26 Del. 302 | Del. Super. Ct. | 1912
charging the jury:
Gentlemen of the jury:—The plaintiff in this action seeks to recover from the defendant company damages for personal injur
The plaintiff claims that about eleven o'clock on the night of August 14, 1911, he was motoring a car of the defendant from Brandywine Springs to the City of Wilmington, and because of defective brakes on the car, which would not take hold of the wheels, he was unable to stop or hold the car when descending a grade near Haley's curve, and in consequence thereof his car collided with another car and he was injured.
The plaintiff’s declaration consists of two counts, one of which avers that the said defendant negligently and carelessly suffered and permitted the said plaintiff to use and operate a certain car with an improper, defective, inadequate, unfit, unsafe, unsuitable and dangerous brake shoe, all of which was well known to the said defendant but unknown to the said plaintiff, and by reason of the said negligence of the said defendant in permitting the use of said car with the defective brake shoe as aforesaid at the time and place aforesaid, the said car on which the said plaintiff was a motorman as aforesaid ran into and collided with another car operated and controlled by the said defendant, whereby the said plaintiff was greatly bruised, cut, mangled, broken, injured and distressed.
The second count is similar to the first, except that the word “brakes” is used in the second count instead of “brake shoe,” as in the first count.
So that, the negligence averred, and relied upon, by the plaintiff is, that the defendant suffered and permitted the plaintiff to use and operate the car with a defective, unsafe and dangerous brake shoe, or brakes.
[1-3] The gist of this action is negligence, which is the want of ordinary care, and the burden of proving the negligence of the defendant rests upon the plaintiff. If there was no negligence on the part of the company your verdict should be for the defendant. Even if there was negligence on the part of the defendant, yet if the negligence of the plaintiff contributed proximately to the accident at the time thereof, the plaintiff cannot recover. In such case the plaintiff would himself be guilty of contributory negligence,
Contributory negligence has been defined to be the negligence of the plaintiff, or of the person on account of whose injury the action is brought, amounting to a want of ordinary care, and approximately contributing to the injury.
[4-7] The relation existing between the defendant and the plaintiff at the time of the accident was that of master and servant, and the primary duty imposed upon the defendant towards the plaintiff in the course of his employment by reason of this relation was to furnish him reasonably safe tools, machinery and appliances with which to work. The tools or machinery used need not be of the safest, best nor of the most approved kind. It is sufficient if they are reasonably safe, and adapted to the purpose of the employment. If the master fails to observe this rule of law and injury results to his servant from such failure, he becomes liable therefor on the ground of negligence. In the performance of this duty the master must use all reasonable care and prudence for the safety of the servant, having regard to the character of the work to be performed. Such care must be in proportion to the danger of the employment. The servant has the right to rely on the master for the performance of this duty without inquiry on his part. The servant assumes no risk whatever as to such primary duty at the time he enters upon his employment; but he does assume all the ordinary risks incident to the employment; such as are patent, seen and known, or which may be seen and known by the ordinary use of his senses. And he is required to exercise due care and caution in the course of his employment to avoid dangers and injuries; for the master, having performed the primary duties required of him, is not an insurer of the safety of his servants.
[8-10] “It is the duty of the master also to maintain said tools and machinery in a reasonably safe condition so long as they are continued in use. If the master knows, or by the use of due diligence might know that the tools and machinery in use in his business are not reasonably safe it is negligence on his part to fail
But even though machinery is defective in the knowledge of the employee, yet if the master has knowledge of such defect and promises to remedy the defect, and the employee, relying on that promise, continues by direction of the master to use it for a reasonable time, he does so at the master’s risk, inasmuch as he has a right to rely on such promise. Boyd v. Blumenthal, 3 Penn. 567, 52 Atl. 330; Ray v. D. S. Steel Co., 2 Penn. 528, 47 Atl. 1017.
[11] If you should believe from the evidence that the defendant exercised reasonable care in the inspection of the trolley car which the plaintiff was operating at the time of the accident, and that the brakes of said car, or other appliances complained of, when last inspected before the accident, were in reasonably good working condition, and that any defect or disorder (if any) in any of said appliances was not discovered sufficiently long before the accident to reasonably permit the repair thereof or the discontinuance of the operation of such car, in such event the existence of such defect or disorder would not constitute negligence on the part of the defendant.
