Li v. Yellow Cab Co. of California
Supreme Court of California
532 P.2d 1226 (Cal. 1975)
Relevant factsFree
Li (plaintiff), attempting to cross three lanes of oncoming traffic to reach a service station, was struck by a Yellow Cab Co. (defendant) vehicle that was speeding and ran a yellow light. Li sued for negligence, but the trial court applied the traditional contributory-negligence rule and held Li's own fault completely barred any recovery, since any plaintiff fault at all defeated the claim under that doctrine. Li appealed to the California Supreme Court.
IssueFree
Whether a plaintiff whose own negligence contributes as a legal cause of his harm should be completely barred from recovery when the defendant was also negligent.