Spafford v. Hahn

Thomas Gallagher, Justice.

Actions for the death of Paul Vergeldt and John Philip Anderson who were guest passengers in an automobile owned and operated by defendant, Jerry Hahn, and who met death by drowning on February 3, 1963, when the automobile sank through an opening in the ice on Lake Traverse which borders a part of Minnesota and South Dakota. At the time of the accident defendant and Vergeldt were 21 years of age and Anderson was 19. Pursuant to Minn. Const. art. 2, § 2, 1 the actions were in stituted and consolidated for trial in Traverse County, Minnesota. There the jury returned…