291 N.W. 14 | Mich. | 1940
This is an action under the survival act (3 Comp. Laws 1929, § 14040 et seq. [Stat. Ann. § 27.684 et seq.]) brought by plaintiff, Mary Donahue, administratrix of the estate of John Donahue, deceased. The principal facts are not in dispute. On the 11th day of December, 1937, at about the hour of 2:30 p. m., the defendant Mollie Gordon was the owner of an Oldsmobile automobile and the same was being driven by her son, Harold N. Gordon, with her knowledge and consent, in a southerly direction on Woodrow Wilson avenue in the city of Detroit. At about the same time, defendant Eugene W. Zeckman was the owner of a Ford sedan and was driving the same in an easterly direction on West Bethune avenue towards and across the intersection of Woodrow Wilson and West Bethune avenues. Both cars attempted to cross the intersection at the same time and as a result a collision occurred with the Zeckman car finally coming to a stop between the curb and the sidewalk about 25 feet east of the southeast corner of the intersection.
About the time the two cars were entering the intersection, plaintiff's decedent, John Donahue, was walking east on the south side of Bethune avenue on the sidewalk about 15 or 20 feet east of Woodrow Wilson avenue. The eastbound car struck plaintiff's decedent and he sustained three fractures of the thigh and leg bones as well as suffering other injuries. He died four days later in the hospital. At the time of his death, he was past 60 years of age, addicted to the use of alcohol, and had no gainful occupation. The cause was tried without a jury. The trial court found that both drivers were guilty of negligence and rendered judgment in favor of plaintiff in the sum of $297.40 for hospital bills and *584 funeral expenses and $1,200 for pain and suffering. The defendants Mollie Gordon and Harold N. Gordon appeal and contend that the finding of negligence on the part of defendants Gordon is against the preponderance of the evidence.
In considering the claimed negligence on the part of the driver of the Gordon car we have in mind that there is testimony showing that the Zeckman car was more than half way across Woodrow Wilson avenue when the impact occurred; that neither car made any effort to give way to the other car; and that if any car was entitled to the right of way it was not the Gordon car. There is evidence that as Gordon approached the intersection he saw the Zeckman car approaching from the west. Gordon made no attempt to stop. He thought he could cross in front of the approaching car, but was mistaken. In our opinion there is competent evidence to sustain the finding of the trial court that defendant Harold N. Gordon was guilty of negligence. See Leonard v. Hey,
The trial court found that, "There is, of course, no question of contributory negligence in this case on the part of the deceased. He was where he had a right to be, and was under no compulsion to expect that automobiles would come up on the sidewalk and strike him from behind." The record supports such a finding on the part of the trial court. See Grant v.Richardson,
It is next contended that the trial court was in error in allowing any amount for funeral expense and Spillman v.Weimaster,
Nor do we think the amount allowed for pain and suffering was excessive. The record shows that deceased was injured at about 2:30 p. m., on December 11, 1937, and died at 9 p. m., on December 14th. The trial court said: "the pain and suffering endured, under all the circumstances, should be reasonably compensated by an allowance of $1,200."
In Collins v. Hull,
"While the monetary compensation cannot be measured with any degree of certainty, nevertheless, plaintiff is entitled to a substantial amount for the pain and suffering endured by decedent. Oakes v. Van Zomeren,
The judgment of the trial court is affirmed, with costs to plaintiff.
BUSHNELL, C.J., and POTTER, CHANDLER, NORTH, McALLISTER, WIEST, and BUTZEL, JJ., concurred. *586