Holton v. Daly

106 Ill. 131, 1882 Ill. LEXIS 360

• Court: Illinois Supreme Court
• Decided: November 20, 1882
• Status: Published

Opinion

Mr. Justice Scholfield

delivered the opinion of the Court:

Counsel for appellant sought to raise the question whether the present cause of action survives to the personal representative, by a motion to dismiss the suit after the administratrix had been substituted in the place of the deceased plaintiff. But this was manifestly not practicable. Possibly it might have been raised by a -plea in abatement, pleading the death of the plaintiff in consequence of the same injuries to recover damages for which suit was brought; but it is unnecessary to express any opinion upon this point, since no such plea was filed. The motion, even if it could be allowed to take the place of a demurrer, which we do not concede, could only reach defects apparent upon the face of the record, and there was nothing on the face of this record showing of what deceased died.

We are, however, of opinion that substantially the same question arises upon instructions, when considered in connection with the evidence to which they are applicable. The evidence shows the deceased was injured by the bursting of an emery wheel belonging to appellant, whilst he was in the employ of the appellant, and engaged in using such wheel. Suit was brought by deceased for this injury, alleging that it was caused by the negligence of appellant. The evidence shows that death resulted subsequent to the bringing of this suit, in consequence of the same injury. There was no attempt to prove it was the result of any other cause, but on the contrary, the evidence affirmatively and clearly showed it was from that cause. It is, therefore, with reference to this state of the evidence that we are to determine whether the jury were properly instructed.

The seventh instruction, given at the instance of appellee, is as follows:

“The jury are instructed that if, under the evidence and instructions of the court, the jury find the defendant guilty, then, in estimating the plaintiff’s damages, it will be proper for the jury to consider the effect of the injury upon the health of the deceased, (if they believe, from the evidence, that his health was affected by the injury in question,) and also his ability after said accident to attend to his affairs generally in pursuing his ordinary trade or calling, (if the evidence shows that the same was affected by said accident,) and also the bodily pain and suffering he underwent, the necessary expenses of nursing, and medical care and attendance, and loss of time, (so far as these are shown by the evidence,) and all the damage which, from the evidence, can be treated as the necessary result of the injury complained of. The jury can not consider the death of plaintiff’s decedent as an element of damage, but only all damage sustained by him up to the time of his death. ”

If the evidence had shown that the death was the result of causes other than the bursting of the emery wheel, or, rather, that the injuries occasioned by the bursting of the emery wheel, to recover for which alone the suit was originally brought, did not cause the death, it is quite apparent this instruction would be free of objection; but in view of the fact that the evidence showed that the death resulted from the injuries occasioned by the bursting of the emery wheel, a very different question is presented. The common law rule was, that actions merely personal, arising ex delicto, died with the person, and did not survive to the representatives. Thus, Blackstone says: “And in actions merely personal, arising ex delicto, for wrongs actually done or committed by the defendant, as, trespass, battery and slander, the rule is, that actio personalis moritur cum persona; and it never shall be revived, either by or against the executors or other representatives,— for neither the executors of the plaintiff have received, nor those of the defendant have committed, in their own personal capacity, any manner of wrong and injury. ” (See, also, 1 Chitty’s Pleading, 7th Am. ed. 78.) But our General Assembly, by an act approved February 12, 1853, changed this rule, enacting as follows:

“Sec. 1. Whenever the death of a person shall be caused by a wrongful act, neglect or default, and the act, neglect or default is such as would, if death had not ensued, have entitled the party injured to maintain an action and recover damages in respect thereof, then, and in every such case, the person who, or company or corporation which, would have been liable if death had not ensued, shall be liable to an action for damages, notwithstanding the death of the person injured. ”

