Hebert v. Town of Ville Platte

GUIDRY, Judge.

This is a tort suit brought against the town of Ville Platte for damages sustained by plaintiff when he drove his automobile over a manhole cover in that town and was injured. The manhole cover lifted up as plaintiff’s automobile proceeded across it lodging in the undercarriage of the automobile, which circumstance caused the car to come to a sudden stop throwing plaintiff into the steering wheel. As a result of the impact, plaintiff suffered a fracture of the sternum, cardiac contusion, and other minor injuries. The trial court found that res ipsa loquitur applied to establish…