Holland v. Bagley

505 S.W.2d 228, 256 Ark. 1, 1974 Ark. LEXIS 1373
CourtSupreme Court of Arkansas
DecidedFebruary 19, 1974
Docket73-224
StatusPublished

This text of 505 S.W.2d 228 (Holland v. Bagley) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Arkansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Holland v. Bagley, 505 S.W.2d 228, 256 Ark. 1, 1974 Ark. LEXIS 1373 (Ark. 1974).

Opinion

Carretón Harris, Chief Justice.

Hughland H. Bagley1 and June Bagley, appellees herein, instituted suit against John Holland, appellant herein, alleging that on August 5, 1971, a car driven by Holland ran into the rear end of the Bagley automobile, while it had temporarily stopped at a stop sign. June Bagley sought $1,000 for alleged injuries and Hughland Bagley asserted that his automobile was damaged to the extent of $400.00. Holland answered, denying liability, denied that June Bagley was injured and stated that any injury and damages, if any, were caused by this appellee’s negligence. On trial, the Saline County Circuit Court, sitting as a jury, found damages for Mr. Bagley in the amount of $390.90 representing property damage and for June Bagley in the amount of $35.00 for personal injuries. From the judgment so entered, appellant brings this appeal. For reversal, it is simply asserted that the court erred in rendering these judgments since there was insufficient evidence to support the damages awarded Mr. Bagley and no evidence to support the damages awarded June Bagley.

We agree with appellant that this judgment will have to be reversed. Hughland Bagley did not testify and, as to damages, the record reveals that June Bagley testified that the back end of the automobile was damaged and that she took it to a repair shop and had an estimate made as to the damage. Her testimony then reveals the following:

“Q I ask is this a copy of the estimate they prepared?
Mr. Rickard: Objection.
The Court: Overruled.
A This is it.
Q Was the car repaired in line with this estimate?
Mr. Rickard: I object unless she can introduce the repair bill.
A Yes, si'
Q How much was the amount of those damages?
A I don’t remember.
Q The amount of the estimate, whatever the amount of the estimate is. Is that what was paid for the repairs.
A Yes.
Mr. Rickard: Note our objection.
The Court: Overruled.”

The estimate does not appear in the record, and it will be noted in the above quote that no introduction of the exhibit was tendered. On cross-examination, the record reveals the following:

“Q, How much did it cost you to have this repaired?
A I don’t remember.
Q. It was quite a bit less than this estimate, wasn’t it?
A No.
Q Well, did you pay for it?
A No, my insurance company did.
Q, You know how much they paid for it?
A No, sir.
Q Did you have the work done?
A Well, I brought it to the shop and they did the work.
Q You know what was done to it?
A The back end.
Q You know whether or not the gas tank was replaced?
A Yes. It had a hole knocked in it and leaked all the gas out.
Q You know whether it was patched or replaced?
A Something was done.
Q You know whether the rear deck lid was replaced or repaired?
A What is the rear deck lid, the trunk?
Q Yes.
A It was replaced.
Q You know whether the right tail light assembly was replaced or repaired?
A I don’t remember.
Q The point is, Miss Bagley, you don’t know what amount of money was paid to repair your automobile, do you?
A It was in the neighborhood of three hundred or four hundred dollars. That is what I know.
Q But you don’t know how much, do you?
A No, sir.”

As to personal injury her testimony is rather brief, and not at all revealing. The record reflects the following:

“Q Was anyone injured?
A No, sir.
Q Did you have to go to a doctor or did you go to a doctor for examination?
A Yes,
Q What did he find?
A Nothing.
Q He checked you and released you?
A And gave me some x-rays.
Q You remember the amount of those medical expenses?
A No.”

This was all the testimony as to damages except that some photographs depicting the back end of the car were offered, and Holland testified that there was only a dent in the back on the bumper.

It is at once apparent that the judgment for the $35.00 personal injuries cannot stand since June Bagley simply testified that she did not know what the charge was for the x-rays, and stated that she was not injured; nor was the estimate (which, as stated, does not appear in the record) sufficient evidence to support the award for damage to the automobile. We have said many times that the proper measure of damages is the difference between the market value of the automobile before the collision, and the value of same after the collision. In Golenternek v. Kurth, 213 Ark. 643, 212 S.W. 2d 14, we said:

“In the absence of other competent proof of market value, we have held that the difference in market value before and after the collision may be established by a showing of the amount paid in good faith

Four other cases are cited by appellee, but they do not support this particular judgment. In Watson v. White, 217 Ark. 853, 233 S.W. 2d 544, there was evidence given by the repairman as to certain repairs that had been made on the automobile, but he did not remember the exact charge, nor was a bill presented. He just testified that it was a “little over $100.00.” The court, at the conclusion of plaintiffs case, granted a directed verdict for defendant and on appeal, we affirmed this action by the trial court, stating:

“It is not shown whether certain parts were replaced or merely repaired and the amount of the charges is indefinite.

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Related

Watson v. White
233 S.W.2d 544 (Supreme Court of Arkansas, 1950)
Beggs v. Stalnaker
372 S.W.2d 600 (Supreme Court of Arkansas, 1963)
Payne v. Mosley
162 S.W.2d 889 (Supreme Court of Arkansas, 1942)
Golenternek v. Kurth
212 S.W.2d 14 (Supreme Court of Arkansas, 1948)
Slaughter v. Barrett
395 S.W.2d 552 (Supreme Court of Arkansas, 1965)

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Bluebook (online)
505 S.W.2d 228, 256 Ark. 1, 1974 Ark. LEXIS 1373, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/holland-v-bagley-ark-1974.