Nelson v. Pauli

176 Wis. 1 | Wis. | 1922

Doerfler, J.

We have carefully examined the evidence in the case and are convinced that the answer of the jury to the third question of the special verdict, was amply sustained thereby. When plaintiff left the curb near the southeast corner of Downer avenue and Morse avenue he proceeded to occupy a place-upon the highway usually occupied by pedestrians when intending to board a street car. The street-car track was west of the center of Downer avenue, and the distance between the.east rail and the east curb of the street was fully twenty-five feet. There was ample space for automobiles to pass at least two abreast north on the avenue without in any manner interfering with plaintiff’s safety while he was standing two or three feet east of the east rail of the track awaiting the approach of the street car. It is also quite clear that- if the plaintiff had not assumed the position on the highway preparatory to entering the car when he did, and had waited at or near the curb until the string of automobiles approaching had fully passed, there might have been danger of his missing the street car.

The defendant was aware that the street car had stopped at Edgewood, and the evidence shows that in order to permit passengers to1 be discharged from, or to board the car at that point he was obliged to stop- his car in the rear of the electric auto. He knew that the street car was proceeding northward from Edgewood to Morse avenue and that there were a number of other autos proceeding northward on the right-hand side- of Downer avenue. He was familiar with the location of the streets, as he had^lived in that locality for a considerable number of years. It must be presumed that he knew, and undoubtedly he did know, that there was a likelihood of the street car coming to a stop as it approached Morse avenue for the purpose of permitting passengers either to board or alight from the car, and that in order to take passage upon the car it would be necessary for a pedestrian to stand in close proximity to the car at a point where it is usual and customary for pedestrians to stand under like circumstances.

The plaintiff, therefore, was duly justified in occupying the position he did preparatory to boarding the car, and, whether or not he knew of the approach of the defendant’s auto immediately in the rear of the approaching electric auto, he had a right to assume that the defendant in the operation of - his car would not make the sudden and decisive turn first towards the northwest in endeavoring to pass in close proximity the moving street car and the electric auto, and then suddenly turn his machine towards the northeast so as to place the plaintiff in the direct pathway of his approaching car. In fact, it appears to us quite clearly that the action of the defendant in so steering his car resulted in placing the plaintiff in a dangerous trap, from which it was difficult to extricate himself without great danger of sustaining injury. No signal was given by the defendant to warn the plaintiff of the approach of his car. Under these circumstances it would almost appear as though the plaintiff was free from contributory negligence as a matter of law. In any event the evidence is strong in plaintiff’s favor, tending to prove his freedom from contributory negligence'; and the jury having acquitted the plaintiff of. the charge of contributory negligence, we cannot, under the numerous decisions of this court, set aside the answer of the jury to the question of the special verdict in that behalf. Vetter v. Southern Wis. R. Co. 140 Wis. 296, 122 N. W. 731; Friedrich v. Boulton, 164 Wis. 526, 159 N. W. 803; Ludvigson v. Superior S. B. Co. 147 Wis. 34, 132 N. W. 621.

Defendant’s counsel also moved, for reasons hereinafter named, to set aside the answers to the questions of the special verdict and to grant a new trial:

First, because the jury’s answer to the third question of the 'verdict was perverse and against the overwhelming weight of the evidence. This matter has already been amply covered in this opinion by what has heretofore been said and therefore requires no further consideration.

Second, because the damages were so excessive as to- indicate such a degree of perverseness as to invalidate the entire verdict.

In determining whether the damages are excessive, each case must in a large degree stand upon the facts therein adduced. It is true that where a state of facts exist in a case which are similar to the case under consideration, the rulings of a court may be of great value in guiding the judicial mind in the determination of the question as to whether or not the damages are excessive. The evidence in this case shows that plaintiff sustained a very severe and painful injury; that the injury resulted in a permanent disability; that he suffered not only considerable pain, but that at the time of the trial he was still suffering great pain, and that his limb was in a condition which needed considerable attention by reason of the fact that from time to time pus would be exuded from the injury and small broken pieces of bone would be expelled therefrom. At the time of the trial in the lower court he had already sustained an actual loss in wages amounting to about $2,000. He incurred a considerable bill for medical and hospital attendance. He was sixty-three years of age, and,- according to the tables of mortality, had án expectancy of life of twelve years.

