Dowd v. McGinnity

152 N.W. 524 | N.D. | 1915

Lead Opinion

Burke, J.

This is an action for damages alleged to have been sustained by reason of an assault and battery. Plaintiff recovered judgment in lower court for $6,550 damages, with interest. Defendant appeals, assigning thirty-four errors of law relating to the admission ■and rejection of testimony; that the evidence is insufficient to justify the verdict, and the further grounds that the court erred in refusing to ■allow him a new1 trial upon shoAving of newly discovered evidence. He has grouped his assignments under eleven points in his brief, and we will discuss the same in the order selected by him.

(1) In support of the damages alleged to have been sustained, plaintiff offered in evidence the deposition of a Dr. Judd, of Rochester, Minnesota, who testified that he had examined the records of St. Mary’s Hospital at that place to refresh his memory, and that the same showed that Mr. Dowd had a systolic cardiac murmur. When the deposition Was read, the objection Avas made that the doctor had not testified from his OAvn recollection independently, nor after refreshing his memory so that he was able thereafter to testify of his own knoAvledge, and that therefore the testimony Avas based entirely upon the Avritten records of the hospital which may have been made by other persons. It is difficult to tell from the printed abstract, whether or not such Avas admissible. The objections to the deposition as a whole were not made in writing and filed prior to the trial as provided in § 1906, Comp. Laws 1913, but Avere made orally at the time such deposition was offered in evidence and to specific questions. This is a very unsatisfactory procedure, and leaves this court in doubt as to the state of the eAÚdence Avhen the rulings were made.

This is the entire record:

Q. Did you, on or about the 16th day of June, 1910, examine M. B. Doato concerning injuries to his head? (Objection overruled.)

A. I think I examined him about this time. I feel pretty sure I did.

Q. Are these records kept in your hospitals concerning the date and facts in reference to such an examination? (Objection overruled.)

A. They are.

Q. Consulting those to refresh your memory, I ask you to state what condition you found Mr. Dowd to be in, in reference to injuries to his head and skull, if you found any such injuries or evidence thereof ? (Objection overruled.)

A. The record shows that M. B. Dowd was examined on the 6-16-10.

Mr. Sinker. Move to strike out the answer on the same grounds set forth in the objection.

The Court. Strike out the answer.

A. (continued) Aside from the subjective murmur, he had a systolic cardiac murmur. (Objection.)

The Court. I think the court will let it go in.-

Mr. LeSueur. We ask leave of the court, in view of the objection, to be allowed to read that portion of the answer showing the result of the X-ray examination, leaving out the balance of the answer.

The Court. We can’t split it up.

This is all of the record concerning Dr. Judd’s testimony that is presented to us in the settled statement of the case. Instead of making the objection at the time the doctor was being examined, thus allowing the plaintiff to supply any inadvertent omissions, such objection was offered at a time when the correction could not possibly be made. We are unable to see any prejudicial error in this incident.

(2) Dr. LeBarge was called as a witness for plaintiff, and was asked this question: “Q. Is a person in the condition that the testimony shows — that the testimony of Dr. Stobey shows, and in the condition as shown by your own observation — in a condition to perform mental and physical labor?” This question was objected to on the ground that it -was not a proper question, based upon the opinion of another witness without assuming the truth thereof. The Court. “That is, assuming that the evidence given by such and such witnesses are true. Overruled, — I will let him answer.” And it further appears that after cross-examination and the doctor had testified that he differed with Mr. Stobey as to the result of the injury, the court struck out his evidence and cautioned the jury as follows: “The court instructs you that when the evidence he gaye is stricken out, it is not to be considered.” It is doubtful whether any error occurred in the admissions of the testimony in the first place, but if there -were it was cured by tbe later ruling and tbe cautionary instructions to the jury. Appellant has devoted many pages of his brief to the conceded proposition that a witness may not give his opinion based on the testimony of other witnesses, without assuming such testimony to be true. In view of the fact that, in this instance, the court only admitted the testimony upon the assumption, as stated by him and heard by the doctor, that such evidence was true, such authorities become immaterial. Other questions to which objections were made, were not answered by the witness, and no error therefore can be predicated. Again, Dr. LaBarge was asked to state from all of the testimony, including that of Dr. -Stobey, and from his own observation, if a complete recovery of the plaintiff was probable, and he answered: “Not probable.” This question and answer occurred after the statement of the trial court that he would only admit such testimony if it assumed the truth of the previous testimony, and was likewise stricken out by the court after cross-examination of the witness. Respondent relies upon Walters v. Rock, 18 N. D. 45, 115 N. W. 511, to show that the question was proper because the testimony of Mr. Stobey was not disputed. The question is also treated in Kerstein v. Great Northern R. Co. 28 N. D. 3, 147 N. W. 787. In view of all of the facts it is apparent that no reversible error can be predicated upon this ruling.

