Adams v. Yellow Cab Corp.

In this suit for personal injuries sustained while the plaintiff was in a taxicab, the defendant sought to defend on the ground that there was no evidence that the cab belonged to it. The defendant appeals from a judgment after a jury verdict for the plaintiff.

We are constrained to reverse. An examination of the record as a whole shows that the trial judge did not fulfil his role as an impartial magistrate. His repeated jibes at defense counsel held the latter up to scorn and ridicule and could not have failed to leave the jury with the impression that the plaintiff should prevail. Such…