Scott v. Hansen

Supreme Court of Iowa

289 N.W. 710 (1940)

Relevant factsFree

Scott (plaintiff) sued Hansen (defendant) after being injured when Hansen's car struck a cow, but Scott's own witnesses gave irreconcilable testimony -- some describing tire marks suggesting braking before impact, others insisting Hansen never braked and was going so fast the cow flew 30 feet into the air; the trial court denied Hansen's motion for a directed verdict and the jury ruled for Scott.

IssueFree

Whether a motion for summary judgment or a directed verdict must be granted when no competent evidence supports the plaintiff's case.

Holding & reasoning

The court resolved the question by applying the controlling rule to the facts and explaining precisely why the outcome followed. Its reasoning ties the doctrine to the record so you can reproduce the analysis on an exam.

Procedural history, concurrence & dissent

This section traces the case from the trial court through appeal and lays out how each opinion lands. Separate writings sharpen the majority's limits and flag the arguments most likely to resurface in class.

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