Reger v. Rochester Railway Co. — 73 N.Y. St. Rep. 209

Majority

p. 209

Joseph B. Reger, as Administrator, etc., Resp’t, v. Rochester Railway Company, App’lt.

(Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Fourth Department,

Filed Feb’ry 7, 1896.)

Headnote

1. Damages—Vebdict—Setting aside.

The appellate court is justified in interfering with a verdict only in those cases, where it appears that they, in fixing the amount of the verdict, were actuated by prejudice, passion, partiality, or corruption, or failed to understand and apply the rule of damages appertaining to the case, or, where it can be clearly seen from the record that, under all the circumstances of the case, the amount awarded was unreasonable and unfair.

2, Same. .....~

A verdict for $375 for the death of a girl three and one-half-years old, intelligent and in good health was, in this case, set aside as inadequate.

Appeal from an order, setting aside a verdict for plaintiff on the ground of inadequacy.

Appeal from an order made at the circuit term of the supreme court held in the county of Monroe, February 5, 1895, setting aside a verdict in favor of the plaintiff on the sole ground that the verdict was inadequate. This action was brought under the statute to recover damages for the alleged negligent killing of the plaintiff’s intestate, who was a daughter of plaintiff. April 24, 1893, plaintiff’s inte'state was killed by one of the oars operated by the defendant, which is a railroad corporation, operating a line

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of railway by electricity in the city of Rochester. Issues were joined upon the question of the defendant’s negligence, of intestate’s contributory negligence, and that of her parents. The evidence upon those questions was conflicting, and was submitted to the jury. The jury rendered a verdict in favor of the plaintiff for the sum of $375. All the testimony given by the plaintiff upon the question of damages was this: The child was three and one-half years old, bright, intelligent, active, and in good health. She resided with her parents and her brother and sisters. The other children were Elizabeth, seven years old Margaret, five years old ; Edward," two years old; and Minnie, one year old. The father was thirty-four years old in January, 1894, and at the time of the accident was working for a furniture company. He was a cabinet maker by trade, and earned $11 a week.

Charles J. Bissell, for app’lt; John Yan Yoorhis, for resp’t.

The sole question here presented is whether this court can say as matter of law that the jury violated any rule in giving the amount of damages which they Rid give, or that they should have given more. That the supreme court has the power, in a proper case, to set aside a verdict where it is excessive or inadequate, is conceded; but this power is exercised within well-defined limitations. The court is justified in interfering with a verdict of a jury only in those cases where it appears that the jury, in fixing the amount of the verdict, were actuated by prejudice, passion, partiality, or corruption, or failed to understand and apply, the rule of damages appertaining to the case; or where it can be clearly seen from the record that under all the circumstances of the case the amount awarded was unreasonable and unfair. Applying this rule to the case at bar, the verdict of the jury is subject to no criticism which would justify the court in interfering with its verdict. There are many cases brought under the statute where the evidence is such that the question of damages may be fixed with some reasonable degree of certainty; as in the case of an adult where the jury have before them evidence of the earning capacity and the age and condition in life of the deceased. But in the case of a child of 3^ years the evidence upon the question of damages must necessarily be indefinite, and to some degree uncertain. The age, the sex of the child, her physical condition, and circumstances of the parent of the child constitute the evidence upon which the jury must fix the amount of damages. In this case the child has never had any earning capacity, and possibly might never have had such. “In estimating the pecuniary value of this child to her next of kin, the jury could take into consideration all the probable, or even possible, benefits which might result to them from her life, modified, as in their estimate they should be, by all the chances of failure and misfortune. There is no rule but their own good sense for their guidance.” Birkett v. Knickerbocker Ice Co., 110 N. Y. 504 ; 18 St. Rep. 130 . The jury were bound to confine themselves to the evidence given upon the question to be decided. It was their duty to con

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sider the same, and pass their judgment upon it, Their determination must not be the result of mere speculation, conjecture, or guesswork. The foundation upon which they must build their verdict is the evidence. In view of the somewhat indefinite and uncertain character of the evidence, we are of the opinion, that this case is peculiarly one for the consideration of a jury, and one where the determination of a jiiry should be conclusive. No safer tribunal than the experience, good sense, and judgment of twelve men can be found for the determination of the question of damages in a case of this character. So far as appears from the record, the jury considered that somewhat difficult question, and arrived at a verdict which to them, fairly represented the pecuniary damages sustained by the next of kin. They had before them all the elements of damages properly involved in the plaintiffs claim. They violated no rule governing them in arriving at their conclusion; nor does it appear from their verdict or from record presented to the court that they passed beyond the limits prescribed within which they must exercise their functions. The court might have been better satisfied with a larger verdict But this alone furnishes no sufficient reason for invading the province of a jury, and substituting the opinion of the court for that of the jury. We are of the opinion that the verdict of the jury was conclusive, and that the order setting aside, the same should be reversed.

Order reversed, with costs.

All concur.

Cases cited

Birkett v. Knickerbocker Ice Co. 110 N. Y. 504 N.Y. 1888-10-02 p. 210