Chapman v. Claxton

This is an intersection right-of-way case, in which a jury found for the favored automobile containing plaintiffs, Marvin Chapman and Manetta DeBois. Defendant, Kerry Claxton, appeals, claiming error in the instructions given or refused by the trial court and primarily contending that an instruction on the “deception doctrine” should have been given.

The automobile accident occurred at 1 a.m. on September 1, 1968, at the light-controlled intersection of 15th Avenue and Florida Streets in Longview. Both vehicles were on 15th Avenue, a 5-lane arterial street, which runs north and south. At the…