Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

276 S.C. 299

277 S.E.2d 893

Cooper v. Driggers

Supreme Court of South Carolina

Decided May 13, 1981

Supreme Court of South Carolina · decided 1981-05-13

Cited by 6 later decisions — most recently March 1998

6 state decisions

Key passage — most relied on by later courts

“The doctrine [of last clear chance] is not applicable in every case where contributory negligence is pled.”

quoted by 1 later decision, including Brown v. George

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1981-05-13

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

Littlejohn, Justice:

¶1This is an action for personal injuries sustained when the defendant’s vehicle came in contact with the plaintiff, a pedestrian, in the middle of the highway in the nighttime. It was tried before a jury and resulted in a verdict in favor of the defendant. Plaintiff has appealed. We affirm.

¶2The plaintiff takes ten exceptions to the judge’s charge. Four issues relative to the charge are argued. All other exceptions are deemed abandoned. The main argument is directed to the charge on the law of the doctrine of the last clear chance. This doctrine is not applicable in every case where contributory negligence is pled. It is appli*301cable only when and if the defendant sees that a negligent plaintiff is in a predicament from which he may not extricate himself and the defendant has an opportunity to avoid the injury in spite of the conduct of the plaintiff. A review of the record before us convinces the court that the defendant did not have the last clear chance to avoid the injury and, accordingly, the doctrine of the last clear chance was simply inapplicable under the evidence.

¶3Other attacks on the charge assert no prejudicial error warranting a new trial.

¶4Affirmed.

Lewis, C. J., and Ness and Gregory, JJ., concur.Harwell, J., dissents.
Harwell, Justice

¶5(dissenting) :

¶6Being of the view that the doctrine of last clear chance was applicable under the evidence and that it was erroneously charged, I respectfully dissent.

/276/sc/299 · .json · Public domain