Romine v. Cleveland

Plaintiff sued for injuries incurred while riding as a passenger in an automobile operated by defendant, Lorraine Cleveland.* 1 Seeking to avoid the statutory bar2 to negligence actions by guest passengers, plaintiff charged willful and wanton misconduct on the part of her driver. At the close of plaintiffs proofs, verdict was directed for defendant on the ground that plaintiffs proofs at most established simple negligence on the part of defendant and failed to present a jury question of willful and wanton misconduct or gross negligence. Plaintiff appeals.

There is no dispute but that on June…