Ellwein v. Town of Roscoe, 174 N.W. 748

Ellwein v. Town of Roscoe

174 N.W. 748 | S.D. | 1919

WHITING, J.

Action to recover damages for personal injuries. Verdict and judgment for plaintiff. Appeal from judgment and order denying a new trial.

In the cement crosswalks in • appellant town gutter openings-were left,- which openings were covered by planks Testing upon-rods embedded in the cement. Respondent met another woman, just at one of these gutters. This other woman stepped one one end of the plank covering, and the opposite end flew up, trippingf and throwing respondent down and causing her serious physical' injury.

[1] Respondent pleads negligence in the construction and' maintenance of the plank covering; also that appellant had actual' notice of such negligent construction and maintenance. She offered, and the trial court received, evidence that tended to prove that this covering was in an improper condition long after it was-constructed and a considerable time prior to the alleged accident. This evidence also -tended to corroborate the evidence of faulty construction and to prove the negligent maintenance pleaded; incidentally it tended to establish constructive notice of the defective-condition. The receipt of. this evidence is assigned as error. The only objection on which this assignment can be predicated is that such evidence was “not within the issues of this -case and incompetent.” That it was competent on the -question of negligent maintenance is clear. But appellant contends that it was not “within the issues,” as it tended to prove constructive notice of the defective condition when only actual notice was pleaded. -Appellant’s remedy, in case there was no evidence of actual notice, was by a motion to strike out such evidence, or a request that the court caution the jury to consider the evidence only upon the-question of whether the original construction was proper.

*303[2] It is evident from the whole record that the trial court tried the case upon the theory that the pleadings were sufficient to sustain proof of constructive notice of the alleg'ed 'defective condition of the plank covering. To object to this evidence as “not within the issues” was insufficient to -base error, if any, in the court’s trying the case upon the theory above noted. The interposition of an objection should not be the mere setting of a hidden trap to be sprung upon motion for a new trial and upon appeal. Unless the objection is one that cannot be. cured, a general objection is insufficient. As said by the territorial court in Caledonia Min. Co. v. Noonan, 3 Dak. 189, 14 N. W. 426:

“If parties desire to avail themselves of * * * objections, they must make them in the trial court, with such particularity and so specifically that this court can see that such trial court has passed upon the very question presented here.”

We believe that the above announces a just Tule and provides a guide that the appellate court should follow. Certainly this court cannot say that the objection interposed called attention to the fact that constructive notice was not pleaded. We must presume that, if the attention of the court and respondent had been properly called to this fact, if it was a fact, respondent would liave immediately asked to amend the complaint to conform to the proof.

[3] Respondent testified, over objection, as to what she paid for medicine bills, hospital charges, operations, etc. Appellant •assigns as error the admission of this evidence, and ¡'urges that there is no testimony that these payments were reasonable, and it asserts a well-established rule when it says that “the 'reasonableness of the charges * * * must be established.” But again appellant has failed to pursue its proper remedy. Respondent’s evidence as to what she paid was competent and was properly received. If she failed to prove by further testimony the reasonableness of these payments, it constituted a mere failure of proof, which- rendered immaterial the proof as to what she had paid. A motion to strike the evidence, or a request for an instruction taking these elements of damages from the jury, would have fully protected appellant in its rights. Kolka v. Jones, 6 N. D. 461, 71 N. W. 558, 66 Am. St. Rep. 615.

[4] Appellant assigns as error the receipt of answers to cer*304tain questions asked of respondent’s expert witness. A consideration of one question is sufficient. A doctor was asked:

“And basing your opinion, doctor, upon the evidence and statements from her as to how the injury she received at Roscoe-occurred, and upon your original examination and treatment of .her, and upon your examination, both physical and X-ray, in your opinion would the injur}' which she suffered be considered the predisposing cause of the present condition of her hip?”

The objection which appellant now urges, and the only one-urged, is that “no proper foundation had been laid.” Appellant urges, and has cited numerous authorities holding, that an expert 'cannot properly be asked an opinion based upon statements that have been made to him, and upon what he had learned from a. physical examination of a party, until he has disclosed to the jury the substance of such statements and what he found upon such: examination. Conceding such to be the law, it is evident that the objection interposed did not direct the trial court’s attention, to what it was that was lacking as a foundation for the question. For all the record' shows, appellant may have had in mind that the witness had not laid the proper foundation to testify at all as an expert- — - had not shown that he was an expert. What we have-said in connection with the first assignment discussed is peculiarly applicable to this one. If a proper objection had been interposed,, respondent could readily have placed before the jury all that was needed as a basis for the question asked.

