Hartley v. Oidtman

410 S.W.2d 537, 1966 Mo. App. LEXIS 532

• Court: Missouri Court of Appeals
• Decided: November 15, 1966
• Docket: 32421
• Status: Published

Opinions

ANDERSON, Judge.

This is an action to recover $15,000 actual damages and $10,000 punitive damages for an alleged assault on plaintiff, the trial of which resulted in a jury verdict in favor of defendant. Plaintiff has appealed. In his argument, plaintiff’s counsel told the jury, “I would say in all that this young man has suffered actual damages of $5,000.” Plaintiff having adopted a trial theory that he was only entitled to $5,000 actual damages and $10,000 punitive damages, the jurisdiction of this appeal is in this court. Beasley v. Athens, 365 Mo. 158, 277 S.W.2d 538.

Plaintiff presents four points for our consideration. Three of the points are based on the contention that defendant’s evidence conclusively shows that defendant was the aggressor in that he first assaulted plaintiff, and for that reason the trial court erred in overruling plaintiff’s motion to direct a verdict for plaintiff on the issue of liability; in giving Instruction No. 7, which submitted self-defense; and in giving Instruction No. 2, which was on the burden of proof. In his other point, plaintiff presents the contention that the trial court erred in admitting evidence of other altercations between plaintiff and others which was not connected with the occurrence in question.

Defendant was the owner and operator of a tavern known as the Sunset Lake Lounge in or near Jefferson City, Missouri. At the time of the incident in question his age was twenty-two years. On the evening of February 9, 1963, plaintiff, twenty-two years of age, was a participant in a basketball game. After the game, plaintiff and his girl friend, who at the time of the trial was plaintiff’s wife, together with Jack Casteel and his girl friend and Don Roark went to defendant’s tavern, arriving there at approximately 10:30 P.M. At the time of their arrival, there were a number of patrons present. Among them was a group of high school seniors. In this group, among others, were Jerry Tellman, his girl friend Martha Preuss, Tom Debruck, and a brother of defendant. The tavern was equipped with facilities for a shuffleboard game and plaintiff and Debruck engaged in a game. It seems there was an understanding between them that the loser of the game would buy a pitcher of beer or pay the winner $1.00 in cash. After playing for some time, plaintiff and Debruck had an argument about the payment of the $1.00. Witnesses said that loud and vile language was used by the two participants which could be heard by all of the patrons in the tavern. Defendant, who was the bartender that evening, tried to stop the argument, and when he learned it concerned the payment of $1.00, he got a one dollar bill out of his cash register and offered it to plaintiff. Plaintiff refused to take the money saying, “ * * * we want De-bruck’s dollar.” It seems that the quarrel subsided for a short period of time but thereafter began again. Defendant returned to the participants in the argument and on this occasion he carried a blackjack in his hand. According to plaintiff’s testimony, he pounded the blackjack on the bar, at the same time using vile language, and told plaintiff that if he did not get out of the tavern he would hit him in the head with the blackjack. Defendant did not remember beating the blackjack on the bar but admitted having it in his possession. He denied threatening to hit plaintiff over the head with it. He said he told plaintiff, “Either you’re going to have to leave or I’m going to have to call the police.” Plaintiff told him that he and his group would leave. One of plaintiff’s own witnesses said that defendant did not pound the blackjack on the bar and a witness for the defendant said that defendant did ask plaintiff to leave and said that if he did not he (defendant) was going to call the police. Thereafter, plaintiff and his group left the tavern and defendant followed them. However, before following plaintiff and his group to the outside of the tavern, defendant hung the blackjack behind the bar. When plaintiff and defendant were outside, defendant put his arm around plaintiff’s shoulder and said, “ ‘Jim, we have been friends for a long time, let’s not have any hard feelings.’ ” Plaintiff said, “ ‘No, everything is all right.’ ” Plaintiff then asked defendant if he could go back into the tavern and use the toilet. Defendant gave his consent. Plaintiff then re-entered the tavern for that purpose.

The testimony further shows that in order to get to the toilet it was necessary to go through a large archway between the tavern and a room adjacent to it, the toilet being somewhere beyond this other room. Plaintiff, after entering the tavern through the front door, headed for the archway. To reach this objective, it was necessary for him to pass the other group of young people, heretofore mentioned, who were in the vicinity of the archway preparing to leave the premises. According to plaintiff’s testimony, Martha Preuss “said a few words to me and I just told her right back * * * and she slapped me right here on the face and I pushed her hack like this. I didn’t knock her down or anything, just pushed her back and that’s when her boyfriend came at me and I swung and hit him in the eye.” Plaintiff then walked through the archway to the men’s toilet. .

