Major v. Hoppe

Thomas O. Major, Administrator of the Estate of Barbara Elaine Major, plaintiff, instituted an action against Phillip Pickett Hoppe, defendant, to recover $35,000 for the wrongful death of plaintiff’s decedent who was a guest passenger in an automobile operated by defendant. The motion for judgment alleged that defendant was operating the vehicle in a grossly negligent manner when it collided with an automobile being driven by Arthur C. Wingo, thereby causing the death of plaintiff’s decedent.

A trial by jury was commenced on December 20, 1966. At the conclusion of plaintiff’s evidence,…