The cause of action is plainly the wrongful act, neglect or default causing death, and not merely the death itself* Damages are recoverable, not for the killing, but, as was observed by Comstock, J., in Dibble v. New York and Erie R. R. Co. as quoted by him in his dissent in Whitford v. Panama R. R. Co. 23 N. Y. 486, “notwithstanding or in spite of the death which ensues. The statute recognizes but one cause of suit, and that is the wrong done, irrespective of its consequences. ” And on this principle it has been held, if the injured person, in his lifetime, releases his claim for damages, his representatives can not maintain any action upon his subsequent death resulting from the injury thus compounded. Shear-man & Redfield on Negligence, (2d ed.) sec. 301; Whitfield v. Panama R. R. Co. supra; Dibble v. New York and Erie R. R. Co. 25 Barb. 183; Reed v. G. E. R. R. Co. Law Rep. 3 Q. B. 555.

It is provided by the next section of the act, (section 2,) that “every such action shall be brought by and in the names of the personal representatives of such deceased person, and the amount recovered in every such action shall be for the exclusive benefit of the widow and next of kin of such deceased person, and shall be distributed to such widow and next of kin in the proportion provided by law in relation to the distribution of personal property left by persons dying intestate; and in every such action the jury may give such damages as they shall deem a fair and just compensation, with reference to the pecuniary injuries resulting from such death, to the wife and next of kin of such deceased person, not exceeding the sum of $5000.” In construing this section this court said, in City of Chicago v. Major, 18 Ill. 356: “The legislature intended that the money recovered should not be treated as a part-of the estate of the deceased. They designed to exclude the creditors from any benefit of it, and to prevent its passing by virtue of any provisions of the will of the deceased. The personal representatives bring the action, not in right of the estate, but as trustees for those who have a more or less direct pecuniary interest in the continuance of the life of the deceased, and who had some claim at least upon his or her natural love and affection. ” And it has accordingly since been held the declaration must aver, and the proof must establish, a wrongful act, neglect or default of defendant, causing the death of the intestate under such circumstances as would entitle him to maintain an action if death had not ensued, and the fact of survivorship, and the name or names of widow or next of kin. Quincy Coal Co. v. Hood, Admr. 77 Ill. 68.

Waiving, however, all question as to the sufficiency of the pleadings in this regard, it is plain, if the object be to recover under the statute quoted, the instruction was erroneous, because it says the bodily pain and suffering the deceased underwent, and his ability, after receiving the injury, to attend to his affairs generally, etc., are elements to be taken into consideration by the jury in assessing damages. This court has held the jury are not authorized, in such cases, to give damages for j)ain and suffering, but that the damage for which there may be recovery is purely that arising from pecuniary loss,—nothing can be given as a solace. (Chicago and Rock Island R. R. Co. v. Morris, 26 Ill. 400; Chicago and Alton R. R. Co. v. Shannon, Admr. 43 id. 338.) And so, also, upon like principle it has been held, if the next of kin are collateral, it is a material question whether they were in the habit of claiming and receiving pecuniary assistance from the deceased. If they were not, they can recover but a nominal sum; but where the relation of husband and wife, or parent and child, exists, the law presumes pecuniary loss from the fact of death. City of Chicago v. Scholten, 75 Ill. 468; Chicago and Northwestern R. R. Co. v. Swett, Admr. 45 id. 197.

Unquestionably, if the suit depended upon common law principles, it could not be maintained; and if it is for the purpose of recovering under the act of 1853, the instruction is as unquestionably erroneous.

