Whiteley.
Was not the true measure of the damages in such a ease, the value of the life so lost, and occasioned by the negligence of the' defendant ? And was not that the meaning and true import of the statute ? Suppose a boy of seven or eight years of age were mortally injured, but not instantly killed, on a railroad by reason of the negligence of the company or its servants, and he should bring suit therefor, and pending it, should die of the injury, under the first section of the statute the suit would survive, and his administrator on being made a party to it, might prosecute it to judgment and recovery—and in that case what would be the measure of his damages ? Why, certainly as much, if not more than, the original plaintiff would have been entitled to recover in consequence of the negligence, had he survived the injury. And in such a case would not the measure of the damages be the value of his life to him ? To hold that no other loss than such strictly pecuniary loss as may be sustained by the negligent sacrifice of the life of a human being, whoever may be the party entitled to sue for it, would have the effect practically to annul the statute, and to absolutely defeat the design of the legislature in enacting it. The object of it was apparent, and was not only wise, but humane and commendable, as it was intended to furnish what was much needed, an additional safeguard and security against the fatal accidents and scarcely less than fatal injuries, so frequently resulting from the negligence of others. And such a construction as had been contended for by the counsel for the defendant, was not the proper construction of it.
Shearm. & Redf. on Neg. secs.
292, 293, 295.
P. R. R. Co. v. McCloskey's Admr.
23
Penn.
526.
P. R. R. Co. v. Zebe and Wife,
33
Penn.
329.
Blake’s Admr. v. Midland Railway Co.
10
E. L. E R.
442. if either at common law, nor under our statute was it necessary to allege for whose benefit the suit- was brought, or to specially al
lege any prospective damages, in order to recover for them in such a case. He then adverted to the several statutes on the subject of the other States referred to, and to the particulars in which they differ from ours.
Spruance,
for the defendant.
If the action would lie and the plaintiff was entitled to recover, it could be nominal damages only, as it was manifest that no pecuniary loss whatever had been, or could be sustained by the personal representatives, the brothers and sisters, of the deceased. And if such was the case, it was neither the duty of counsel, or of the court to discover or devise some foundation on which any other damages can be recovered in it; for it was the fault or defect which was inherent in the statute itself, and nothing less.
The question propounded to the witness was then varied by the counsel for the plaintiff to the general inquiry what would the services of a stout, healthy boy of the age of seven or eight years until the age of twenty one years, be reasonably worth, which he was not prepared to answer, even to his own satisfaction, he said.
Whiteley,
for the plaintiff',
after reading various provisions of the charter and ordinances of the City as to the powers and duties of the proper authorities of it, in relation to opening and maintaining streets in a good and safe condition, rested his case.
Harrington,
then moved a nonsuit.
The declaration in the action contained but one count, and that was for a misfeasance alone, for it simply alleged that the city authorities mentioned, dug or caused to be dug the hole or cavity in question, and neglected for several months afterward to fill or cause it to be filled, or to erect any fence, fender or guard whatever around it, or between it and the narrow road-bed of the street to prevent accidents to persons using it; whilst the evidence which had already been adduced was direct and positive that it had not been made by their
authority or direction at all, but by others entirely, the owners of the land and the stone quarry which had been opened near the locality long before the eleventh street of the city had been laid out as far that place, or by private individuals working it on their account, or by their permission or direction merely. It would be observed that the city was not, even, sued for allowing it to be done by others without their authority or permission, and then neglecting to adopt any such precaution to prevent accidents resulting from it; for the averment in the count was ■one continuous and indivisible allegation both in structure and meaning, that the city authorities caused it to be dug and neglected either to have it filled up, or to erect any barrier between it and the portion of the street rendered unsafe by it. It was, therefore, an allegation of misfeasance, and not of non-feasance merely on their part, and the importance of the distinction between them, would readily be seen when we reflect that, if it had been a case of non-feasance or neglect merely, it would have been necessary for the plaintiff, not only to allege, but also to prove that the defendant had due notice or knowledge of the existence of the nuisance in time to have remedied it, or they would not have been liable for the consequences of it. If it had not been proved as alleged, that the defendants caused the hole to be dug, or that it was done by others with their consent or by their permission, was the plaintiff entitled
prima facie
to recover or had he any case to go to the jury?
But a municipal corporation was not liable for nonfeasance in a private action at the suit of an individual for a consequential loss or injury resulting from it.
Lane v. Copper,
1
Ld. Raym. Rep.
646.
Whitfield v. Ld. LeDespencer, Cowp.
754.
Russell v. The Men of Devon, 2 T. R.
667. The duty of keeping streets in a good condition is a public duty, for the breach of which no private action will lie; and municipal corporations stand in that respect the same as townships or counties. 17
How. 161. 18 N. J.
