Coles' Adm'x v. Illinois Central Railway Co.

87 S.W. 1082, 120 Ky. 686, 1905 Ky. LEXIS 152

• Court: Court of Appeals of Kentucky
• Decided: June 9, 1905
• Status: Published

Opinion

Opinion by

Judge Paynter

Affirming.

This is an action hy the administratrix of F. M. Coles to recover damages for killing a horse and demolishing a buggy which belonged to plaintiff’s intestate. Among other defenses interposed was one that the plaintiff’s intestate was killed at the time the horse was killed and the buggy demolished; that it was the same negligence, if any, which resulted in the death of the plaintiff’s intestate and horse and the destruction of the buggy. The defendant pleaded that there was but one cause of action; that the plaintiff had recovered a judgment against the company for the destruction of the life of her intestate, and that the judgment had been paid. The question for decision is, can this action he maintained in view of the facts stated?

Sec. 83, Civil Code Practice, provides: “Several canses of action may be united (a) if each affect all parties to the action, (b) may be brought in the same county, and may be prosecuted by the same kind of action; if all of them be brought * * * for injuries to person and property.”

The record shows that it was the same tort which destroyed the life of the intestate and his property. Under sec. 6, Ky. Stats. 1903, the action for the negligent killing of the human being must be brought by the personal representative. The action for the killing of the horse should likewise have been brought by the personal representative. So the cause of action for both items of damage was in the same person, and the liability was against the same defendant. Therefore, under sec. 83, Civil Code Practice, the cause of action was in the personal representative of the intestate. The rule seems to be almost, if not quite, universal that the entire claim or items arising out of a civil transaction, whether in the nature of a contract or tort, can not be divided into separate and distinct claims, and each form the basis of an action.”

In Covington & Cincinnati Elevated R. R. Co. v. Kleimerer, &c., 49 S. W., 484, 20 Ky. Law Rep., 1415, it is said the rule is elementary that a party can not split the cause of action, and sue upon a part at one time and the remainder at another.

It was said in Louisville Bridge Co. v. Louisville & Nashville R. R. Co., &c. 116 Ky., 258, 75 S. W., 285, 25 Ky. Law Rep., 405: “Numerous authorities are cited by counsel in support of the proposition that, where an entire cause of action is split, a judgment in one case will bar a second action for the rest of the claim. The principle is sound, and has been applied very, often by the courts. ’ ’

It js urged that this rule should not be applied, because the recovery for the destruction of the intestate’s life would, under the statute, go to the widow and'; children, while the recovery for the horse and buggy would go to his estate, for the payment of debts and distribution. The statute provides that an action for the destruction of life shall be brought by the personal representative, and that the recovery shall go to the widow and children, except costs, attorney’s fees, etc. The recovery is an asset of the estate, for distribution in a certain way. A recovery for the destruction of the horse and buggy would likewise be an asset of the estate, for distribution in a specified way. The mere fact that one item of damage should be distributed in a different way from another item of damage does not prevent a recovery in one action. . Under proper instructions, the jury ctrnld have said what part of the recovery was for the destruction of the horse and buggy, and what part was for the destruction of the life of the intestate. In our opinion a recovery for the destruction of the life of the intestate estops the plaintiff from bringing this action for the item of damage for the loss of the horse and buggy.

The judgment is affirmed,