Beckner v. Chalkley

In this case, a jury in the Superior Court of Baltimore City, presided over by Judge Basil A. Thomas, rendered a verdict in favor of appellee Blom, a passenger in the appellant Beckner’s motor vehicle, against both Beckner and the appellee Chalkley who, at the time of the automobile accident leading to this litigation, was a Baltimore City police officer operating an emergency vehicle. The same jury in Beckner’s and his wife’s suit against Chalkley found for Chalkley. The judgments on the two verdicts are challenged in this Court.

In Beckner’s view, the trial judge committed three errors,…