Brown v. Zimbrick Logging, Inc.

Plaintiff-lessor commenced this action against defendant-lessee and its employee, Vern Majors, to recover damages resulting from defendants’ alleged negligence in transporting plaintiff’s Bucyrus. Erie Crawler crane. Trial was before the court, and judgment was entered for plaintiff. Defendants appeal.

The facts in this case are largely undisputed. In June of 1973 plaintiff leased his crane to Zimbrick Logging, Inc., for an indefinite period. In August of that year, Zimbrick Logging, Inc., was moving the crane on a “low-boy” trailer to a job site when the crane and trailer fell off the side of…