Scott v. Banks — 44 A.D. 28

Majority

p. 28

Thora Scott, Respondent, v. Charles Banks, Appellant.

Headnote

Action for personal injuries ^ charge that there was no evidence of pecuniary loss, except such as might he inferred from the services of the physicians.

In an action to recover damages for personal injuries, in which no evidence is given of the value of. the services of the physicians who attended the plaintiff, it is error for the court to charge the jury that there was no evidence in the case of any pecuniary loss, except such as they might infer from the services of the physicians, especially where the court emphasizes such ruling by implying that the burden was upon the defendant of meeting, by direct evidence, the inferences deducible from the mere rendition of the services.

Appeal by the defendant, Charles Banks, from a judgment of the Supreme Court in favor of the plaintiff, entered in the office of the clerk of the county of New York on the 21st day of February^ 1899, upon the verdict of a jury for $1,500, and also from an order entered in said clerk’s office on the 21st day of February, 1899, denying the defendant’s motion for a new trial made upon the minutes.

Austen G. Fox, for the appellant.

Walter H. Wood, for the respondent.

This action was to recover damages for an injury which the plaintiff sustained by falling into a coal hole in front of the defendant’s premises. The plaintiff had a verdict which could probably be sustained but for a ruling upon the subject of damages. This ruling was unfortunately vital. It went to the quantum of damages and if erroneous was essentially harmful.

The plaintiff was attended by two physicians, whose services cov-' ered a considerable period of time. No evidence was given, however, of the value of these services. The defendant’s counsel requested the learned trial judge to charge the jury that there was no evidence in the case that would warrant them in awarding damages for money loss, past "or future. This was his eighth request. In "response to this, the learned judge charged that there was no evidence in the case of any pecuniary loss except such as they might infer from the services of the physicians. The learned counsel for the defendant excepted to this modification and pointedly stated that his exception related to the charge that the jury might find that the plaintiff was entitled “ to pecuniary loss such as they may infer from the services of the physicians.” He then emphasized his position by again requesting the court to charge his eighth request. The court observed that if the defendemos counsel would put in direct evidence, he would charge it. To this the defendant’s counsel replied : “ No, I take an exception to your refusal to charge the eighth.”

It is thus apparent that the learned judge adhered to his original modification of the request and indeed put upon the defendant the burden of meeting, by direct evidence, the inferences deducible from the mere rendition of the services.

It is clear that this view was erroneous. And, as it is impossible to say how much the jury awarded for these services and how much for the plaintiff’s pain and suffering, the verdict cannot stand. It is well settled that where actual pecuniary damages are sought, some evidence must be given showing their existence and extent. (Leeds v. Metropolitan Gas Light Co., 90 N. Y. 26 .) The doctrine of this case has. been repeatedly reaffirmed. (Houghkirk v. D. & H. Canal Co., 92 N. Y. 219 ; Staal v. Grand St. & Newtown R. R. Co., 107 id. 625; Page v. D. & H. Canal Co., 34 App. Div. 618 .)

p. 30

As was well said in the Houghkirk ease, speaking of expenses of another kind, .“ to permit the jury to guess at their amount as an element of the total loss, would be to substitute conjecture for proof.”

The judgment and order appealed from should, therefore, be reversed and a new trial ordered, with costs to the appellant to abide the event.

Van Brunt, P. J., Rumsey, Patterson and O’Brien, JJ., concurred.

Judgment and order reversed, new trial ordered, costs to appellant to abide event.

Cases cited

Leeds v. Metropolitan Gas-light Co. 90 N. Y. 26 N.Y. 1882-10-10 p. 28
Houghkirk v. President, Managers & Co. of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Co. 92 N. Y. 219 N.Y. 1883-04-17 p. 28