(3) While the defendant was upon the stand in his own behalf, and being cross-examined by plaintiff’s attorney, he was asked whether or not he had been arrested and convicted in a criminal action for assault and battery relative to those same facts. This testimony was admitted over objection, and defendant replied that he had been. The objection was that the evidence was incompetent, irrelevant, and immaterial. This did not point out to the trial court the particulars in which the question was considered objectionable. Whether or not this alone would justify the trial court in overruling the same, we need not discuss. For a correct statement of this rule, see the recent case of Huston v. Johnston, 29 N. D. 546, 151 N. W. 774, but in this particular instance the abstract shows that later in the trial the court said: “The court thinks it admitted some evidence that Avas improper, yesterday, in regard to permitting the defendant to ansAver questions in regard to whether he was convicted of assault, and I will entertain a motion to strike it out at this time.” (Motion to strike made by the ■defendant.) “Let the record show tbat tbe motion is granted. Gentlemen of tbe jury, tbis court sustained a motion to strike out tbe evidence in connection witb tbe conviction of tbe defendant for assault and battery connected witb tbis same transaction. In considering tbe ■evidence in tbis case, you mustn’t consider tbat in your deliberations.” If any error existed and tbe objection was properly raised, sucb error was cured.

(4) One Reiser, a witness for defendant, testified tbat be bad called upon plaintiff shortly after tbe alleged assault and bad talked witb bim at tbat time. Certain questions were asked bim in an attempt to show tbat in witness’s opinion plaintiff at tbat time talked rationally. In State v. Barry, 11 N. D. 428, 92 N. W. 809, at page 441 of tbe state report it is said: “Tbe rule is well established, and applies to civil as well as to criminal cases, tbat upon an issue of insanity, tbe layman when called as a witness may be required to give an opinion. But in sucb cases there must be laid a foundation upon which tbe opinion called for is to rest for support. Tbe preliminary examination must develop sufficient facts to show tbe competency of tbe witness; i. e. sufficient to show that he is in a position to give an opinion which will possess at least some value as testimony. Tbe foundation facts must furnish a rational ground for tbe opinion.” We have examined tbe record carefully upon tbis phase of tbe case, and have reached tbe conclusion tbat those questions were excluded by tbe trial court upon tbe grounds of incompetency of the witness to testify. Tbe same kind of questions were allowed when tbe witnesses qualified themselves, showing tbat tbe rule was well understood by tbe court. Bor instance, tbe same witness was asked: “Q. Did anything occur at tbat time? Did Ke at tbat time speak in a slow tone of voice or as be ordinarily did ?” Objected to as incompetent, no foundation laid, calling for a conclusion and leading. Overruled. “Q. And was there any difference between tbis talk at tbis time when you were in tbe hotel there, and talk you bad witb bim before?” Objected to as calling for a conclusion »f tbe witness, no proper foundation laid for it. Overruled.” It appears from the record tbat defendant was allowed to examine the witness in full as to everything tbat occurred, and to give all tbe conversations bad witb tbe plaintiff, and if tbe witness was not allowed to state whether or not in bis opinion sucb conversation was rational, it was upon the ground of incompetency only. Upon this phase, the witness states: “I talked to him just a few minutes. He talked all right for a little while. ... I think it was the same summer of' the trouble — though I would not swear to it. . . . I think I saw him once just prior to the injury, to know him, that was all. I would, not swear I had talked three times, or more or less, to him.” The witness also testified as follows: “Q. Then he got excited and rattled in. his speech? A. Not for a while. He didn’t talk just the same all the-time. He apparently forgot what he was going to say. He turned to* his wife. He says: ‘What was that I was going to say ?’ That was. the second occasion I met him.” We do not think defendant has any cause for complaint upon this assignment. The examination was full, and complete, and there was ample reason for excluding the three questions.