If you should believe from the evidence that the defendant exercised reasonable care in the inspection of the car in question and of the brakes and other appliances thereon, and that the same were found in reasonably good working condition when the car was turned over to the plaintiff to operate as a motorman, shortly before the accident, and that any defect or disorder (if any) in
If you should believe from the evidence that the plaintiff knew on the day of the accident and before he began to operate car No. 6 that the brake of said car was defective, and should also believe from the evidence that the defendant did not promise to remedy said defect upon any complaint thereof by the plaintiff, and that the plaintiff took said car out and operated it with knowledge of such defective brake, then the plaintiff assumed the risk of operating said car with such defective brake, and cannot recover for any injury to himself caused by such defective condition of such brake.
[12] It is the duty of a motorman to so run and operate his car as to have it under proper control, and be able to stop it, or reduce its speed whenever necessary to avoid accident, if by proper care and caution he can do so. Therefore, if you believe from the testimony in this case that the brakes were not defective, and. that the plaintiff’s injuries were caused by his running the car at such a high, excessive and unusual rate of speed, or by such improper handling of the brakes, that he was not able at, and just before, the collision, to stop or control the car by the means provided for the purpose, he would be guilty of contributory negligence and could not recover.
[13-14] Where there is a conflict of evidence, as there is in , this case, it is the duty of the jury to reconcile it if they can, but if they cannot do so, then it becomes their duty to render their verdict in favor of that side upon which the evidence reasonably and clearly preponderates. In determining the weight of the testimony and the credibility of the witnesses, the jury may consider the apparent fairness, interest or bias of the witnesses, if any, their opportunity to see and know of the accident, their recollection of the circumstances connected therewith, and any and all other facts and circumstances that go to test the accuracy of their testimony.
The plaintiff had no bones broken, lost none of the members of his body, nor was any part of his body disabled from performing its ordinary functions. The main injury proved was a mashing of the muscles of his right leg above the knee. At the time of trial, he walked without crutch or cane and with but slight limp. He was able .to bend his right leg in any manner that a normal person could, but claimed that he suffered pain from bending said leg in certain positions. He claimed the right leg to be weaker than before the accident and permanently so.
[15] If you believe from the preponderance, that is, the weight of the evidence, that the injuries of which the plaintiff complains in this action were caused by the negligence of the defendant company, remembering the law as we have stated it, and applying it to the facts in the case; and shall also believe that the plaintiff at the time of the accident was himself entirely free from any negligence that proximately contributed to his injuries, your verdict should be. for the plaintiff, and for such sum as you believe from the testimony will reasonably compensate him for any money laid out and expended for medical attendance, for his pain and suffering in the past, and for such as may be in the future, resulting from the defendant’s negligence; and also for any loss of wages suffered by him in the past, as well as for any impairment of ability to earn a living in the future, as may be shown to be the result of the defendant’s negligence.
If you are not satisfied by the preponderance of the evidence that the plaintiff’s injuries were caused by the negligence of the defendant; or if you believe from the testimony that the plaintiff’s own negligence, or want of care and caution, contributed proximately to his injuries, your verdict should be in favor of the defendant.
Verdict for plaintiff.
The attorney for the defendant on February twelfth moved for a new trial and filed reasons therefor, which substantially appear in the opinion of the court.
Courts have wisely said that, in awarding damages for personal injuries, the best criterion is the average amount awarded for injuries of a like nature and extent; and, where the verdict largely exceeds this average, it is excessive. Lockwood v. Twenty-third St. Ry. Co., 7 N. Y. Supp. 663.
This proposition when applied to any particular case, it would "seem, should, be justly modified by limiting the consideration or the determination of the average amount awarded for injuries of a like nature and extent to the jurisdiction in which the case is tried.
