Hebert v. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority

Hale, C.J.

This is an action of tort to recover damages for injuries sustained by the plaintiff when he was struck by a streetcar operated by the individual defendant. The case is before us on the plaintiffs exceptions to: (1) the allowance of the defendants’ motion for directed verdicts; (2) certain evidentiary rulings; and (3) the denial of the plaintiffs motion for a new trial.

From the evidence, viewed in the light most favorable to the plaintiff, it could be found that on the evening of November 24, 1967, the plaintiff parked his car on Beacon Street east of the Kent Street intersection, along the north *671 edge of the reservation upon which the defendant’s streetcar tracks are located. The plaintiff had a clear view of the inbound and outbound tracks for about 300 feet in either direction. After the plaintiff locked his car he looked westerly and saw no streetcar; he then turned and looked easterly and saw no streetcar. Thereupon he proceeded to cross the reservation in a southeasterly direction without again looking back in the direction from which eastbound cars would come. He crossed the northerly or outbound tracks without incident but was struck by an inbound car as he approached the northerly rail of the inbound tracks. He had travelled about 30 feet from his automobile to the point of contact. 2 The operator of the streetcar, George J. Dello Russo, testified that he had stopped at the Kent Street intersection. (The pole marking the car stop at that point was about 330 feet from the place where the plaintiff had parked his vehicle.) He also testified that the point of impact was on the left side of the streetcar, eight to ten feet from the front. The operator further testified that he did not see the plaintiff before the accident.

1. It is our opinion that the defendants’ motion for directed verdicts was properly allowed. Although a plaintiffs contributory negligence is rarely established as a matter of law (see Flaherty v. Massachusetts Bay Transp. Authy. 361 Mass. 853 [1972]; G. L. c. 231, § 85, as amended through St. 1952 c. 533, § l) 3 , it was so established here. The plaintiff “turned his back on the approaching car... and then started to cross the track without again looking to see if he could do so in safety.” Smith v. Boston Elev. Ry. 202 Mass. 489, 490 (1909). Such conduct establishes contributory negligence as a matter of law. Ibid. See Adams v. Boston Elev. Ry. 219 Mass. 515 (1914); O’Callaghan v. Boston Elev. Ry. 249 Mass. 43 (1924); *672 Daignault v. Berkshire St. Ry. 277 Mass. 227 (1931); Sullivan v. Boston Elev. Ry. 283 Mass. 507 (1933); Smith v. Boston Elev. Ry. 304 Mass. 422 (1939). Compare Callahan v. Boston Elev. Ry. 286 Mass. 223 (1934); DeLodge v. Boston Elev. Ry. 300 Mass. 219 (1938); Snow v. Boston Elev. Ry. 303 Mass. 420 (1939); Herwitz v. Massachusetts Bay Transp. Authy. 353 Mass. 594, 598 (1968). In view of our decision, we need not consider whether the evidence could support a finding of negligence on the part of the defendant operator.

2. The evidentiary rulings were correct. The exclusion of a question put to the operator was proper, as the question was repetitive. See Ward v. Grout, 341 Mass. 725 (1960). The exclusion of certain of the corporate defendant’s company rules offered by the plaintiff was also proper, as it does not appear that any of the rules was applicable to the factual situation.

3. As the motions for directed verdicts were properly allowed, the plaintiffs motion for a new trial, which raised no new matters, was properly denied.

Exceptions overruled.

The course travelled by the plaintiff would have required him to look back over his right shoulder to see an approaching inbound streetcar.

The amendment of § 85 which was effected by St. 1969, c. 761, does not apply to this action.