Jerry Tellman was the person plaintiff struck. He was knocked down and was severely injured by the blow. He received a cut under the eye and was later taken to the hospital where the wound was sutured. According to defendant’s evidence, Tellman did nothing to provoke the assault. Defendant testified that he entered the tavern after plaintiff returned to go to the toilet, and as he entered through the door, he saw plaintiff strike Tellman. He testified: “ * * * Well, Martha Preuss was saying something. * * * And I never actually heard what Martha had said. * * * but the next thing I knew Jerry Tellman was walking up to Jim (plaintiff) and I never saw Jerry take a swing; I swear to God, I never saw that at all. And he had his arms down at his side and before I knew it Jim had hit him and he cut this part of his eye. The only thing I saw was the white of his eye. I thought he might have hit him hard enough to put it out. So I went and got a wet bar rag. * * * Q. You say Tell-man was walking toward him and he had his arms down? A. That’s the only way I can remember it, walking with his hands at his side. I cannot remember him making a pass at all.” Tellman was not a witness in the case. He was killed in an automobile accident prior to the date of the trial.

Joan Lee Gerlach, a witness for defendant, testified she was in the tavern with Martha Preuss. She stated that prior to being struck, Tellman was “just standing there;” that he did not have his hands up, threatening; and that she was standing next to him. “Q. And then what happened? A. Jim Hartley hit him and he cut his eye open right underneath here and it looked awful. Q. Did Hartley have anything offered toward him in the way of any threats at all by Tellman? A. No. Q. You mean he just hauled off and hit Tellman? A. Yes, he did * * * I was standing right next to Jerry when he hit him and he fell. He fell flat on his back and we didn’t know whether he was hurt — . Q. Did he give him any warning that he was going to hit him in the eye? A. No, sir. Q. I’m talking about plaintiff, here. A. No, he didn’t do anything, he just hauled off and slugged him one in the eye.”

Edward Goodin testified on behalf of defendant concerning the Tellman incident. He stated that prior to plaintiff striking Tellman, the latter and Martha Preuss were at a coat rack near the door putting on their coats when plaintiff and Miss Preuss got into an argument and Miss Preuss slapped plaintiff; that when this occurred, plaintiff stepped back, and Tellman moved beside Miss Preuss; that plaintiff then hit Tell-man; thaf when Tellman moved toward Miss Preuss he did not threaten plaintiff in any way; that Tellman had been turned a little sideways getting coats and “just kind of turned around;” that he did not offer any violence, threats or force to plaintiff; that plaintiff gave Tellman no warning “that he was going to deck him.” There was no testimony as to what was said either by Martha Preuss or plaintiff prior to plaintiff striking Tellman.

When defendant was asked what this incident did toward his attitude, he answered :

“A. Well, it kind of got your hair all up again. I mean you just got one thing all over with and you started all over again.

“Q. Did it upset you? A. Well, yes, sir, it would.

“Q. Did you have any knowledge as to any duty you may have had to protect your customers as the proprietor of a tavern ?

“A. Well, I wasn’t going to let anybody else get hit. I knew that.”

Before plaintiff returned from the toilet, defendant took up a position in the archway. He stood with his hands over the top of the door and slightly to the right hand side, leaving ample room, however, for plaintiff to pass between where he was standing and the door jamb. Plaintiff’s wife, who was outside the tavern sensed trouble when she saw Tellman being taken out and ran back into the tavern. She saw defendant standing in the archway and asked him what was going on. According to her testimony, defendant grabbed her by the arm and said, “ ‘Get out of here, you’re going to get hurt.’ ” About that time, plaintiff approached the archway on his way back from the toilet. Defendant testified: “Well, he came out of there and he still looked like he was still a little bit mad anyway, and so I — I don’t know, I kind of took a swing at him, more or less. I didn’t want him getting next to me because I didn’t want to get hit at all. And I didn’t hit him. Or he blocked it. And so then he hit me and knocked me up against a table. And so I got up — more or less holding on to him, and then I hit him and he fell back, not too very far from that planter. And he fell back on his back and the first thing he did, he put his hands to his face and he said, ‘Oh, my jaw.’ And that’s all he said.”

Defendant further testified:

“Q. When you saw Hartley coming toward you from out of the restroom did you have any apprehension or fear that he might assault you ?

“A. I thought if he had done it once he could do it again.

“Q. Was this why you struck him or struck at him?

“A. Struck at him, yes sir.

“Q. You wanted to ward him off ?

“A. Yes, sir.

