Hardy v. Smith

Can a 13-year-old minor be guilty of contributory negligence as a matter of law?

We say yes.

But let us see why.

James Hardy was injured at the intersection of Attica Street and a north-south alley in Rossville, Vermilion County, Illinois. The alley meets the sidewalk on Attica Street at less than a 90° angle and a building closely borders the southeast corner of the alley and sidewalk. He was walking fast on the south side of Attica Street with a babysitter and his two younger sisters behind him. The foursome were on their way to an ice cream parlor.

James stopped at the intersection of the…