1. PICART vs SMITH, JR.

FACTS:

This is an action for recovery of damages filed by Amado Picart against Frank Smith, Jr. before
the Court of First Instance of the Province of La Union.

Picart was riding on his pony over Carlatan Bridge at San Fernando, La Union, while Smith was
riding his automobile from the opposite direction. Picart saw Smith’s automobile approaching;
however, he improperly pulled his pony closely up against the railing on the right side of the
bridge. Smith, on the other hand, guided his automobile toward Picart without diminution of
speed. It was when he had gotten near the horse that Smith quickly turned his car to the right to
avoid hitting the animal. In so doing, Smith’s car passed so closely to the horse making the said
animal frightened and jumped, causing its death. Picart also sustained injuries.

ISSUE:

Whether or not Smith was guilty of negligence such as gives rise to his civil obligation.

RULING:

The Court ruled in the affirmative.

In this case, it was Smith who has the control of the situation. He has either the chance to bring
his car to an immediate stop or to pass sufficiently far away from the horse to avoid the danger of
collision. However, Smith chose to run straight on until he was almost upon the horse . In view of
the known nature of horses, if the animal in question was unaccustomed with automobiles, he
might get excited and jump just like what happened in this case. When Smith exposed the horse
and Picart to this danger he was, according to the Court, negligent in the eye of the law. Thus,
Smith was civilly liable to Picart.