It is contended by the defendant in this case that the verdict is grossly and shockingly in excess of what have been the verdicts of juries in this state in personal injury suits. See Seininski v. Wil. Leather Co., 2 Boyce 118; Boyd v. Blumenthal, 3 Penn. 564; Giordano v. The Brandywine Granite Co., 3 Penn. 423; Strattner v. Wil. City Electric Company, 3 Penn. 245; Giles v. Diamond. State Iron Co., 7 Houst. 453; Eaton v. Wil. City Ry. Co., 1 Penn. 435; Heinel v. Peoples Ry. Co., 6 Penn. 428; Duggan v. Wil. & N. J. Ferry Co., 7 Penn. 229; McCartney v. Peoples Ry. Co., 2 Boyce 191; Coyle v. Peoples Ry. Co., 7 Penn. 454.
The first mentioned misconduct was obviously improper and tended to create impressions in the minds of the jury prejudicial to the defendant. The very fact that the foreman of the jury was engaged in a hunt for protuberances on the plaintiff’s leg without the ability to see that what he found was genuine or counterfeit, or to perceive whether any so-called protuberances or cavities were caused by peculiar methods of bandaging or what-not, makes it clear that the conduct was improper and tended to the prejudice of the defendant.
The matter of granting new trials is within the discretion of the court, and courts have many times granted new trials on the ground of improper statements made by counsel in argument to the jury when such statements were not objected to by the opposing counsel at the time. Preston v. Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York, 71 Fed. 468; Kinnaman v. Kinnaman, 71 Ind. 417; Hall v. Wolf, 61 Ia. 559; Shuette v. St. Louis &c. Ry. Co., 82 S. W. 541; Houston &c. Ry. Co. v. Reahm, 82 S. W. 526; Chicago &c. Ry. Co. v. Kellogg, 76 N. W. 462; Prather v. McClelland, 26 S. W. 657; Cook v. Doud, 32 Pac. 906; Bullard v. Boston & Me. R. R. Co., 64 N. H. 27.
The expectancy of life Of the plaintiff is a fact that might have been given in evidence at the trial. It is a fact material to the amount of damages to which the plaintiff would be entitled if the jury found a verdict for the plaintiff. It was proper evidence, therefore, to adduce at the trial on the part of the plaintiff. It was not, however, so adduced. Whether the expectancy of life assumed by the jury is correct or not, I do not know, but it is immaterial whether correct or not. The jury had no right to consider such fact, or assumed fact, in arriving at the amount of their verdict. They must be bound by the evidence and can consider nothing but the evidence in arriving at their verdict.
It is a ground for a new trial if the jury received outside evidence, that is, evidence not adduced at the trial, or if members of the jury, after they have retired for deliberation, state facts ma
In the third reason for a new trial, it is contended that the portion of court’s charge complained of is a misstatement of the law, but it is contended that the same is a statement of the law which had no proper application to the case at bar. It is respectfully submitted that the language complained of discusses principally machinery and tools and the duty of a master in furnishing his servants with reasonably safe tools and machinery. There was nothing in this case to which any instructions about tools or machinery was pertinent.
In the fourth reason for a new trial is that portion of the court’s charge complained of which is the language of a prayer submitted to the court by the defendant, with the addition of the words, “and had no knowledge of said defect”, which so changed the prayer as to make the same an incorrect statement of the law and one which might well affect the minds of the jury in arriving at their verdict.
If the servant knows that an appliance with which he works is defective and with full knowledge of such defective condition of said appliance proceeds to use the same in his work, such servant assumes the risk of such defective appliance regardless of whether the master has knowledge of the defect or not. The thing pertinent to the case at bar which will relieve the servant of such risk is the promise of the master to repair the defect. The effect of such promise is in substance an agreement between the master and the servant by which the master agrees that if the servant will continue to work or proceed to work with the defective appliance he, the master, will, by implication, assume all the risks and consequences of such conduct on the part of the servant. Labatt on Master and Servant, § 423-424.
It is a general principle of law that the decision of a jury upon any issue of fact is generally irreversible and conclusive. 1 Woolley on Del. Practice, § 733, p. 514.
The court will not set aside a verdict founded on conflicting evidence, though it would have drawn a different conclusion from that of the jury. 1 Woolley on Del. Practice, § 735, p. 515; Burton v. Railway Co., 4 Harr. 252, 254.
The preponderance of testimony on every point at issue was in favor of the plaintiff, first; as to notice given to the dispatcher; second, as to the time of leaving Brandywine Springs; third, as to the speed of the car; fourth, as to the fact that the car was running away and not sliding; fifth, that Spahn stood at his post of duty and did all in his power to prevent the runaway; sixth, that the brakes refused to work because they were worn out.
