36 Iowa 587 | Iowa | 1873
— I. It is claimed that the court erred in instructing the jury, that they were at liberty to give punitive damages, because the act complained of being a crime, the defendant would thus be liable to be twice punished for the same offense.
This question is not now an open one in this State. The whole subject was fully considered in Hendrickson v. Kingsbury, 21 Iowa, 379, in which case the authorities now cited by appellant, and many others, were reviewed. In that case it
And it was held not error to refuse to instruct that, “ In a case of assault and battery, the law provides for the punishment of the offender by a criminal prosecution against him; and in a civil suit against him by the party injured, the jury are not to give a verdict against the defendant for the purpose of punishing him.” This case is decisive of the question now presented.
II. Upon the part of appellee it is insisted that the provisions of the law respecting tender do not apply to this case, which is an action for unliquidated damages ; whilst the appellant claims that these provisions do apply, and that, under section 1818 of the Revision, the tender of a sum of money, though less than the amount due, constitutes a good tender, unless the person to whom it is made objects to the amount. That the tender of less than the amount due constitutes a good tender, and is sufficient to stop interest and costs, unless objection at the time is made to the amount, was recognized in Hayward v. Munger, 14 Iowa, 517, as the rule of law under chapter 74 of the Revision.
Whether a tender may be made in a case such as this, we deem it unnecessary to determine, for we are of opinion that in case it may, the instruction complained of is correct.
All that can ,be claimed in this case is that a good tender was made. A tender does not satisfy the demand. If sufficient and kept good, it stops interest and costs. Johnson v. Triggs, 4 G. Greene, 97; Barker v. Brink, 5 Iowa, 481. At common law the party tendering must, at his peril, tender the amount due. 2 Parson’s on Notes and Bills, page 621, and cases cited. Having made a tender of the exact amount due, which is refused, he still remains liable to an action, all the expense of which he must bear, except the costs if the plaintiff does not recover more than was tendered. Under our statute a tender of less than the sum due is a sufficient tender, unless
Affirmed.