(5) One Hankey testified for the defendant to the effect that he had. known plaintiff and talked with him in the spring of 1911. He was-asked several questions tending to show that the plaintiff’s mental condition was better than claimed at the trial, and as a sample we set. forth the following: “Q. Was his manner yesterday while he was in the court room any different from his manner when he was transacting-this business with you?” Objected to as “improper comparison, irrelevant, and immaterial.” The record shows that the witness had one talk with the plaintiff about half an hour in the spring of 1911, and that this was the only conversation he had had with him, and there is no-showing that he made any observation of plaintiff at that time. It is. thus evident that he was not in a position to draw a comparison between his conduct on that occasion and at the trial. The question is obviously unfair. As stated in the preceding paragraph, the foundation laid for an opinion of this kind must be thorough. There is no error in said rulings.

(6) One Spangerud was called as a witness for the defendant, and testified that he did not notice any difference in plaintiff’s actions or-talk since the 26th of May, 1910, the date of the alleged assault. This, was stricken out, after the cross-examination of the witness had elicited the following admission: “I have never paid any attention to Mr. Dowd’s speech — I couldn’t honestly say that I had observed it,” the-trial court did perfectly right in striking out the opinion previously-given.

(7) One Nock was a witness for defendant. He testified that he had known plaintiff since May, 1911, and went to his home in the-, spring of 1911 to rent some land, and that he had' an opportunity to notice plaintiff’s appearance, demeanor, and manner of talk. He-was then asked this question: “Q. Was his appearance, demeanor, and manner of talk yesterday on the witness stand different from his appearance, demeanor, and manner of talk at the time you met him in the spring of 1911?” To this the objection was made that it was improper comparison, and no foundation laid; therefore, incompetent. The objection was sustained, and properly so. Witness had not shown any particular observation of the plaintiff at that time, and the question was so framed that the slightest difference in those respects, would! allow an answer “yes” to be interposed. The question was unfair and was properly excluded.

(8) One Mr. Stobey, a witness for the plaintiff, as an expert was asked this question: “Q. From an examination of the plaintiff since-the injury, are you able to state in what nervous condition you found him? A. Well, he can’t sleep without having all kinds of hallucinations, dreaming all kinds of things, when he did sleep; and complains of pains at different regions.” Defendant moved to strike out this, answer as hearsay, and to strike out the words, “complains of pains in different regions,” as not being part of the res gestos. The motion was denied. It is argued that the answer of the witness must, of necessity, be based upon what was told to him by the patient, and therefore hearsay. The record, however, does not bear out this contention. The doctor had treated plaintiff immediately after his injuries and off and on from that time until the trial. He states over- and over again that his testimony is based upon his personal examination. For instance,, he says: “The result of the examination was that I found plaintiff in practically the same condition, nervous as before. ... At the-time I was treating plaintiff, I made an examination of his skull. I found an injury over the left eye; about an inch from the central orbit. I found a depression, and I found it would be likely to cause the neurasthenic condition. This neurasthenic condition is a probable result of such an injury. ... In my examination of Mr. Dowd, I noticed a deformity of the nasal bones. It was a fracture of the nasal bones.” The very question to which objection was taken begins with the words, “from an examination of the plaintiff, . . .” It is thus apparent that the doctor’s testimony was based, partially at least, upon his personal examination of plaintiff’s physical condition, and possibly he was able from such an examination to state positively that plaintiff’s nervous system was in such a condition that dreams must of necessity come and hallucinations torment him. The objection that it is based upon hearsay is without merit.

(9) One of the witnesses for defendant was asked whether or not the plaintiff was able to sign his name to a mortgage in the spring of 1911. The witness had testified as follows: “I don’t know as I ever had any conversation with him at all before the 26th of May, 1910. I just knew the man when I met him, — passed the time of day.” There being no foundation laid for an opinion, the. witness was clearly incompetent to testify upon the subject of insanity, and otherwise the testimony was immaterial. The objections were properly sustained.