It is for the jury to reconcile the testimony if they can, and if they cannot, then they are the sole judges of the interest, bias, truthfulness and recollection of witnesses. Benson v. Wil. City Ry., 1 Boyce 202, 207.
As to the third reason for a new trial, we submit that the court charged the jury in accord with the settled law of the State of Delaware. Creswell v. W. & N. R. R. Co., 2 Penn. 210, 215; T. & P. Ry. Co. v. Archibald, 170 U. S. 671, 672; Winkler v. P. & R. Ry. Co. 4 Penn. 80, 83; Lawless Admr. v. P. & J. Co.,3 Penn. 1, 3; Boyd v. Blumenthal Co., 3 Penn. 564, 567; Strattner v. Wil. City Elec. Co., 3 Penn. 245, 247; 4 Thompson Commentaries on Negligence, § 3995, page 378; Cooley on Torts (Student’s Ed.) § 268; Ray v. D. S. Steel Co., 2 Penn. 525, 528.
As to the fourth reason assigned, the charge of the court is clearly the law of this state as it is a well settled principle that an employee assumes the risk of defects in appliances and machinery of which he is aware and of which the master is not aware. Creswell v. W. & N. R. R. Co., 2 Penn. 210, 216; Texas & Pac. Ry. Co. v. Archibald, 170 U. S. 671, 672; Winkler v. P. & R. Ry. Co., 4 Penn. 80, 84; Boyd v. Blumenthal Co., 3 Penn. 564, 567.
The injuries and suffering of the plaintiff warrant the verdict for seven thousand five hundred and nineteen dollars.
The testimony reveals that car No. 6, on which the plaintiff was motoring, ran into the rear end of car No. 25 and mashed in the whole front part of car No. 6 on the legs of the plaintiff and pinned him down under the controller box, injuring the right leg above the knee and it tore the heel off the shoe of the left foot and stripped around the calf of the left leg from the knee down to the heel.
The injury is permanent and will always impair the use of his leg and the condition is likely to become worse. The muscles just above the knee of the right leg have grown together which interferes with the intervening motions.
The verdict was not excessive because of plaintiff’s impaired ability to earn a living in the future. He is unable to work at his trade of a roofer because he could not get on his knees or climb a ladder and at his trade he made from sixteen to eighteen dollars per week.
This verdict is not excessive as compared with verdicts in other states which the courts would not disturb. Clark v. Brooklyn Hts. Co., 78 App. Div. (N. Y.) 478; Houston City Ry. v. Medlenka, 17 Tex. Civ. App. 621; Furman v. Brooklyn Hts. Co., 25 App. Div. (N. Y.) 133; Cooper v. St. Paul City Ry. Co., 54 Minn. 379; Galveston City R. Co. v. Hewitt, 67 Texas 473; Swain v. Fourteenth St. R. Co., 93 Cal. 179; West Chicago St. R. Co. v. Tuerk, 90 Ill. App. 105; Chicago City Ry. Co. v. Anderson; 93 Ill. App. 419.
In an application for a new trial for excessive damages “damages ought not to be weighed in a nice balance, but must be such as appear at first blush to be outrageous and indicate passion or partiality in the jury.” Tidd’s Practice, page 908.
The seventh reason for a new trial is not in proper form to be considered by this court as there is no averment in the said
There can be little doubt but that the leg of the plaintiff could have been uncovered for the inspection of the jury. 2 Wigmore on Evidence, § 1151; Langworthy v. Tp. of Green, 95 Mich. 93, 97; L. N. A. & C. Ry. Co. v. Wood, 113 Ind. 544, 548; 4 Ency. of Evidence, page 281, note 72.
“Anything cognizable by the senses of the tribunal may thus be offered.” 2 Wigmore on Ev., § 1152.
A new trial will not be granted for the admission of improper evidence or misconduct on the part of the counsel unless there be ground to believe that injustice has been done by its effect. Crory v. Sprague, 12 Wend. 41, N. Y. Sup. Court.
