Megowan

The plaintiffs filed separate actions for damages for injuries to person and property against the City of Los Angeles and M. E. Meador caused by a collision between a city-owned car operated by the defendant Meador and a car operated by the plaintiff Megowan, with whom the plaintiff Onstad was riding. Judgments were entered in favor of the plaintiffs against both defendants. The defendant Meador has not appealed. The appeal of the defendant city is presented on a consolidated record.

The collision occurred between 7 :40 and 8 o’clock on Saturday morning, December 23, 1933, at the intersection of Beverly Boulevard and Highland Avenue in the City of Los Angeles. No point is raised with reference to the issue of negligence or the extent of the damage suffered by the plaintiffs.

At the time of the accident Rex W. Laws was, and for some time prior thereto had been, president of the board of fire commissioners of the City of Los Angeles. The fire commission is a citizen board, has its offices in the city hall and has the power and duty under the city charter to manage, control, regulate and supervise the fire department of the city. The Buick automobile involved in the…