108. 32
N. J.
394. 36
N. H.
284. 21
Mich.
84. 19
Pick.
456.
Dil. on Mun. Corp. see.
74.
Shearm. & Redf. on Neg. sec.
153. 2
Hilt. Rep.
40. But if the deceased was not lawfully on the street, or was playing there, or attempted to run through the water or any part of it, or his accidentally falling into the hole or pond and his drowning in it, was in any degree attributable to the carelessness and negligence of his father on that occasion, the plaintiff was not entitled to recover. 29
Barb.
234. 21
Wend.
614. 4
Allen
283. 9
Allen
401. 6
Hill
592.
The declaration was not drawn hastily, or without due consideration, although it contained but one count, and that was for a misfeasance.
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Whiteley.
Was not the true measure of the damages in such a ease, the value of the life so lost, and occasioned by the negligence of the' defendant ? And was not that the meaning and true import of the statute ? Suppose a boy of seven or eight years of age were mortally injured, but not instantly killed, on a railroad by reason of the negligence of the company or its servants, and he should bring suit therefor, and pending it, should die of the injury, under the first section of the statute the suit would survive, and his administrator on being made a party to it, might prosecute it to judgment and recovery—and in that case what would be the measure of his damages ? Why, certainly as much, if not more than, the original plaintiff would have been entitled to recover in consequence of the negligence, had he survived the injury. And in such a case would not the measure of the damages be the value of his life to him ? To hold that no other loss than such strictly pecuniary loss as may be sustained by the negligent sacrifice of the life of a human being, whoever may be the party entitled to sue for it, would have the effect practically to annul the statute, and to absolutely defeat the design of the legislature in enacting it. The object of it was apparent, and was not only wise, but humane and commendable, as it was intended to furnish what was much needed, an additional safeguard and security against the fatal accidents and scarcely less than fatal injuries, so frequently resulting from the negligence of others. And such a construction as had been contended for by the counsel for the defendant, was not the proper construction of it.
Shearm. & Redf. on Neg. secs.
292, 293, 295.
P. R. R. Co. v. McCloskey's Admr.
23
Penn.
526.
P. R. R. Co. v. Zebe and Wife,
33
Penn.
329.
Blake’s Admr. v. Midland Railway Co.
10
E. L. E R.
442. if either at common law, nor under our statute was it necessary to allege for whose benefit the suit- was brought, or to specially al
lege any prospective damages, in order to recover for them in such a case. He then adverted to the several statutes on the subject of the other States referred to, and to the particulars in which they differ from ours.
Spruance,
for the defendant.
If the action would lie and the plaintiff was entitled to recover, it could be nominal damages only, as it was manifest that no pecuniary loss whatever had been, or could be sustained by the personal representatives, the brothers and sisters, of the deceased. And if such was the case, it was neither the duty of counsel, or of the court to discover or devise some foundation on which any other damages can be recovered in it; for it was the fault or defect which was inherent in the statute itself, and nothing less.
The question propounded to the witness was then varied by the counsel for the plaintiff to the general inquiry what would the services of a stout, healthy boy of the age of seven or eight years until the age of twenty one years, be reasonably worth, which he was not prepared to answer, even to his own satisfaction, he said.
Whiteley,
for the plaintiff',
after reading various provisions of the charter and ordinances of the City as to the powers and duties of the proper authorities of it, in relation to opening and maintaining streets in a good and safe condition, rested his case.
Harrington,
then moved a nonsuit.
The declaration in the action contained but one count, and that was for a misfeasance alone, for it simply alleged that the city authorities mentioned, dug or caused to be dug the hole or cavity in question, and neglected for several months afterward to fill or cause it to be filled, or to erect any fence, fender or guard whatever around it, or between it and the narrow road-bed of the street to prevent accidents to persons using it; whilst the evidence which had already been adduced was direct and positive that it had not been made by their
authority or direction at all, but by others entirely, the owners of the land and the stone quarry which had been opened near the locality long before the eleventh street of the city had been laid out as far that place, or by private individuals working it on their account, or by their permission or direction merely. It would be observed that the city was not, even, sued for allowing it to be done by others without their authority or permission, and then neglecting to adopt any such precaution to prevent accidents resulting from it; for the averment in the count was ■one continuous and indivisible allegation both in structure and meaning, that the city authorities caused it to be dug and neglected either to have it filled up, or to erect any barrier between it and the portion of the street rendered unsafe by it. It was, therefore, an allegation of misfeasance, and not of non-feasance merely on their part, and the importance of the distinction between them, would readily be seen when we reflect that, if it had been a case of non-feasance or neglect merely, it would have been necessary for the plaintiff, not only to allege, but also to prove that the defendant had due notice or knowledge of the existence of the nuisance in time to have remedied it, or they would not have been liable for the consequences of it. If it had not been proved as alleged, that the defendants caused the hole to be dug, or that it was done by others with their consent or by their permission, was the plaintiff entitled
prima facie
to recover or had he any case to go to the jury?
