268 Wis. 484 | Wis. | 1955
The elements constituting a cause of action for alienation of affections are wrongful conduct on the part of the defendant, plaintiff’s loss of affection or consortium of the spouse, and causal connection between such conduct and the loss. Maahs v. Schultz (1932), 207 Wis. 624, 242 N. W. 195.
Plaintiff and his wife Virginia were married April 3, 1943, while he was. in the army. For some months the parties lived together while plaintiff was stationed at various camps in this country, and when he was sent overseas Virginia lived with her mother.
In 1946,.after plaintiff was discharged from the service, the parties made their home in Madison. In 1949 a-son was born. In 1950 the parties were separated for about three months during which time the husband commenced an action for divorce. Upon being reconciled about March 1, 1951, they moved into an apartment building owned by the defendant and from then until August of that year when the building was sold they knew him only as their larldlord.
Plaintiff contends that defendant’s wrongful conduct commenced about March 17, 1953, when plaintiff and defendant met and, with Virginia, went out for a social evening. Johnson drove the Kunderts home and was asked in for a drink. Virginia called Mrs. Schuette to join the party and the four of them drank and danced until about 4 a. m. During the next three weeks they had a number of such parties and plaintiff testified that he would retire about 1 a. m. in order to be rested for work in the morning, leaving the defendant, Virginia, and Mrs. Schuette together. Plaintiff stated he was never aware of any wrongful' conduct On the part of defendant during that period, except that after the third or fourth time he wondered why Johnson came so often.
About the middle of April Virginia told the plaintiff she was going to get a divorce and on May 1st she left their home and moved into Mrs. Schuette’s house where she stayed until a few days before the divorce was granted on May 29th.
Mrs. Schuette testified that pn one of their parties Virginia confided to her that she felt an affection for Johnson; that Johnson and Virginia held hands when the three of them were together; that prior to May 1st Johnson often dropped in at her house when Virginia was there. She testified that after Virginia moved in with her Johnson came to the house frequently and telephoned Virginia so often and at such length that the telephone company complained about their tying up the party line; that she heard defendant talking Virginia into getting a divorce and promising her a home
There was testimony by another neighbor that she saw Virginia and Johnson together many times before the divorce action was commenced.
Mrs. Schuette’s brother, Milton Hemlirig, testified that in the fall of 1952, while he was talking to Johnson outside his sister’s home, Virginia came out of the house and Johnson said that some day he was going to break up her marriage; that in May, while Virginia was living at the Schuette home, Johnson was there with pictures of the southwest and telling Virginia he would take her there.
' Johnson was divorced from his wife on April 10, 1953. Mrs. Johnson testified in the present action that on one occasion prior to their divorce Johnson told her he intended to marry Mrs. Kundert. Johnson testified that he could not recall making any such statement.
Johnson’s testimony was evasive in many respects. He stated he did not recall ever suggesting to Virginia that she get a divorce; he did not think he ever advised her to do so; he did not remember calling Kundert names in Virginia’s presence before the divorce proceedings were commenced, at least not while he was sober; he admitted Virginia came to his apartment several times with Mrs. Schuette- but he did
The evidence being in conflict, the jury had the right to believe whatever witnesses it would. It was within its province to draw from the testimony recited above the inference that prior to the time Virgina left the Kundert home Johnson had carried on a course of conduct which alienated her affections from her husband and caused her to leave him. In cases like this such conduct is not carried on openly. After the divorce, however, the testimony shows that Johnson and Mrs. Kundert were quite willing to have others see their interest in each other. Such evidence of their later conduct was admissible under these circumstances to show a continuous line of conduct commencing prior to plaintiff’s loss of consortium and continuing thereafter. Helminiak v. Przekurat (1924), 184 Wis. 417, 198 N. W. 746; Paulson v. Scott (1951), 260 Wis. 141, 50 N. W. (2d) 376.
Defendant also contends that the damages awarded were excessive. It is true that the thought of divorce had entered the Kundert family picture prior to May, 1953, and there was considerable evidence on the question whether it was a happy marriage, but we must assume that the jury took such facts into consideration in setting its award of compensatory damages at $5,000. No punitive damages were awarded. There is no measuring stick by which to set a value on consortium, love and affection, and thus the damages are peculiarly within the province of the jury. The verdict was approved by the trial court and in our opinion there is no evidence of passion and prejudice on the part of the jury in arriving at such a figure.
By the Court. — Judgment affirmed.