In the case of Hommel v. Badger State Inv. Co. 166 Wis. 235, 165 N. W. 20, where the plaintiff was sixty-two years of age and sustained injuries somewhat similar to those of the plaintiff in this case, and where the evidence showed that she had an earning capacity of $800 per annum, it was declared that it requires from $4,000 to $5,000 to provide an annuity of $800 for a person having an expectancy of twelve years. The verdict in the Hommel Case was sustained on an appeal to this court. If to purchase an annuity entails the expenditure of the sum of $4,000 for one having an expectancy of twelve years, where the earning power does not exceed $800 per annum, it certainly cannot be claimed that the amount awarded for. loss of earnings in the instant case is excessive. While it appears to us that the amount awarded is high, nevertheless the award of damages is peculiarly within the province of the jury, and unless the verdict is such as to create the belief that the jury was misled by passion, prejudice, or ignorance, this court will not interfere therewith. Flannigan v. Stauss, 131 Wis. 94, 111 N. W. 216.

Third, because defendant’s counsel was not permitted to read from plaintiff’s complaint during the argument to the jury.

Can admissions contained in the pleadings of' the opposite party in an action be read to the jury on the argument of counsel without having been specially offered and admitted in evidence ? In the instant case defendant’s counsel, in his closing argument to the jury, attempted to read a portion of plaintiff’s complaint wherein it was alleged in substance that at the time of the happening of the injury the hour was about 5:45 p. m. and that it was dark. A number of witnesses on the trial testified that they could see the plaintiff for some considerable distance. Plaintiff’s own testimony as to the degree of light or darkness prevailing at the time is somewhat in conflict. The defendant claimed that-at the time of the happening of the injury it was dark; in fact, so much so that he did not see the plaintiff until he appeared coming out from the front of the electric auto. Defendant’s counsel therefore claim that there being an allegation of plaintiff on the subject in his complaint, and inasmuch as the pleadings in an action constitute the fundamental basis upon which the cause of action rests, which allegations it is contended must be construed as verities against the one pleading, it was error not to permit counsel to read the portion of the pleading abové referred to during the course of the argument.

“When a fact is admitted upon the pleadings, no proof respecting it need be introduced, and it may be presented to the jury as part of the evidence in the case.” 31 Cyc. 214. See, also, 21 Ruling Case Law, p. 607, § 151; Weinhagen v. Hayes, 174 Wis. 233, 178 N. W. 780, 183 N. W. 162.

Plaintiff’s counsel cite the case of Folger v. Boyinton, 67 Wis. 447, 30 N. W. 715; but in that case the original complaint had been materially amended. In the opinion in the case last cited this court said: “To read that complaint to the jury would not be reading any part of the pleadings in the cause.”

It is our opinion that defendant’s counsel is right in his contention, ánd that such pleadings were in evidence as much as the evidence adduced from the mouths of the witnesses attending upon the trial.

It therefore follows that the refusal of the court to admit the reading of such admissions in the pleadings may in some cases constitute prejudicial error which would work a reversal. However, the word “dark” is but a relative term. We speak of a day as a “dark day,” meaning a cloudy day; a day without sunlight. In common parlance we speak of the time of the day when one can see without the aid of artificial light as day-time, and distinguish it from nighttime on that basis. When the time arrives in which things cannot be seen clearly without the aid of artificial light, we say that it has become dark. Darkness does not necessarily mean the entire absence of all light or ability to see things. In fact, such a condition seldom prevails. So that when the pleader, in the allegation referred to, declares that the accident happened at a certain time and that it was dark, he intended to convey the idea that a time had arrived during the day when it was necessary in a large degree to see things by the aid of artificial light. We often hear the expression “It was dark, but I could see an object a distance of one, two, or three hundred feet,” and on other occasions we say, “It was so dark that one could not distinguish an object in close proximity;” all of which conclusively proves that the use of the word “dark” involves a relative expression. It was therefore for the jury to determine from all the evidence in the case the extent of the absence of light at the time of the happening of the injury, and the refusal of the court, therefore, to permit the reading of the portion of the complaint referred to did not constitute prejudicial error.

Fourth, because of improper argument of plaintiff’s counsel to the jury.

During the course of the «argument of plaintiff’s counsel to the jury on the subject of the third question contained in the special verdict, it was contended by defendant’s counsel that he made the statement that, if the jury answered question number 3 “Yes,” plaintiff would have no cause for action. Upon objection being made to^ such alleged argument by defendant’s counsel, plaintiff’s counsel, in an effort to correct defendant’s counsel’s statement, contended that he did not say that plaintiff would have no cause for action if the jury answered this question by “Yes,” but that he did say he would have no claim against the defendant. The court thereupon sustained the , objection of defendant’s counsel and admonished the jury to disregard the remarks of plaintiff’s counsel. The court further added: “You will answer the questions, gentlemen, according to the instructions given you by the court later on, without regard to what may be done with the case after the court has received your verdict.”