[5] Appellant assigns error in that respondent was permitted to call and examine, as an adverse witness, a member of appellant’s town board. Assuming, -but not deciding, that this witness was improperly called as an adverse witness, yet no question was asked him which the trial court, in its discretion, could not have allowed to have been asked if he had- been called' as a friendly witness.

[6] Appellant assigns as error the overruling of its motion-to direct a verdict. This assignment raises the question of the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain a verdict for respondent. A review of such evidence could serve no useful purpose; there, was-ample to support such a verdict.

[7] Appellant assigns as error the court’s refusal to give-two requested instructions: One, if given, would have taken from *305the jury the right to base a verdict upon negligent construction of the covering; the other would have taken from the jury the question of actual notice. There was evidence from which the jury could find the original construction of the covering to have been faulty. The court in its iustructions virtually took the question of actual notice from the jury. •

[8, 10] Appellant assigns as error the giving of certain instructions to the jury. The instructions, taken as a whole, were very complete and exceptionally fair to appellant. We deem- it necessary to note but two exceptions: Exception was taken to an instruction submitting to the jury the question of constructive notice. The ground of the exception was that constructive notice was “not within the issues of this case.” The case, in the absence of a proper objection to the receipt of evidence, having been tried throughout on the theory that constructive notice was an issue, it was the duty of the court, if the complaint did not plead constructive notice, to have directed its amendment to conform to the proof, and this court will consider this exception as though such amendment had been made. The exception was _not well taken. Appellant excepted to an instruction submitting to the jury the determination of both special and actual damages, and appellant objected upon the ground that there was “no evidence in the record supporting any claim of actual or special damages.” In its argument appellant merely raises the point that there was no evidence that the expenditures 'made by respondent were necessary or reasonable. There was ample evidence from which the jury could determine that the expenditures were for necessary purposes. There was alsoi evidence upon the question of the reasonableness of at least some of the expenditures. If appellant thought there was evidence lacking as to certain items, it should have asked for instructions taking such'items from the jury’s consideration. ;

[11] Appellant has raised the point that the verdict was so excessive as to indicate that it was given under the influence of passion and prejudice. The verdict was for $5,000. The evidence shows that respondent suffered much pain and inconvenience; that she had to undergo much medical and surgical treatment; that her *306earning capacity is seriously impaired; that her injury is not only permanent in its nature, but of a nature that threatens her very life. The verdict furnishes no evidence that the jury were in.fluenced by passion or prejudice.

[12] Finally, appellant assigns reversible error in a certain statement made by one of respondent’s counsel in his final address to the jury. This statement -was most unprofessional in its nature, and its author was deserving of severe censure. In effect, counsel told the jury that he had talked with many of the citizens of appellant town; that they agreed that the facts were as claimed by respondent; but that, being inhabitants of such town, they could not appear as witnesses for respondent. That such a statement was made is not denied, but respondent’s counsel make light of it, and state:

“Whatever error might be predicated upon such remark was promptly cured by the statement of the court, and there was nothing in the remark that could, in any way, be deemed prejudicial. *' * *”

The counsel who made the statement is too good a lawyer not to know that it would have been error for the court to have allowed him to go upon the witness stand (where he would have been subject to cross examination and his evidence subject to rebuttal) there to testify to the same facts which he improperly stated to ’ the j.ury. Counsel also knows that no statement by the court could undo the injury that might result from such statement. If the trial court had granted a new trial because of such statement we would sustain its ruling. But this trial was otherwise most fair throughout; the verdict was eminently just; the trial court, which was in a far better position than we are to judge of the weight which this improper remark had with the jury, has by its order denying" a new trial said that, in its opinion, the jury disregarded' it. It is quite probable that the trial court was influenced in its decision by the fact that counsel was not a resident of the county wherein the trial was had, and -that, therefore, his statement would not carry equal weight with the statement of a reputable attorney to a jury of his *307neighbors. Respondent should not be punished for the unprofessional conduct of her counsel, unless there is a reasonable certainty that she gained an undue advantage thereby. We, therefore, not without hesitancy, accede to the views of the trial court.

The judgment and order appealed from are affirmed.

McCO'Y, J., not sitting.