Question

A trainer of homing pigeons brought several of them to a park that he often used for training. He had trained this group of pigeons carefully and was confident that they would readily find their way home. When they were released, one of the pigeons inexplicably turned in the opposite direction from home. Several blocks away at the other end of the park, it collided with a radio-controlled model airplane that its owner had just purchased and was trying out for the first time. The collision sent the airplane out of control; it dipped low across a highway and was struck and run over by a truck.The airplane owner sued the pigeon trainer for the destruction of his airplane. The parties stipulated to the above facts and the airplane owner presented evidence of his damages. The trainer then moved for a directed verdict.Should it be granted?A. No, because the trainer’s pigeon caused the destruction of the airplane.B. No, because the jury could find negligence on the trainer’s part under the doctrine of res ipsa loquitur.C. Yes, because the truck, rather than the pigeon, was the direct cause of the airplane’s destruction.D. Yes, because the trainer took reasonable care in training his pigeons.

Answer 1

C

Step-by-step explanation:

A directed verdict is a ruling given by a trial judge after determining that there is not enough legal evidence for a reasonable jury to reach a different conclusion. Since the truck, rather than the pigeon caused the destruction of the airplane, the evidence of the damages on the airplane alone are not sufficient to find the trainer liable considering the facts of the case. A directed verdict is an instruction from the presiding judge to the jury to go for a particular verdict i.e. finding the trainer innocent.