“Q. And he was coming toward you ?

“A. * * * Yes, sir.

“Q. But there was room for him to go—

“A. Pass by.”

Defendant further testified that nothing was said between them before the blows were struck. Afterwards while plaintiff was down, plaintiff said he had had enough. Defendant then helped plaintiff up and applied a wet towel to his face. Plaintiff then left the premises with the assistance of his friends.

On cross-examination, defendant testified that when he exhibited the blackjack on the occasion of the argument between plaintiff and Debruck, he was angry. When asked whether plaintiff, as he approached the archway door, was walking along naturally, replied, “Oh, I guess he was. Still kind of mad * * * I couldn’t tell you if he was walking slow, fast or normally. I would say he was just on his way. My way.” He stated he was standing in archway door because he did not want any more of his customers hit; that he already had one hit and sent to the hospital; that he never saw Tellman strike at plaintiff, but that when he saw Tellman the latter was talking to plaintiff with his hands down at his sides; that he struck at plaintiff to keep someone else from being hurt. He admitted that as plaintiff came through the archway, plaintiff asked, “ ‘What’s going on ?’ ” and then he “swung at him.” Two witnesses for defendant testified they saw Martha Preuss slap plaintiff; that Tellman did nothing and said nothing to plaintiff; and that plaintiff without warning struck Tellman.

It is plaintiff’s contention on this appeal that the trial court erred in overruling his motion for a directed verdict on the issue of liability, and in giving and reading to the jury, defendant’s self-defense instruction. In support of these assignments, it is urged that defendant’s own evidence shows he was the aggressor in the encounter, having first struck at plaintiff, without provocation, while angry and after lying in wait for plaintiff to return through the archway into the tavern. It is urged that plaintiff committed no overt act which indicated he was angry at defendant, or intended to assault defendant or any of his customers. As a further argument, plaintiff in his brief states that the evidence showed that the altercation between Martha Preuss and her escort had completely terminated; that defendant was angry and for that reason assaulted plaintiff. It seems to be plaintiff’s contention that the testimony concerning his violent and disgraceful conduct that evening prior to his encounter with defendant at the archway should not be considered in determining whether defendant at the time he struck at plaintiff had reasonable grounds to believe he was in danger of receiving bodily harm or that other customers would likely be attacked.

Defendant takes the view that it was for the jury to determine from all the facts and circumstances, including plaintiff’s previous turbulent behavior that evening, whether defendant was legally justified in his actions on the ground he acted in self-defense, and to protect his customers from probable bodily harm.

The rule of law to be applied to the fact in this case is stated in Restatement, Second, Torts Sec. 63, p. 98.

“(1) An actor is privileged to use reasonable force, not intended or likely to cause death or serious bodily harm, to defend himself against unprivileged harmful or offensive contact or other bodily harm which he reasonably believes that another is about to inflict intentionally upon him.

“(2) Self-defense is privileged under the conditions stated in Subsection (1), although the actor correctly or reasonably believes that he can avoid the necessity of so defending himself.

“(a) by retreating or otherwise giving up a right or privilege, or

⅜ * ⅝ * * *

In Section 76 of the same work, the rule applicable to the defense of third persons is stated as follows:

“The actor is privileged to defend a third person from a harmful or offensive contact or other invasion of his interests of personality under the same conditions and by the same means as those under and by which he is privileged to defend himself if the actor correctly or reasonably believes that

“(a) the circumstances are such as to give the third person a privilege of self-defense, and

“(b) his intervention is necessary for the protection of the third person.”

In the reporter’s notes to this section, after pointing out that while originally the right of defense of others was restricted to members of the actor’s family or household, such narrow application under modern law has been abandoned. It is said:

“(e) * * *

“The restriction of the privilege to intervene on behalf of third persons to those who are members of the actor’s family or household was founded upon conditions long since past. Such a restriction is inconsistent with the duties which the law imposes upon persons standing in many relations to others, which require them to protect such others from the invasion of their interests of personality. Obviously it is impossible that liability should be imposed as a penalty for doing that which there is a legal duty to do.