In making an application for a new trial upon the ground that improper statements were made to the jury by counsel, the reason for the new trial should contain the averment supported by affidavit that the words spoken did in fact influence the jury. 1 Woolley on Delaware Practice, § 742, page 517; Rothwell v. Elliott, 2 Marv. 151, 153; Pritchard v. Henderson, 3 Penn. 128, 151.
No objection was made at the time the statements were made, and it is deemed waived and cannot be availed of on motion for a new trial. Hudson v. Pettijohn, 4 Harr. 356, 357; Lynch v. Peabody, 137 Mass. 92, 93, 94; Leonard v. Hall, 133 Mass. 417, 419; Powers v. Mitchell, 77 Me. 361, 368; Hilliard on New Trial, 93.
Objection to any irregularity must be made at the proper time or else is deemed waived. Duplex P. P. Co. v. Journal P. Co., 1 Penn. 565, 580.
delivering the opinion of the court:
The defendant asks that the verdict rendered in the above stated cause be set aside, and that a new trial be granted, for the following reasons, viz. :
1. That the verdict was against the law.
2. That the verdict was against the weight of the evidence.
“The relation existing between the defendant and the plaintiff at the time of the accident was that of master and servant, and the primary duty imposed upon the defendant towards the plaintiff in the course of his employment by reason of this relation was to furnish him reasonably safe tools, machinery and appliances with which to work. The tools or machinery used need not be of the safest, best, nor of the most improved kind. It is sufficient if they are reasonably safe, and adapted to the purpose of the employment. If the master fails to observe this rule of law and injury results to his servant from such failure, he becomes liable therefor on the ground of negligence. In the performance of this duty the master must use all reasonable care and prudence for the safety of the servant, having regard to the character of the work to be performed. Such care must be in proportion to the danger of the employment. The servant has the right to rely on the mastér for the performance of this duty without inquiry on his part. The servant assumes no risk whatever as to such primary duty at the time he enters upon his employment; but he does assume all the ordinary risks incident to the employment, such as are patent, seen and known, or which may be seen and known by the ordinary use of his senses. And he is required to exercise due care and caution in the course of his employment to avoid dangers and injuries; for the master, having performed the primary duties required of him, is not an insurer of the safety of his servants.
“It is the duty of the master also to maintain said tools and machinery in a reasonably safe condition so long as they are continued in use. If the master knows, or by the use of due diligence might know that the tools and machinery in use in his business are not reasonably safe it is negligence on his part to fail to remedy and correct the defects of which he has knowledge or by the exercise of due diligence he might discover. Notice to the foreman or person in general charge of the business, or having charge and control of the men on the cars, that the machinery is unsafe or dangerous, is, in law, notice to the master; and after the
4. That the court in charging and instructing the jury, erroneously charged as follows:
“If you should believe from the evidence that the plaintiff knew on the day of the accident and before he began to operate car No. 6 that the brake of said car was defective, and should also believe from the evidence that the defendant did not promise to remedy said defect upon any complaint thereof, by the plaintiff, and had no knowledge of said defect, and that the plaintiff took said car out and operated it with knowledge of such defective brake, then the plaintiff assumed the risk of operating said car with such defective brake and cannot recover for any injury to himself caused by such defective condition of such brake.”
5. That under the circumstances of the case, the verdict was excessive.
6. That under the circumstances of the case, the amount of damages awarded by the jury by its verdict is and was excessive.
7. That one of the “counsel for the plaintiff, during the progress of the trial was guilty of misconduct, in that, during the testimony of the plaintiff as a witness, while he, Mr. Knowles, was having the plaintiff demonstrate before the jury the character and extent of his injuries, he, Mr. Knowles, did instruct and direct the foreman of the jury to feel with his hands the leg of the plaintiff, outside the trousers and other clothing of the plaintiff, for the purpose of discovering protuberances or cavities in the leg of the plaintiff alleged to have been caused by the accident in question, and the said foreman of the said jury did with his hands feel the leg of the said plaintiff over the trousers and other clothing of the said plaintiff for the purpose aforesaid, before counsel for the defendant could succeed in stopping this procedure
8. That one of the “counsel for the plaintiff, was guilty of misconduct during the trial of the cause, in his argument to the jury, in that he did inform the jury of an accident sustained by himself some years ago in which he did sustain, as he alleged and stated to the jury, a serious injury to his knee, and in informing the jury of such accident and injury to himself he did tell the jury about the pain and suffering experienced by himself and did inform the jury of the serious and permanent results of his injury and did state to them that his injured knee would never be as strong as it was before and that his injury, thus received, was by a fall more serious than the injury to the plaintiff; all of which statements by said counsel to said jury, in his said argument, were highly prejudicial and made for the purpose and with the intent of prejudicing and influencing the minds of the jury, and said statements were made and finished so quickly as that counsel for the defendant had no opportunity to object thereto until after they were completed.”
