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74 S.W.2d 719

Warnack v. Conner

Court of Appeals of Texas

Decided July 12, 1934

Court of Appeals of Texas · decided 1934-07-12

Key passage — most relied on by later courts

““The foreman, Tackett, in effect, stated that; since they had fixed the amount of the damages, the other issues were probably immaterial. “The juror Willoughby testified that the. statement caused him to make a different answer to question No. 13 than he otherwise would have made. “The juror Williams testified the statement influenced him to answer ‘Yes’ to question 13. “The only jurors called to testify were the ones named, and their testimony, as stated, is not contradicted. “Upon practically the same facts misconduct was held to have been shown in Mann v. Cook (Tex.Civ.App.) 11 S.W.2d 572 ; Taylor v. Alexander (Tex.Civ.App.) 34 S.W.2d 903 ; and Carson v. Texas Pipe Line Co. (Tex.Civ.App.) 59 S.W.2d 328 .””

quoted by 1 later decision, including Huddleston v. City of Amarillo

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1934-07-12

How this case has been cited

Cited by 8 later decisions — most recently August 1968

8 state decisions

301934194019501960decided

Later decisions citing this case, by decade. The current decade is in progress, and our corpus holds fewer opinions from the most recent years, so the latest bars are undercounted — not a real decline.

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HIGGINS, Justice.

¶1Warnack was a motorcycle policeman in the city of University Park. On January 19, 1932, while riding a motorcycle on Hillcrest avenue in said city, he collided with an automobile driven by Miss Louise Conner, in consequence of which he suffered a broken leg. He brought this suit to recover damages from Miss Conner and her stepfather, W. M. Roberts, for the damages sustained by his injury.

¶2As against Roberts, it was alleged the automobile was owned and maintained by him for family purposes, and at the time of the accident Miss Conner was using and operating the same with his knowledge and consent in going to and from school. At the time of the collision, Warnack was traveling in a northerly direction at a rapid rate of speed in pursuit of a speeding automobile. Miss Conner entered Hillcrest avenue from the east and made a left-hand turn toward the south. It was found that Miss Conner was guilty of negligence in certain particulars proximately contributing to the plaintiff’s injury.

¶3In response to issue No. 12, the jury assessed the plaintiff’s damages at. $250. In response to issue No. 13, it was found that Warnack, at the time and on the occasion in question, failed to keep a proper lookout. It was further found that his failure so to do was negligence, proximately causing, or contributing to cause, his injuries. Upon . such findings of contributory negligence judgment was rendered for the defendants.

¶4Misconduct on the part of the ‘jury is charged. It was shown there was some difference of opinion among the jurors as to the proper answer to return to question No. 13, relating to the plaintiff’s failure to keep a proper lookout. The jury then reverted to question No. 12 upon the issue of damages and assessed the same at $250. It then returned to consideration of question No. 13. The foreman, Tackett, in effect, stated that, since they had fixed the amount of the damages, the other issues were probably immaterial.

¶5The juror Willoughby testified that the statement caused him to. make a different an-*720swex to question No. 13 than he otherwise would have made.

¶6The juror Williams testified the statement influenced him to answer “Yes” to question 13.

¶7The only jurors called to testify were the ones named, and their testimony, as stated, is not contradicted.

¶8Upon practically the same facts misconduct was held to have been shown in Mann v. Cook (Tex. Civ. App.) 11 S.W.(2d) 572; Taylor v. Alexander (Tex. Civ. App.) 34 S.W.(2d) 903; and Carson v. Texas Pipe Line Co. (Tex. Civ. App.) 59 S.W.(2d) 328.

¶9It was also shown that there was some discussion as to attorney’s fees, and some reference to Miss Conner’s financial condition, hut in the state of the evidence adduced upon the hearing of the motion for new trial such discussion and reference might he regarded as harmless hut for the other improper matter first referred to.

¶10We sustain the assignments complaining of misconduct of the jury.

¶11Other propositions submitted by appellant have been considered. They are regarded as without merit and unnecessary to discuss.

¶12Reversed and remanded.

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