In accordance with the statutes permitting the submission of a special verdict to a jury, it is contemplated that the jury be required to answer certain questions submitted to them upon the evidence in the case and in accordance with the instructions of the court. It is no part of the jury’s function to determine what effect its answer will have upon the final outcome of the trial, and in fact juries are instructed to answer the questions of the special verdict without regard to what effect their answers will have upon the final result. This is the policy of the law as viewed by the authorities wherever special verdicts are in vogue. Such policy is well known to all attorneys engaged in the trial of cases. A violation of this well known policy on the part of an attorney involves an effort on his part to procure from a jury an answer to a question not in accordance with the evidence, but in accordance with the ultimate effect which an answer may have upon the final outcome of the trial.

Such misconduct on the part of counsel, if wilful, can only be designed with a view of procuring a favorable answer to the question of the special verdict, based not upon the evidence but upon the final result. The office of an attorney at law is essential in the administration of justice under our judicial system. He is held by some courts to be a quasi-judicial officer, with a dual function, namely: first, to aid in the administration of justice, and second, td represent the interests of his client. An attorney so transgressing the fundamental policy of our system of jurisprudence is not aiding the administration of justice. We therefore consider that such infractions of counsel, constituting an abuse of their powers, is a very serious matter, and one which in many instances works a reversal of the judgment. However, in the instant case the court fully sustained the objections of defendant’s counsel and fully admonished the jury. Under similar circumstances in the case of Behling v. Wis. B. & I. Co. 158 Wis. 584, 149 N. W. 484, this court has held that the error was cured.

We do not wish to be understood, however, that in a close case, where there is but a slight preponderance of the evidence, we would not seriously consider such an assignment of error and reverse the case solely upon such ground. As already stated in this opinion, plaintiff’s case possesses unusual strength and merit upon the question of contributory negligence, and under all the facts and circumstances in the case we hold that the error committed is not prejudicial.

The defendant requested the court to submit the following question as a part.of the special verdict: “Was plaintiff’s injury due to an unavoidable accident?” The refusal of the court to comply with defendant’s request constitutes the fifth assignment of error.

There are negligence cases where such a question might properly be submitted to the' jury as involving an ultimate fact essential in the determination of the issues presented. We are, however, of the opinion that the instant case is not such a one. The vital questions involved in this case are, first, the negligence of the defendant; second, the proximate cause; and third, contributory negligence.

In Kellner v. Christiansen, 169 Wis. 390, 395, 172 N. W. 796, where the submission of a similar question was requested by defendant’s counsel, this court, Mr. Justice Sie-becker rendering the opinion, held:

“The inquiry whether the plaintiff’s injuries were the result of mere accident for which no one was responsible was necessarily included in the questions covering defendant’s negligence and the question of its being the proximate cause of plaintiff’s injuries. In view of this, the proposed inquiry was covered by the findings of actionable negligence and proximate cause.”

In accordance with what has been said on this assignment of error, and the former rulings of this court, we hold that the refusal to submit the proposed question, did not constitute prejudicial error.

Sixth: The sixth assignment of error raises the question whether the court erred in instructing the jury as follows: “You will also consider the reasonable value of the medical services which the plaintiff received.”

Plaintiff was a member of a mutual benefit association and received the services of Doctors Lemon and Miller gratuitously. The evidence in the case shows that the only medical services contracted for by the plaintiff were those rendered by Dr. Differt, and the value of his services was properly proven on the trial. There was no evidence introduced as to the value of the services of the other medical practitioners, and the record does not disclose that any claim for such services was made by them. In no event could the plaintiff receive compensation for the services of these two doctors, in view of the fact that they were paid for by the association mentioned. Gatzweiler v. Milwaukee E. R. & L. Co. 136 Wis. 34, 116 N. W. 633; Dillon v. Hunt, 105 Mo. 154, 163, 16 S. W. 516. Furthermore, the trial court instructed the jury on the subject of damages that they were to ñame such sum as would compensate the .plaintiff, which in plain parlance means a sum that will make him reasonably whole, under all the facts and circumstances in the case. It cannot consistently be claimed that the jury, under the evidence in this case, either considered or made any allowance for services rendered by these two physicians.

Seventh. A further exception was taken to the charge of the jury on the subject of credibility of witnesses. We have carefully examined the charge of the court in that regard and find no error in the instructions which requires further consideration.

From the foregoing we hold that the judgment of the circuit court must be affirmed.

By the Court. — Judgment affirmed.

Case Details

Case Name: Nelson v. Pauli

Court Name: Wisconsin Supreme Court

Date Published: Jan 10, 1922

Citation: 176 Wis. 1

Court Abbreviation: Wis.