11 Blatchf. 485 | U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Southern New York | 1874
I think the •exceptions filed in this case were properly overruled. There is nothing to show that the libellants did not exercise a just and wise discretion in raising the Fairfield. Until she was raised it was impossible to determine whether she could be repaired without too great expense. Indeed, had she not been raised, and the libellants had come into court claiming her value, the objection that they should have raised her, or proved that she could not be raised and repaired, would ■ have been effectually urged by the claimants of the America. The libellants were at liberty, and, in fact, bound, to go far enough to enable proof to be given of the extent of loss; ;\nd the proof does not show that more than that was done.
As to interest, it has been often said, that, in actions of tort, where the damages are unliquidated, interest is not to be allowed ns matter of law, but it rests in the discretion of the jury. The proposition is not unqualifiedly true, without exception. Thus, In actions of trover, which is an action of tort, the value of the property, with interest thereon, is held to be the rule of damages. Where the value of the thing lost, or the cost of repairs and the like, are the test or measure of recovery, and the amount of damages becomes mere matter of computation, interest is as necessary to indemnity as the allowance of the principal sums. But, if the allowance of interest rests in discretion, still, the indemnity of the party for injury from a collision occurring through the fault of another vessel, should be the object of the court in the allowance of damages. In this view, such allowance was, I think, proper. It is, in such case, not allowed as punishment. It is not like the allowance of punitive damages in actions of slander, assault and battery, and like cases. It gives indemnity only.
Let the exceptions be overruled, and a decree be entered for the amount reported.