But a municipal corporation was not liable for nonfeasance in a private action at the suit of an individual for a consequential loss or injury resulting from it.
Lane v. Copper,
1
Ld. Raym. Rep.
646.
Whitfield v. Ld. LeDespencer, Cowp.
754.
Russell v. The Men of Devon, 2 T. R.
667. The duty of keeping streets in a good condition is a public duty, for the breach of which no private action will lie; and municipal corporations stand in that respect the same as townships or counties. 17
How. 161. 18 N. J.
108. 32
N. J.
394. 36
N. H.
284. 21
Mich.
84. 19
Pick.
456.
Dil. on Mun. Corp. see.
74.
Shearm. & Redf. on Neg. sec.
153. 2
Hilt. Rep.
40. But if the deceased was not lawfully on the street, or was playing there, or attempted to run through the water or any part of it, or his accidentally falling into the hole or pond and his drowning in it, was in any degree attributable to the carelessness and negligence of his father on that occasion, the plaintiff was not entitled to recover. 29
Barb.
234. 21
Wend.
614. 4
Allen
283. 9
Allen
401. 6
Hill
592.
The declaration was not drawn hastily, or without due consideration, although it contained but one count, and that was for a misfeasance. The defendants were a municipal corporation created and endowed by the legislature with all the powers which they possess by delegation from it, and among them the power in regard to streets in the city as expressed in section 27 of the charter,
City Ordinances, pac/e
35, and in relation to which the whole power is conferred on the City Council; and that was done upon the implied condition when they accepted the grant and proceeded to avail themselves of it, that they would keep all the streets in good order and safe condition, and which imposed upon them the obligation to do that, and to see that no one dug or quarried deep and dangerous cavities into them, or did any thing else to impair, much less, to imperil the free use and enjoyment of them; and if any one did so, and they suffered them to remain unsafe for an unreasonable time, they became liable for any loss or injury occasioned by it to any person in a civil action, and it would be incumbent upon them in such a case to prove that they had not timely notice or knowledge of it.
Thayer v. Boston,
19
Pick.
590.
Conrad v. Ithaca,
16
N. Y.
158.
Schwingle v. Erie,
22
Penn.
384.
Wendell v. Troy,
39
Barb.
329.
Storrs v. Utica,
17
N. Y.
105.
Chicago v. Robbins,
2
Blach.
418. 37
N. Y.
573.
Shearm. & Redf. on Neg. sec.
133. But a municipal corporation may be sued by an individual in a civil action for non-feasance merely, the true distinction in that respect being between a regular
municipal corporation, such as an actually incorporated city or borough, and only a
quasi
corporation, such as townships, counties, or the Levy Courts in this State are, which cannot be so sued. 37
N. Y.
573. 18
N. Y.
79. 11
Wend.
539. 3
Hill
612. 21
Mich.
84. 55
Ill.
346. 5
Bingh.
91. It was too late in the day to raise that question in this country, at least. There was no doubt that the deceased, though of the tender age of seven or eight years, had a lawful right to be on the street and for his amusement and pleasure to ran after his father’s horse and cart when loaded, as much as to ride back in it when it was unloaded and on its return. He had a right to be there ; but the hole and pond of water had not a right to be there. 21
Wend.
615. 42
Ill.
355. 22
Verm.
213. 22
Conn.
591. 47
Penn.
300. 48
Penn.
218. 18
Ill.
349. 31
Penn.
358. 38
N. Y.
455.
Spruanee,
replied.
Wkiteley,
then asked leave of the court to amend the declaration by adding another count for nonfeasance simply.
The Court.
The leave asked for to amend the declaration by another distinct count in addition to the one now contained in it, cannot be granted at this stage of the trial after the plaintiff has closed his testimony, and the argument on a motion for a nonsuit submitted upon it, has been heard and concluded, in accordance with the well settled practice of the court. It must, therefore, be refused. And as the only count in the declaration is for misfeasance, that is to say, for both the making of the nuisance, or the cavity and pool in question, and neglecting afterward to take the proper precautions and to adopt the proper means to protect the public right of way and use of that portion of the street against the serious danger of it, has not only not been sustained as alleged, but has already been directly negatived by the evidence in the case, the motion for a nonsuit must prevail, and is, therefore, granted. And as this disposes of the case, the court deems it unnecessary to express any opinion upon any other question which has been raised in it.