(10) Under this heading, defendant insists that the evidence in the case is insufficient to justify the verdict, and that in any event the verdict is excessive. We have examined the evidence with care, and have reached the conclusion that it is sufficient to support a verdict., and that the verdict is not excesive. We will, as briefly as possible, set forth a few quotations from the testimony of the various witnesses which go to support this conclusion. Plaintiff used fourteen, and the defendant twenty-one, witnesses. It is impossible, of course, to give extracts from all of their testimonies. It is apparent that some hard feelings existed between the plaintiff and defendant prior to the assault, and there is evidence that upon one occasion defendant invited plaintiff to come off from his (plaintiff’s) land to fight, and that plaintiff declined, whereupon defendant remarked that he would catch him off of the place sometime, and, “pound the hell out of you.” Upon the 26th of May, 1910, defendant and plaintiff met in one of the side streets of the vilage of Tioga. Plaintiff testifies that he did not see the defendant at all, and has no recollection of the assault. Defendant testifies that plaintiff was the aggressor. One Furstenow was a witness to the assault, and testifies as follows: “The first I saw was Mr. McGinnity apparently laying his coat on some packages that were on the ground, — he had just let go of it, and Dowd was standing possibly a rod or two southeast of him towards the depot. Dowd was facing towards me, and McGinnity had his back towards me. Just as Mc-Ginnity dropped his coat, he went — started to run towards Mr. Dowd. Dowd at the same time raised up his arms to his face, and Mr. Mc-Ginnity got to him and hit him and knocked him down. , And after he knocked him down, Mr. Dowd fell on his side and rolled over on his face, and Mr. McGinnity took hold of his neck and chucked his face into the street several times, then rolled him over on to his back. After he rolled him over on. to his back, he took hold of his neck, or clothing somewhere about the neck, and raised him high enough so his head hung from the ground a few inches, possibly 4 or 5, and hit him in the face again. Then he let' him down easy, and at that time Dr. Stobey came around the corner, and McGinnity faced him, and that was all that was done. . . . The street along there was apparently a very hard street. I think there are stones there. I did not see Dowd strike McGinnity or offer to strike him. He did not strike McGinnity at any time. I was watching the case. He made no effort to strike McGinnity. . . . When I first saw Dowd, he was facing, the northwest, apparently doing nothing. McGinnity was stooping over in the act of dropping a coat. He was in a partially stooping position. When he went towards Dowd, he ran. Dowd backed up, put his hands above his face. When McGinnity came up to him, he struck him in the face. He knocked him down the first blow'. Dowd apparently tried to protect his face from the blow at the time that Mc-Ginnity struck him. He had his arms across his face. . . . Dowd was trying to back up; backing up. He did not advance towards McGinnity at all. I was in a position where I could see the parties plainly. There was no obstruction to my view. ... I think McGinnity is a larger man than Dowd, I know that by contrast. When McGinnity struck Dowd down with the first blow, he did not try to throw the blow aside with his hands, just simply stood there and took it. Only he had his hands raised up. I saw he made no effort whatever to attempt to parry the blow. I know he held his hands. Simply held them still. He did not move them in either one way or the other, in order to avoid any blows that were being struck, Dowd did not have his coat off. McGinnity picked up his coat and put it on — took his packages and left. And Dr. Stobey called to Mr. Nesseth. They picked up Mr. Dowd and took him to Dr. Stobey’s office.” Dr. Stobey testified that'they took plaintiff to his office and examined him. Found. several cuts and bruises. A cut on the lip, about a quarter of an inch deep, clear through the upper lip, a broken nose, and an injury to the skull over the left eye where there was a depression. He testifies that plaintiff remained unconscious about an hour, and was unable to leave the hotel for about ten days, and that later he went to Rochester, Minnesota, for treatment. Also that the witness had treated him for about a year after the injury. He testifies: “I noticed a difference physically and mentally in the condition of Mr. Dowd after the' injury. The difference I noticed was that he could not talk coherently for any length of time, or probably for any time. He had a tendency to cry when you talked to him a while, and considerable worry it seems on his mind. Complains of pains in his head at times, and those things; ‘Do not feel strong,’-he says. . . . Ever since the injury he could not talle coherently. ... I mean by the word ‘coherently,’ asking a certain question, and not answering the question. Probably talking about some other subject altogether. ... I have made an examination of the plaintiff since the injury to ascertain his nervous condition. The result of the examination was that I found plaintiff in practically the same condition, nervous as before. I mean that there has been practically no change in his nervous condition since the injury. . . . Any injury to the brain would be likely to cause the condition, and that is one of the usual causes. ... I found an injury over the left eye about an inch from the central orbit. I found a depression. I found it would be likely to cause the neurasthenic condition. This neurasthenic condition is a probable result of such an injury. I noticed a deformity of the nasal bones. It was a fracture of the nasal bones. . . . The patient did not have a full appreciation and' memory of things that were transpiring around him. He was not the same after that . . . as he was before. He did not do any work. That is, he was not working while I was out there. He refused to talk, lots of times. Simply would not say a word, and that was apparently one of those abnormal periods.” Dr. LeBarge also examined the plaintiff, and testifies: “His manner, mental and physical condition, were first class prior to the injury. Since the injury I have met him a few times at Williston. Have met him quite recently. I have noticed a change in the condition of plaintiff before and after this injury. ... I have deduced that there was a lack of memory and an impediment in his speach, and a staring look, with pupils of both eyes widely dilated, and a general emaciation of the whole muscular system, and impediment in his walk, — unsteadiness in his walk. The conditions continue up to the present time. I have not formed any opinion as to whether or not he will ever completely recover from it.” Dr. Windell made an examination of the plaintiff under the direction of the court, and testified: “T found a man apparently in a weak physical condition, with a marked impediment in his speech, a tendency to reach a stage of excitement with very little provocation, crying at the least attempt to cross him in anything, with an unequality of the pupils as I remember at the time, and symptom^ very distinct of some disordered condition of the brain. 77

