Jones v. Port Authority of Allegheny County

Oscar Jones (plaintiff) was injured when a Port Authority (PAT) (defendant) bus lurched forward then suddenly stopped while he was boarding. He and his wife Mary (plaintiff) sued for negligence, and at trial the judge instructed the jury that PAT owed the degree of care it held itself out as possessing as a commercial transportation provider with training to transport passengers safely — noting only generally that this differed from an ordinary person's standard of care. The jury found for PAT, and the Joneses appealed after their post-trial motions were denied.