71 So. 804 | Miss. | 1916
delivered the opinion of the court.
This is an action for damages, brought by the appellee,.' Miss Esma McRee, against the appellants, H. C. White- and Mrs. White, for injuries sustained by the appellee by being bitten on both legs by a brindle bulldog owned: and kept by the appellants on their premises. There was-a jury verdict for one hundred dollars in favor of the appellee, from which the appellants appeal, and the appellee cross-appeals, to this court.
The facts in the case are that in July, 1914, the appellee, Miss Esma.McRee, a young lady about . seventeen years of age, visited the residence of appellants one Sunday morning for the purpose of getting some eggs from
“There were scratches on the calf of the right leg; there were two deep puncture wounds on the outside of the limb, and there were two lacerated wounds, which apparently protruded to the bone, just about the ankle; and there were other scratches on both sides of the lacerated wound, and there were two scratches on the lower left limb, all of which were made by the teeth of the dog. That on the outer side, just above the ankle, on the right limb, the injuries apparently were made by the teeth of the dog; and the lacerated deep wounds on the opposite side of1 the leg looked as though a dog had grabbed the limb with his teeth and then tore them through the flesh. They were about one and a half inches long, and looked as though the dog got her with his teeth and tore his hold out; anyway, it was torn out. The wounds seemed to be almost to the bone. I cauterized the wounds with carbolic acid, because I was afraid it might be a mad dog: She seemed to be suffering intensely. She was very nervous and excited and alarmed. She was nervous and crying, and we could hardly keep her still so I could do anything for her.”
It further appears, from the undisputed testimony in the record, that after the dog had let go his hold on appellee’s left ankle he took another hold on her right leg, throwing her down and keeping her down
It appears from the testimony that this brindle bulldog had previously bitten other people, and that his vicious and ferocious character was well known to the appellants and that he was kept on the premises, running loose, with the full knowledge of appellants that he would attack persons who might come within the yard. In fact, it seems from the testimony that the appellants had the dog there for the purpose of protecting the premises by his biting persons who might enter thereon. The question of liability of appellants, for the injuries inflicted in this case, was properly submitted to the jury, and the jury correctly determined the issue against the appellants. We find no error of the court below that would warrant us in disturbing the finding of the jury, as to the liability of appellants.
Cross-appellant, Miss McRee, contends that the verdict of one hundred dollars assessed as damages by the jury is so grossly inadequate as to show passion, prejudice, or corruption on the part of the jury; and we are asked, under rule 13 of this court (59 So. ix), to send the case back to the lower court, where another jury may pass upon the amount of damages due the cross-appellant for the injuries received. The verdict for one hundred dollars in this case is grossly inadequate, and evinces pas
The judgment on direct appeal is affirmed, and on cross-appeal the judgment of the lower court is reversed, and the case is remanded for a new trial as to the amount of damages only.
Affirmed and remanded.