Claxton v. Lee

Judge Harold R. Banke.

In this negligence case, Alton B. Lee, Jr. sued Edward Claxton, Bobby Claxton, and Larry Claxton individually and as partners in Claxton Trucking Company and their employee, Jimmy D. Beck-worth (collectively the “Claxtons,” unless otherwise noted). The jury awarded Lee $269,750 in damages. The Claxtons enumerate four errors on appeal.

This case arose after Beckworth, who was driving one of the Claxtons’ tractor-trailer logging trucks, pulled into a convenience store for fuel. In pulling back out onto the road, Beckworth crossed the centerline into the oncoming lane. In…