintiff against Daizel Chatham under the circumstances \u00a1disclosed by the evidence in this case. Hence, Daizel Chatham\u2019s motion for judgment of non-suit should -have been sustained.\nAs to the jeme defendant, the situation is different. The -credibility of the testimony as to prior incidents was \u00a1for jury determination; \u00a1and we must -consider this evidence, and all inferences -and intendments that may be drawn therefrom, in plaintiff\u2019s favor. When \u00a1so considered, we \u00a1are constrained to hold that it was sufficient to support a finding that -the jeme defendant, \u00a1after learning of Raymond\u2019s misuse -of h-is air rifle, breached her legal duty by failing to exercise reasonable -care to prohibit, restrict or -supervise Raymond\u2019s further use thereof, and that by the exercise of reasonable care she should have reasonably foreseen -that Raymond, in his unrestricted further use thereof, was likely- to use the air rifle in -such manner \u00a1as to inflict injury. Hence, \u25a0as to 'her, the motion for judgment of nonsuit was properly overruled; and, as to her, the verdict and judgment will stand.\nAs to defendant Da-izel Chatham, reversed.\nAs to defendant Joyce Chatham, no error.", "type": "majority", "author": "Bobbitt, J." }, { "text": "Higgins, J.,\nconcurring: I concur in the opinion. However, court decisions that air rifles are not per se dangerous weapons are as out of date as the horse andi buggy. Marvelous -advances have been made both in the precision and power of pneumatic arms. Sporting magazines on .practically every newsstand carry stories and advertisements of air rifles capable of driving a lead slug through a three-quarter-inch pine board. It is time for the courts to find out what the public, or at least those interested in such matters, has known for some time \u2014'that a well manufactured air rifle is now not only a dangerous, but a deadly weapon. I am unable to approve decisions to the contrary.", "type": "concurrence", "author": "Higgins, J.," } ], "attorneys": [ "Hamrick & Hamrick for plaintiff, appellee.", "Harry K. Boucher and Stover P. Dunagan for defendants, appellants." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "JASON LANE, JR., by his next friend, JASON LANE, Plaintiff v. DAIZEL CHATHAM and JOYCE CHATHAM, Defendants.\n(Filed 16 December, 1959.)\n1. Parent and Child \u00a7 7\u2014\nThe common law rule that the mere relation of parent and child imposes no liability on the pant of the parent for the torts of the child is recognized in this State.\n2. Same\u2014\nAn air rifle is not a dangerous instrumentality per se and the mere fact that parents give their nine-year old son an air rifle, and permit him to use it, is insufficient to impose liability on the parents for a negligent or willful injury inflicted by the son in the use of the air 'rifle.\n3. Same\u2014\nParents may be held liable for an injury negligently or willfully inflicted by their minor son with an air rifle given the son by 'the parents if under the circumstances the parents could or should, by the exercise io\u00a3 due care, have reasonably foreseen that the boy was likely to use the air rifle in such manner as to cause injury, and failed to exercise reasonable care to prohibit, restrict or supervise his further use thereof, the basis of liability being the parents\u2019 independent negligence.\n4. Same\u2014\nEvidence tending to show that a nine-year old boy intentionally shot his playmate in the eye with an air rifle given him by his parents and that on three prior occasions the boy had intentionally inflicted injury ,on persons with the air rifle, with further evidence that the boy\u2019s mother had been informed or had knowledge thereof but without evidence that the boy\u2019s father had knowledge thereof, is held sufficient bo be submitted to the jury as to the negligence of the mother but is insufficient to be submitted to the jury as to the father\u2019s negligence.\nHiooins, J., concurring.\nAppeal by defend\u00edante from Patton, J., March Term, 1959, of Rutherford.\nCivil action for damages for personal injuries inflicted by defendants\u2019 minor son by means of an 'air rifle, based on alleged, negligence of defendants in giving him the air rifle and in .failing, after notice of prior misuse, to prohibit, restrict or supervise his further use thereof.\nOn November 30, 1957, the Saturday-after Thanksgiving, Raymond Chatham, then nine years old, shot plaintiff with his BB gun or air rifle. The shot entered .plaintiff\u2019s eye, .causing total loss thereof.\nDefendants filed separate demurrers to the complaint, each asserting plaintiff\u2019s failure to allege facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. Judge Huskins overruled the demurrers and defendants excepted.\nAt the close of all the evidence, defendants made separate motions for judgment of nonsuit. The motions were overruled .and defendants excepted. Thereupon the court submitted and the jury .answered two issues, viz.: \u201c1. Was the plaintiff injured by the negligence of the defendants, as alleged in the complaint? Answer: Yes. 2. What damage, if any, is plaintiff entitled to recover of defendants? Answer: $1800.00.\u201d\nJudgment for plaintiff, in accordance with the verdict, was entered. Defendants excepted and .appealed.\nHamrick & Hamrick for plaintiff, appellee.\nHarry K. Boucher and Stover P. Dunagan for defendants, appellants." }, "file_name": "0400-01", "first_page_order": 444, "last_page_order": 450 }