9. “That the verdict of the said jury was arrived at improperly, in that the said jury took into consideration in reaching their verdict facts or assumptions which were not supported by, contained in, or deducible from, any evidence produced in the case, to wit, the jury assumed, or were informed from sources other than the evidence produced in the case, that the expectancy of life of the plaintiff, according to the mortality tables in use by insurance companies, or otherwise, was forty-six years, and upon the assumption of this expectancy of life the jury allowed the plaintiff the sum of three dollars per week for forty-six years and thus, with certain small additions, arrived at the amount of their verdict.”
10. “That the amount of the verdict rendered by the jury is excessive even in accordance with the jury’s own theory, desire and intent as to the compensation which they desired to allow the plaintiff, in this, that the jury desired and intended and tried to allow the plaintiff a compensation of three dollars per week for the balance of his life, and to do this, without evidence admitted
We will briefly consider all the reasons assigned, but not specifically, or in the order above stated.
By the third reason we understand is meant, that the court in that particular part of the charge which defined the primary duty of the master in respect to furnishing tools, machinery and appliances, omitted in two instances the word “appliances”. It is argued that the brake of a car is not a tool or machinery. It is sufficient to say upon this point, that even if a car brake cannot be strictly termed a tool or machinery, it is admitted to be an appliance. The court charged the jury that, “the primary duty imposed upon the defendant towards the plaintiff in the course of his employment by reason of this relation (master and servant) was to furnish him reasonably safe tools, machinery and appliances with which to work.” It is true that the court, continuing, said: “The tools or machinery used need not be of the safest, best, nor of the most improved kind”, etc.; but it is inconceivable that the jury, because of the omission of the word “appliances’” in that connection, could have been misled as to the duty of the defendant. When the entire instruction is considered it is manifest that it had reference to the brake of the car, by whatever name it may be called, for the negligence averred had reference to that only.
The court also said upon the same point: “It is the duty of the master to maintain said tools and machinery in a reasonably safe condition so long as they are continued in use.” While all we have said above equally applies here, it may be further observed that the omission of the word “appliances” in this instruction could not possibly have worked an injury to the defendant, because the court was speaking of a duty imposed upon the master, and if “tools and machinery” did not embrace “appliances”
The part of the charge covered by the fourth reason was in the exact language of defendant’s prayer, except that the words “and had no knowledge of said defect” were interpolated. In considering this objection we must take the entire charge, and not the isolated portion only upon which the objection is founded. The court had previously told the jury, “that if the master knows, -or by the use of due diligence might know that the tools and machinery in use in his business are not reasonably safe, it is negligence on his part to fail to remedy and correct the defects of which he has knowledge, or by the exercise of due diligence he might discover. ’ ’ It was this primary duty of the master the court liad in mind when the words objected to were inserted. But, the ■court had, earlier in the charge, expressly instructed the jury as follows: “But in such case (that is, after notice to the master of the defect) the master would not be liable if the servant, having knowledge of such defect, continued to use such machinery.” The word “machinery” as there used could have reference only to the car brake, because nothing else was alleged to be defective. This instruction was substantially the defendant’s prayer, and fully as favorable to the company as the prayer could have been if it had not been modified. So we say, taking the entire charge— both that which preceded as well as that which followed the words objected to, and especially the specific instruction that the master, after notice “would not be liable if the servant, having knowledge of the defect, continued to use such machinery,” the jury «could not have been misled; and, therefore, even if there was ■ error in the instruction when considered apart from the whole «charge, it was harmless, and in no wise prejudicial to the rights •<of the defendant.
The seventh reason assigned, is that the foreman of the jury, :at the request of plaintiff’s counsel, “felt with his hands the leg <of the plaintiff, outside the trousers and other clothing of the p1a.int.iff, for the purpose of discovering protuberances or cavities in the leg of the plaintiff.”
