Tyler v. Philadelphia Ritz-Carlton Co.

75 Pa. Super. 353 | Pa. Super. Ct. | 1920

Opinion by

Henderson, J.,

The verdict of the jury was sustained in a former appeal in this case, 73 Pa. Superior Ct. 427. The question raised in the present appeal is whether exemplary damages should have been allowed, the appellant contending that the evidence does not support such a verdict.

The testimony presented by the plaintiff at the trial tended to show that he was arrested by the defendant’s special officer under circumstances' of insult, indignity and maliciousness. The jury might have found, under that evidence, that the officer was actuated by a malicious disposition, or that he was moved by personal feeling and acted oppressively, without justification by anything done by the plaintiff. If he used the language attributed to him by the witnesses, and “practically dragged” the plaintiff out of the lobby when he was offering no resistance and threatened personal violence, the facts bring the case within that class of trespassers in which exemplary damages are allowed. The jury in such a case is not confined to the actual damage sustained, but may go further, if there are circumstances of aggravation, or outrage. This is a question for the jury. There must be wilful misconduct, and this applies as well to the act of a servant within the general scope of his authority, as to the employer. If the act be wilfully and maliciously done, or in the absence of malice, it was committed under circumstances of oppression, outrage or recklessness, the rule is that exemplary damages may be awarded : Nagle v. Mullison, 34 Pa. 48; Phila. Traction Co. v. Orbann, 119 Pa. 37; Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Co. v. Arms et al., 91 U. S. 489; Sedgwick on the Measure of Damages, 329.

In a consideration of .the question presented, the plaintiff is entitled to the benefit of all the facts which may have been found by the jury, and the reasonable presumption arising therefrom; and although there was evidence offered by the defendant contradictory to the case as presented by the plaintiff, the jury alone could determine the credibility of the witnesses. A careful examination of the evidence convinces us that there was testimony which would support a verdict for exemplary damages. It follows that the judgment should be sustained.

The appeal is dismissed and the judgment affirmed.