Elden R. Craven v. Southern Railway Company

This is the Southern Railway Company’s appeal from a judgment after a jury verdict awarding Elden Craven $41,700 for damages arising out of a collision between his automobile and the railroad’s train at a crossing in Charleston County, South Carolina. Under the law of that state, railroads must sound warnings when approaching crossings with public highways. If the required warning is not given and a collision occurs, the railroad is liable for damages unless the injured party was guilty of “gross or willful negligence.” 1

The sole question on this appeal is whether the District Court erred in…