If .the plaintiff believed such act of the foreman, performed
In the eighth reason assigned the defendant complains that one of the plaintiff’s counsel, for the purpose of influencing and prejudicing the jury, informed them of an accident sustained by himself some years ago in which his knee was seriously injured, of the pain and suffering experienced therefrom, and of the serious and permanent results of his injury, because of which his knee would never be as strong as it was before the accident.
This incident plaintiff’s counsel contends was used only as an illustration justified by the evidence in the case, and was therefore proper under the latitude allowed counsel in their closing arguments to the jury. We think it was not proper because it was something more than a reasonable and fair illustration warranted by the evidence. In referring to his own injury in the manner and language he did, counsel was clearly outside the evidence, or any reasonable inference therefrom, and manifestly his purpose was to influence the jury in determining the amount they should allow the plaintiff for pain and suffering; and for permanent injury. But while this is true, it is equally true that the defendant had ample opportunity to make his objection to the court. No objection, however, was made at the time, and it comes too late now to avail the defendant after the verdict has been rendered. The fact is, that instead of objecting to the remarks now complained of, the defendant’s counsel, when he came to address the jury, commented upon said remarks, and attempted to turn the incident against the plaintiff and in favor of the defendant.
The ninth and tenth reasons for setting aside the verdict are based on the alleged fact that the verdict of the jury was arrived at improperly, in that they took into consideration, in reaching their verdict, facts or assumptions not supported by, or deducible from, the evidence, to wit; that the expectancy of life of the plaintiff, according to the mortality tables in use by' insurance companies, or otherwise, was forty-six years.
In support of this averment the defendant has filed an affidavit made by Richard W. Crook, General Manager of the defendant company, and asks leave to support the same by the sworn testimony of members of the jury, or by the testimony of other persons based on statements made by members of the jury.
The question here distinctly raised, is whether or not the verdict of a jury can be impeached by the testimony or statement of a juror respecting something that occurred.in the jury room while the jury were deliberating upon their verdict, and something that materially affected their verdict. In other words, may a juror be permitted to swear, in order to impeach his verdict, that the verdict rendered was based in whole, or in part, upon information or belief not supported by or deducible from the evidence in the case; but acquired in some other way or from some other source. Or, may the statement of a juror, to the same effect, be given in evidence to impeach his verdict.
While it is insisted that the jury acted improperly in arriving at their verdict in the manner alleged, it is not contended that they acted dishonestly or fraudulently. And it is not averred that their misconduct was so gross, flagrant or culpable as to amount to fraud in law.
In the case of Hutchinson v. Gordon, 2 Harr. 179, the court, after referring to the case of Pierce v. Patterson, permitted the bailiff of the jury to be sworn to prove that the jury, being equally divided, agreed to send for a certain deed of assignment; and in case it was not sent to them, to give a verdict against the party who objected to their having it. It appears from the notes of the case of Pierce v. Patterson, given in a foot note, (a) to the Hutchinson-Gordon case, that the bailiff, in the former case, was allowed to prove that the jury decided the case by lot. The defendant then offered several of the jury to prove the same thing, but the court said it was unnecessary, “and they would not hastily decide so important a question.”
The question we now have was, therefore, not decided in that case. Neither the case of Johnson v. Porter, 2 Harr. 225, nor that of Pritchard v. Henderson, 3 Penn. 128, are in point. In the former “the verdict was set aside because the defendant conversed with the jurors after they were sworn; the conversation being unexplained, and the verdict being against the evidence.” In Pritchard v. Henderson one of the reasons urged for a new trial was “the alleged misconduct of certain counsel for the plaintiff, in holding private conversations with members of the jury, after they were sworn in the case and before the verdict was rendered.” It not being shown that any statement was made by the counsel which in any wise affected the verdict the court refused to set it aside.
But there is one case which seems to be directly in point, and that is State v. Harmon, 4 Penn. 581. This was a criminal case, but we can see no difference between that and a civil case so far as the principle we are considering is concerned. In that case counsel for the defendant produced the Clerk of the Peace, and stated that he proposed to prove by the witness statements which were made by one of the jurors after the verdict was rendered as to how they rendered their verdict.