“(f) But even though there is no relation which imposes a legal duty to act for the protection of another, the restriction of the privilege to intervene for the protection of third persons, even from harm less than death or serious injury, to members of the same family or household is opposed to the settled usages of modern society. The same policy which permits intervention to prevent a breach of the peace, stated in § 141, justifies one human being in the use of reasonable force to protect the safety of another, without regard to any relation between them; and in the ordinary case the two privileges are so merged that it is impossible to distinguish them. As stated in Salmond, Torts, (11th ed. 1953) 375, ‘It may safely be assumed that at the present day all such distinctions are obsolete, and that every man has the right of defending any man by reasonable force against unlawful force.’ ”

Where a person has reasonable grounds to believe, and does believe that another is about to assault him, or do bodily harm to one to whom he owes a duty to protect, he need not wait until the other person actually strikes or makes an assault before resorting to the application of reasonable force to repel the expected attack. State v. Daugherty, Mo., 196 S.W.2d 627. And it has been held that where the person does not use a deadly weapon, fear of bodily harm only is sufficient to support a justification by self-defense in a civil action. See 6 Am.Jur. 2d, Assault and Battery, § 159, p. 134. It is also our belief that in considering the plea of self-defense, the time, place and surrounding circumstances must be considered together with the actor’s knowledge of previous acts and the reputation of the person believed to be threatening bodily harm.

The evidence shows that plaintiff during his stay at the tavern and for some period of time that evening engaged in a violent argument with another customer, using vile and obscene language which could be heard by everyone in the tavern, including several teenage girls who were present. It could be found from the evidence that the argument was of such a nature as to lead one situated as was defendant to believe that physical violence was likely to occur unless stopped. Defendant attempted to stop the argument by offering plaintiff the sum of money over which the argument raged, but said offer was refused. There was a lull in this disturbance for a short period of time but the argument was resumed and on account of its quarrelsome and vile nature, defendant was forced to order the disputants and the group with them out of the tavern. Plaintiff, thereafter, re-entered the tavern and immediately engaged in an argument with Martha Preuss. The record does not show what was said during the argument, but it does appear that Martha slapped plaintiff in the face. The slap was administered in retaliation for something said by plaintiff, which was, no doubt, of a vile and insulting nature. Plaintiff then gave Martha a violent shove, and when her escort, Tellman, turned to see what had occurred, plaintiff without provocation, knocked him down.

As a result of this blow, Tellman suffered a severe cut under the eye and had to be taken to a hospital where the wound was sutured. Defendant witnessed this episode as he was returning through the tavern door from the outside where he had previously gone in an attempt to pacify plaintiff. A few minutes later, plaintiff, returning from the toilet, approached the archway. He had an angry look on his face and came toward defendant although it was not necessary for him to do so, since defendant was not blocking the archway, but stood at one side leaving ample room for plaintiff to pass between defendant and the door jamb. Defendant, in effect, testified he was at that time apprehensive and in fear that plaintiff might assault him, his testimony being that he swung at plaintiff because he did not want plaintiff to get next to him — that he did not want to get hurt. He also stated he was standing in the archway at the time because he did not want any more of his customers hit. A finding that defendant was in fear for the safety of his customers is fortified by the fact that he told Linda Cartwell, who had returned to the tavern from the outside, to “get out of here, you’re going to get hurt.” It also appears that plaintiff had a turbulent disposition, and had engaged in previous fights of which defendant was aware. From this evidence and the testimony of the violence exhibited by plaintiff just prior to the alleged assault and the manner of his approach toward defendant who stood in the archway, a jury would be justified in believing that on the occasion in question plaintiff ran amuck, and exhibited such violence as would put a person situated as defendant was, in reasonable fear for his safety and that of his customers. This exhibition of violence which plaintiff apparently enjoyed ceased only after he was knocked to the floor after striking defendant, as evidenced by his remark that he had had enough.

It is true that in this case different inferences concerning the ultimate fact issues could be drawn from the testimony introduced at the trial. This made the determination of those facts a question for the jury. We would be usurping the province of the jury were we to hold otherwise, and rule that as a matter of law plaintiff was entitled to a directed verdict on the issue of liability, or that the court erred in submitting the issue of self-defense.

The court of its own initiative gave Instruction No. 2 which was a burden of proof instruction, being MAI No. 3.01:

“In these instructions you are told that your verdict depends on whether or not you believe certain propositions submitted to you. In determining whether or not you believe any proposition, you must consider only the evidence and the reasonable inferences derived from the evidence. The burden is upon plaintiff to cause you to believe the propositions necessary to support his claim against defendant. If the evidence in the case does not cause you to believe a particular proposition submitted or if you are unable to form a belief as to any such proposition, then you cannot return a verdict requiring belief of that proposition.”

Appellant’s first complaint against this instruction is that it is erroneous for the reason that it places on plaintiff the burden of proving that defendant assaulted him, when defendant by his own testimony admitted he was the aggressor and first assaulted plaintiff. There is no merit to this contention. Defendant did not admit that he was the aggressor and assaulted plaintiff without provocation. His testimony tends to show that he acted in self-defense, which we have heretofore held was substantial evidence and sufficient to authorize the submission of said issue to the jury.

