160 Wis. 1 | Wis. | 1915
It seemed best to give only a fair outline of the case except on the damage feature. We have examined all questions presented with care and are not able to perceive wherein appellant was prejudiced by any rulings complained of, except as to damages. That requires discussion, indicating the basis of the conclusion to which we have arrived.
As indicated in the statement, the most favorable view of the evidence that can be taken in respondent’s favor is that the average yearly earning capacity of deceased before he died did not exceed $150. It is quite a stretch of judgment to assume, reasonably, that, had he lived, he would have averaged $500 per year for his expectancy of life, and that his wife would have benefited therefrom $300 per year. So we must test the reasonableness of the recovery from that viewpoint.
In considering the question before us, it must be appreciated that it is largely res integra. Precedents, in such a case, are of little value. I think that is particularly so in view of the changed conditions that have come about in the better appreciation of the real underlying basis of liability for losses.caused by industrial accidents; that it does not, necessarily, suggest any moral turpitude on the part of the employer; but, instead, that such losses are largely inevitable misfortunes in which joint actors, the employer and employee, in producing the products designed to administer to the legitimate desires of consumers, are concerned, the burden of which naturally enters into the cost of such products and, in the end, must be, at the money measurement, liquidated by the consumers, the same as wages paid to employees and the use of capital which enable them to make their activity efficient.
So the visible agency to repair the losses to those upon whom the same first fall is but a mere conduit by means of which they finally reach their inevitable resting place and are absorbed into the products, and, by so much, enhance the legitimate selling price thereof. In reality, it is the world of
Looking at the matter in that aspect, much of the, former instrumentalities by which personal injury losses were, formerly, confined, seemingly, to or near to the point of origin, have been swept away. In the higher, brighter, purer atmosphere of justice as between, man and man and society at large, I think we should look at such a situation as that before us, keeping in mind that the people have, so far as practicable, established, as matter of public policy, an equitable standard of measurement. Not that such standard of measurement should be controlling; but that it should have some consideration in determining what is right.
That, after adherence to the harshness of the common law for generations, there has been the rapid progress we see to the condition of the present, rendering personal injury losses in services remediable in all cases under the Workmen’s Compensation Law and largely so independently of it, — is a marvelous achievement. It is sublime. Will there be a retrogression ? If there is danger of it .the better way of guarding against it is to strive to appreciate its logic. In that lies the greatest certainty of maintaining the advancement made. It will promote a higher degree of deliberation and Avisdom in measuring personal injury losses upon the theory that nothing is due for punishment nor anything by way of enforced charity,- — nothing but the passing, of a just equivalent, under all the circumstances, for the loss to the injured servant or his dependent and the employer as the real servants — in a broad sense, sharers in a common misfortune — from the mass of mankind who are the real served and beneficiaries of the industry in which such common sufferers were engaged. I can see only an awakening of a long sleeping conscience which has wrought this beneficent change which binds up the physical and mental wounds of the toilers, so far as practicable, with a minimum of waste and with no necessarily heavy burden
What I have said in the preceding paragraph is more personal than impersonal and does not apply in its full scope except under the Workmen’s Compensation Act, though the court is conscious that it is not unworthy of consideration to some extent in any case and particularly where, as here, the recovery is limited by law to the pecuniary benefits which the survivor has lost by the death of her husband. In such a case — unlike those where pain and suffering, disfigurement, diminution of capacity to enjoy life, and other elements are subjects of compensable loss, notwithstanding there is no standard by which they can be gauged except the judgment of a jury, which may take a wide range and not be manifestly excessive by any rule which the court can lay down — there are some definite data to figure from: Eirst, the average earning power of the deceased at the time of his death; second, his expectancy of life; third, his probable average earning power during such expectancy, considering his condition of health, what he had been accustomed to earn, and all the circumstances bearing on the question; fourth, the proportion of such earning capacity which with reasonable certainty would have reached the wife had he not been taken away; fifth, the present worth thereof; and sixth, the amount it would take to purchase an income during the expectancy of his life equal to the amount the dependents would probably have received out of his earnings.
Keeping in mind that, in a case of this sort, we must deal with reasonable certainties, so far as practicable, both as to evidentiary circumstances and the final result, instead of mere possibilities, a pretty definite basis of calculation can be stated.
The average earning capacity of the deceased is determin
On the basis indicated, the entire earnings which the wife could have fairly expected to receive during her husband’s life is $3,819, and tbe present worth not over $2,900.
Take another basis and the result is not far different. To purchase for tbe widow payment of $300 per year for the expectancy of life which has been taken from her, would require about $3,030.
Take a third basis, tbe Workmen’s Compensation schedule, and tbe widow would be entitled to about $3,000.
The amount awarded would buy a yearly pension for tbe widow of about $550, or more than tbe entire wages tbe deceased could reasonably have expected to earn for the balance of bis days.
As we bave said, to consider $300 per year tbe value of the
Enough has been said to demonstrate that tbe award of $5,500 we find here, is far too much. That eases may be found where tbe award has been equally high, does not change tbe aspect of the matter. We are looking at it from tbe viewpoint of present conditions and with reasonably definite data to compute from. We must not shut our eyes, either to such conditions or to such data. We cannot do so and give evenhanded justice in such situations as this.
We realize that the mortality tables are not conclusive as to tbe expectancy of life, but they are persuasive evidence of it, and unopposed by any other evidence, should be controlling. This court has used them as a basis for compensation and so have others. 1 Joyce, Dam. § 661. Some courts have held that such tables, in tbe absence of evidence to discredit their story, stand as to tbe particular case.
Tbe method of computation we have used has been approved here time and again. In Rudiger v. C., St. P., M. & O. R. Co. 101 Wis. 292, 11 N. W. 169, tbe court held, in effect, that tbe sum which would make an annuity to tbe defendant equal to the reasonable expectation of contributions by tbe deceased during bis life, is tbe limit of recovery.
Thus it will be seen that around $3,000 fully measures tbe loss to tbe beneficiary of this litigation by tbe death of her husband, in tbe absence of some special circumstances. It may be that tbe deceased bad more than tbe normal prospect for continuation of life. There is nothing to indicate it in the evidence, except, perhaps, that be was of robust health at sixty-two. It may be that tbe jury were warranted in finding that be had somewhat more than an average prospect of life. They must have thought so in order to have found as they did, and also failed to understand that tbe pecuniary
By the Gourt. — Tbe judgment is reversed, and tbe cause remanded with an option to plaintiff to take judgment for $4,000 and costs within twenty days after tbe filing of tbe remittitur or have a new trial.
Upon motion of tbe respondent tbe foregoing mandate was, on March 23, 1915, amended so as to read:
By the Gourt. — Judgment reversed with costs, and cause remanded with option to plaintiff to take judgment for $4,000 and costs, with interest from tbe date of tbe verdict, within twenty days from tbe filing of tbe remittitur, or have a new trial.
No costs were awarded on tbe motion.