But counsel for appellee claim the ruling in the lower courts may be sustained under the 123d section of the revised act in relation to the administration of estates, approved April 1; 1872, and in force July 1,1872, whereby it is enacted that in addition to the actions which survive by the common law, certain actions therein named, including “actions to recover damages for an injury to the person, except slander and libel, * * .* shall also survivé.” (Bev. Stat. 1874, p. 126.) There is nothing in that section which professes to repeal the act of February 12, 1853. Both this section and the act of February 12, 1853, are reproduced in the revision of 1874, and it is therefore clear the General Assembly intended both to stand. Is there such repugnance between them that both can not be the law ? It is a familiar doctrine that repeals by implication are not favored, and that the earliest statute continues in force unless the two acts are clearly inconsistent with and repugnant to each other, or unless in the later statute some express notice is taken of the former, plainly, indicating an intention to repeal it. (Town of Ottawa v. LaSalle County, 12 Ill. 339.) And it is held, where statutes are seemingly repugnant, they should, if possible, be so construed that the latter may not operate as a repeal by implication of the former. (Ibid; Bruce v. Schuyler, 4 Gilm. 221.) So, also, a subsequent statute which is general, does not abrogate a former statute which is particular. Chicago v. Quimby, 38 Ill. 274; Card v. McCaleb, 69 id. 314; McDonough County v. Campbell, 42 id. 490; Hume v. Gossett, 43 id. 297; People v. Barr, 44 id. 198; Gunnarssohn v. City of Sterling, 92 id. 569.

The act of February 12, 1853, applies, as we have seen, by its own terms, to all cases where “the death of a person shall be caused by wrongful act, neglect or default, and the act, neglect or default is such as would, if death had not ensued, have entitled the party injured to maintain an action, and recover damages in respect thereof. ” As was said in City of Chicago v. Mayor, supra, this “language is very broad and comprehensive, embracing, in direct and positive terms, all cases where, if death had not ensued, the injured party could have maintained an action for the injury;” and, as we have already observed, it is the wrongful act, neglect or default that constitutes the cause of action. A right of action which, at common law, would have terminated at the death, is continued for the benefit of the wife, husband, etc., and its scope enlarged to embrace the injury resulting from the death. Cooley on Torts, 263, 264; Shearman & Eedfield on Negligence, (2d ed.) see. 301.

There were left, however, injuries to the person not resulting in death, for which, in the event of the death of the injured party before obtaining judgment, no remedy was provided, affording a proper subject matter for the act of 1872. If a party receiving injuries died from other causes, no action could be maintained under the act of February 12,1853; but now, under the statute of 1872, the cause of action survives to his personal representatives. It is not to be presumed it was intended there should be two causes of action, in distinct and different rights, by the same party plaintiff, for the same wrongful act, neglect or default. It would, obviously, be impossible to draw a line severing with accuracy the damages resulting from the permanent character of the injury, and its effect upon the capacity of the plaintiff for future usefulness in acquiring property, etc., from the actual loss to the wife, parent or child, in consequence of being deprived of this same capacity, by reason of the same injury resulting in death. Yet if the administrator is entitled to recover for the benefit of the estate, generally, just what the plaintiff could have recovered if he had not died before judgment, it is settled he can recover for permanent injuries impairing future usefulness, and consequent pecuniary loss. (Peoria Bridge Association v. Loomis, 20 Ill. 235.) Nevertheless, as we have seen, it is for precisely this loss, when death results, that the widow, parent or child, or next of kin', is entitled to recover.

The recognition of the right in the deceased to have controlled this action in his lifetime, leads, logically, to the conclusion that a recovery by him would have been a bar to a recovery by his representative, and this because the cause of action would have been merged in the judgment. (Freeman on Judgments, sec. 241.) But if the action by the administrator, under the act of February 12, 1853, is for something other and different than that for which the deceased could have recovered had he obtained judgment in his lifetime, it is manifest no such merger would have taken place. It is true the measure of recovery in the different cases is not the same, but the cause of action is, viz., the wrongful act, neglect or default.

We feel, therefore, constrained to hold that the act of. 1872 was not intended to apply to cases embraced by the act of February 12, 1853. It hence follows, that in this . action plaintiff occupies precisely the same position that he would have occupied had it not been begun until after the death, and it had then been begun under the act of February 12, 1853.

The court erred in giving the instruction quoted, and for this error the judgment is reversed, and the cause remanded, with leave to appellee to amend her declaration, if she shall be so advised, and for further proceedings in accordance with this opinion.

Judgment reversed.