Other witnesses testified to plaintiff’s mental condition, and fully corroborate the conclusion announced by the doctors. Moreover, plaintiff was witness at the trial, and it is apparent from his cross-examination that he was either suffering from some mental disorder or was an extraordinary simulator. The attorney for defendant abandoned the cross-examination under circumstances which leave the impression that he (said attorney) believed the witness mentally unsound. Anyhow, the question was one for the jury, who saw all of the witnesses, including plaintiff, upon the stand, and were in a better position to judge of the injury than are we. We believe there was sufficient evidence, not only to carry the case to the jury, but to support the amount found by them.

(11) The'last assignment of error relates to the refusal of the trial court to allow a new trial for newly discovered evidence. This newly discovered evidence was presented in the form of an affidavit of one Nora Van Waggennen, who deposes that on the 26th of May, 1910, she saw the two parties, and that Dowd first spoke to McGinnity, and that both parties talked a little, and that Dowd used words in an angry manner towards McGinnity and then appeared to be about to attack McGinnity; and that, realizing there was to be a fight, she looked the: other way so she would not see it. We do not believe the testimony was material enough to justify a new trial. She saw nothing afterMcGinnity dropped his coat. True, her testimony had a tendency to show Dowd the aggressor, but it will be remembered that the jury found no punitive, only actual, damage, and the verdict can be supported regardless of who was the aggressor. The showing of diligence is likewise very weak. The trial court had wide discretion in such matters, and will not be reversed excepting for abuse. The judgment of the trial court is in all things affirmed.

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Concurrence Opinion

Bruce, J.

(specially concurring). I concur in the result of the foregoing opinion. However, I merely concur in the conclusions reached in ¶¶ 3 and 8 of the syllabus, because I believe that a fair trial was had and that no real prejudice arose from the rulings. As far as ¶ 3 is concerned I believe that the trial court erred, and that the subsequent instruction could not have cured the error if it had in fact been prejudicial. This evidence, however, shows conclusively that the defendant was the real aggressor in the assault before us, and I am satisfied that the jury must and would have found this to have been the fact outside of any prior verdict or conviction.

Case Details

Case Name: Dowd v. McGinnity

Court Name: North Dakota Supreme Court

Date Published: Apr 5, 1915

Citation: 152 N.W. 524

Court Abbreviation: N.D.