The court asked counsel if he could “find a case where the
The ruling of the court in the Harmon case is decisive of the one before us, and it impresses us as being entirely safe and sound. The danger of allowing one juror, or several jurors, to impeach their verdict, would be infinitely greater than the harm resulting from the possibility of a verdict being reached in some instances from information or belief not supported by the evidence. It would open the door to incalculable trouble, and seriously impair the value of jury trials. So far as we are informed courts have not allowed the testimony, or statements of a juror, to impeach his verdict where it is not shown that the improper conduct which affected the verdict amounted to fraud, and we are strongly of the opinion that nothing short of fraud could justify it.
We come now to the last reason urged for granting a new trial, viz.: “That under the circumstances of the case the verdict was excessive.” This is the ground upon which the defendant seems chiefly to rely, and the one that has given the court the most concern.
It is a general principle of law, as the plaintiff states, that the decision of a jury upon any issue of fact is generally irreversible and conclusive; and the court will not set aside a verdict founded on conflicting evidence, though it would have drawn a different conclusion from that of the jury.
1 Woolley on Del. Practice, § 733; Burton v. Ry. Co., 4 Harr. 252, 254.
The court always hestitates to grant a new trial, and never do so unless there appears to be good reasons for doing it. It is with great reluctance that the court ever disturbs the verdict
The setting aside of a verdict on such grounds is not an unusual proceeding in many other jurisdictions, but it has been in this. It has, however, been done in some cases by the courts of this state and notably in the case of Winkler v. The Phila. & Reading Ry. Co. In that case the jury, by their verdict, awarded the plaintiff as damages $8,000, which the court considered excessive within the meaning of the law, and announced that a new trial ought to be granted on that ground. Before ordering the new trial, however, the plaintiff was permitted to make an application for a reduction of the amount of the verdict, whereupon counsel stated that the plaintiff was willing to have the verdict reduced to $5,000. With such understanding the court discharged the rule and refused to grant a new trial.
The court, in determining whether the verdict rendered in any particular case, is, or is not, excessive, are not materially assisted by reference to verdicts rendered in other cases, particularly in other states, because no two cases are identical in the facts. In every case of personal injury the pain and suffering, and the extent and permanency of the injury, are different from those proved in any other case. And yet, we think that verdicts previously rendered in the same state in cases somewhat analogous in their facts and circumstances to the case at bar, are of some aid to the court, however slight it may be, in determining whether the verdict is excessive in that case. Judged by such a standard or test we are clearly of the opinion that the verdict given in this case was excessive.
This is not a case where the court are asked to set aside a verdict founded on conflicting evidence. There was no conflict of evidence respecting the character, extent and permanence of the plaintiff’s injuries; and we assume that the evidence produced
Dr. Morgan did say that in respect to the ability to move his leg in a certain way, and the pain he would suffer thereby, the plaintiff would probably never be any better than he was at the time of the trial, but he also said he thought his condition in those respects might be improved by electric treatment or surgery.
The jury have passed upon the legal liability of the defendant for the injuries the plaintiff sustained. That was their peculiar province, and it was exclusively theirs, for the evidence upon that point was conflicting. Therefore, we do not, and cannot question such liability. The jury have settled that question.
Neither do. we question the fact that the plaintiff’s injury was serious, painful, and to some extent probably permanent. But we are nevertheless of the opinion that the verdict rendered by the jury was excessive, because the evidence, as well as the appearance, and movements of the plaintiff during the trial, clearly indicated that his general health and condition were not seriously affected; that his pain was by no means constant, being suffered only upon a certain movement of the leg; that there were some occupations the duties of which he might discharge without much suffering, if any; and that he still had considerable earning capacity notwithstanding his unfortunate injury which we all deeply deplore.
While we are of the opinion that the court would be constrained to set the verdict aside for the reason mentioned, we also feel that the jury having found that the defendant was negligent
Mr. Burchenal:—We have talked with the plaintiff in this case, and we are willing to accept the amount of four thousand five hundred dollars.
Let the verdict be reduced accordingly.
(By consent of counsel for plaintiff and order of the court, judgment reduced to four thousand five hundred dollars. Same day motion for new trial refused.)