Plaintiff, at the trial, made no objection, either general or specific, to the giving of Instruction No. 2. However, in his motion for new trial, plaintiff complained that the instruction was erroneous because it did not charge the jury that the burden of proof on the issue of self-defense was on the defendant. On this appeal this same objection is urged.

Defendant takes the position that the instruction was not erroneous because it did not specifically place the burden of disproving the propositions necessary to support said affirmative defense, but merely placed the burden on plaintiff of proving the propositions submitted in his verdict directing instruction. Plaintiff’s verdict directing instruction was the approved MAI No. 23.02 and was as follows:

“Your verdict must be for plaintiff if you believe:

“First, defendant intentionally struck plaintiff, and

“Second, defendant thereby caused plaintiff bodily harm unless you believe that plaintiff is not entitled to recover by reason of Instruction No. 7.”

Instruction No. 7 was the approved form, MAI No. 28.07 for submission of the issue of self-defense in an assault case. It contained no reference to the burden of proof on said issue. In reading Instruction No. 4 and Instruction No. 7, it appears that one of the elements necessary for plaintiff to recover was a belief that defendant was not acting in self-defense. Instruction No. 2 charged the jury that “ * * * The burden is upon plaintiff to cause you to believe the propositions necessary to support his claim against defendant. * * * ” Therefore, in logic, it would seem that by said instruction, the court charged the jury that the burden of proving that defendant did not act in self-defense rested on plaintiff. This was error. The plea of self-defense in a civil action for damages for an assault is an affirmative defense, and the burden of proof of such defense rests upon the person asserting it. Such direction should have been contained in Instruction No. 2. This is recognized by the committee that drafted the instruction, for in a note with reference to its use, it is stated that if a defendant submits an affirmative defense the instruction should be altered to fit the situation; giving as an example a case where contributory negligence is submitted as a defense. It also states that the instruction must be given in every case. (See Vernon’s Missouri Approved Instructions)

But defendant says that plaintiff cannot complain because he had the opportunity and the duty to request such an amendment before the case was submitted to the jury. If we should sustain such contention and rule that plaintiff was under a duty to object to the instruction on the ground that the matter of self-defense was not included therein, we would run counter to Civil Rule 70.02, V.A.M.R., which reads:

“Counsel need not object to any instructions to be given at the request of any other party or by the court on its own motion or to the refusal of any instruction requested by such party. Specific objections to instructions shall be required in motions for new trial unless made at trial. The making of objections during trial shall not preclude making additional objections to the same or other instructions in the motion for a new trial.”

This rule was in effect at the time this case was tried. We find no merit to the point urged. The court erred in giving Instruction No. 2 for the reason it did not properly cover all the issues in the case.

Finally it is urged that the trial court erred in permitting defendant to show, by cross-examination of plaintiff, and by testimony of other witnesses, that plaintiff had two other altercations at the tavern. It was shown that on one occasion, an argument ensued between plaintiff and a highway patrolman where plaintiff, according to his testimony, was merely trying to stop a fight between two others. No blows were struck on this occasion. Defendant subsequently learned of this encounter. The other incident occurred inside the tavern when plaintiff and his companion violently and without warning attacked another customer as he was leaving the tavern. Defendant witnessed this incident. Both incidents occurred shortly before the one here in question.

Plaintiff contends that the foregoing evidence was not admissible for any purpose; that plaintiff’s turbulent disposition in an assault case may be shown by proof of general reputation, but not by evidence of specific acts of violence.

There can be no doubt that the evidence complained of was relevant to show defendant’s state of mind; that he had reasonable grounds to apprehend danger to his person and the safety of his customers. State v. Creighton, 330 Mo. 1176, 52 S.W.2d 556; State v. Goode, 271 Mo. 43, 195 S.W. 1006. The evidence could be excluded only upon principles of policy, particularly those of Confusion of Issues, Unfair Surprise, or Undue Prejudice. And whether such principles should be applied rests within the sound discretion of the trial court. See State v. Wilson, 250 Mo. 323, 157 S.W. 313; Mortimore v. State, 24 Wyo. 452, 161 P. 766; Mendez v. State, 27 Ariz. 82, 229 P. . We have examined the record with reference to this matter and have reached the conclusion that there was no abuse of discretion in the admission of the testimony of these previous acts of violence.

The judgment is reversed and the cause is remanded for new trial.

WOLFE, P. J., concurs. RUDDY, J., dissents in separate opinion.