Infante v. Leith

85 P.R. 24
CourtSupreme Court of Puerto Rico
DecidedMarch 15, 1962
DocketNo. 12852
StatusPublished

This text of 85 P.R. 24 (Infante v. Leith) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Puerto Rico primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Infante v. Leith, 85 P.R. 24 (prsupreme 1962).

Opinion

Mr. Justice Hernández Matos

delivered the opinion of the Court.

Appellants Isidoro Infante and his wife Mercedes Sánchez resided on February 14, 1955 in Villa Caparra Development of the Municipality of Guaynabo. Nearby were the residences of appellees Bob Leith and Richard Penn. The former were the owners of a small fox-terrier dog called Nerón, which had been given to them ten years ago by a friend. Bob Leith was the owner of Blackie, a big police dog. Richard Penn was the owner of Pennie, a female police dog, also a big one.

In the afternoon of that day and while Mrs. Infante was in her home, Blackie and Pennie trespassed on the yard of the residence of the spouses Infante-Sánchez where Nerón was digging a hole to hide a prey. Both attacked Nerón, biting him again and again, shaking him “as if trying to split him in two.” (Tr. Ev. 7.) What remained of the unfortunate Nerón was removed to the veterinary hospital of Dr. López Pacheco, where he was operated under general anesthesia and given oxygen during the three hours of the operation, and afterwards antibiotics for several days.

Based on this assault and other trespasses and prior behavior of the appellees’ animals, the spouses Infante-Sán-chez brought an action against the owners to recover the resulting damages and praying for an order to maintain their respective dogs within their premises.

[28]*28The defendants answered challenging the sufficiency of the complaint, denying in general the principal allegations, and alleging that the accident was due to the negligence of the plaintiff spouses or to a fortuitous or inevitable act.

The trial having been held and the case submitted for decision, the trial court rendered judgment awarding to the plaintiffs only the expenses incurred in curing their small dog, amounting to $98, plus the costs and $140 for attorney’s fees. It made the following findings:

“Findings op Fact. — The plaintiffs are husband and wife, they reside in Villa Caparra Development of Guaynabo, and are the owners of a fox-terrier dog 10 years old on which they lavish great care and affection.

“On February 14, 1955, a big dog owned by Richard Penn .and another big dog owned by Bob Leith trespassed on the yard ■of the plaintiffs’ home and attacked their small dog, producing three big wounds and several small ones, the fracture of a rib 'and several cartilages of others. He was removed to López-Diaz animal hospital where a veterinary operated on him. He was hospitalized for five days and was then taken to the plaintiffs’ home. The sutures were cut on the eleventh day and he was then discharged. During the first two days of these injuries the veterinary informed the plaintiff that the prognosis vías bad, as a result of which this lady was in a state of grief .and suffering during this time because of the uncertainty of whether her beloved dog would survive. The hospital expenses, medicines, and veterinary’s fees amounted to $98.

'“There is no evidence that the acts herein related were caused by force majeure nor that the fault or negligence of such acts may be attributed to the fox terrier or to his owners.

“Conclusions op Law. — 1. Section 1805 of our Civil Code (31 L.P.R.A. § 5144) is clearly applicable to this case. See the cases of Galarza v. G. Llinás & Co., 71 P.R.R. 103, and previous decisions of our Supreme Court on the same matter.

“2. The plaintiff claims compensation for the moral sufferings as a result of seeing her dog injured and in danger of death. She has not been able to cite any judicial precedents on which compensation for such damage may be allowed. However, the arguments which may be adduced in support of her [29]*29contention to apply §§ 1802 and 1803 of our Civil Code are so questionable that they produce certain doubt in the trier’s mind as to whether it would be advisable to allow it. This is not the proper time for this court to delve into the merits or arguments as to whether or not damages of this type are recoverable. In any event, and in view of the doubt, we should be guided by the general doctrine of the American courts of disallowing compensation for moral sufferings to the owners of dogs which have died or have been injured. See pp. 1345, 1346, and 1347 of 3 C.J.S.

“3. Imminence that the defendants’ dogs further attempt to trespass on the plaintiffs’ property has not been established. On the contrary, codefendant Robert Leith’s dog was found dead three weeks later after the occurrence of the acts involved in this case.”

The plaintiffs appealed from the judgment alleging before this Court that the trial court erred (1) “in failing to consider as compensable damage the nuisance suffered by the plaintiffs in the peaceful enjoyment of their property as a result of the invasion and trespassing by the defendants’ dogs,” and (2) “in failing to consider as compensable damage the physiological and emotional disturbances, including the plaintiff’s mental anguish and suffering, which have been duly established, as a result of the acts object of this litigation.”

I. The element of damages resulting from nuisance in the enjoyment of their property and the estimated amount of $1,500 were separately and specifically alleged. The complaint prayed for payment of those damages. The uncon-troverted testimonies of Domingo Torres and Mrs. Infante established that for about one year the dogs of the defendants — the latter made no attempt to prevent it despite the fact that they had been warned — have trespassed on the home of the plaintiffs causing annoyance to such an extent that on several occasions, when the lady returned home, the two big dogs were lying on her porch and she would not dare [30]*30go inside for fear that they would attack her, and she was compelled to remain in her car until they left her property.

Referring to one of the defendants, witness Francisco Rosario Pérez, Justice of the Peace of Guaynabo, testified, un-contradicted, that when he asked him “to leash the dog,” the codefendant said: “Of course not, I pay big insurance for that dog and the insurance pays for what the dog may do,” (Tr. Ev. 19-20.)

Despite those averments and the pertinent evidence, the trial court made no findings on that part of the claim, nor did the plaintiffs request additional findings under the old Rule 52(b).

One of the fundamental rights of man recognized by our Constitution is the enjoyment of property; it also recognizes that every person is entitled to the protection of the law against abusive attacks on his private and family life. Article 11(7) and (8). Our Civil Code recognizes the right to enjoy and use the things and to be respected in its possession, without further limitations than those established by law. Sections 280, 281, and 375.

The plaintiffs were under no obligation to suffer the annoyances, inconveniences, and nuisances occasioned in their home by the frequent invasions of defendants’ dogs, nor to be in constant fear of being suddenly attacked by those animals. We believe that under those circumstances § 277 of the Code of Civil Procedure was applicable. That section provides:

“Anything tohich is injurious to health, or indecent, or offensive to the senses, or an obstruction to the free use of property, so as to interfere with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property, is a nuisance, and the subject of an action. Such action may be brought by any person whose property is injuriously affected

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85 P.R. 24, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/infante-v-leith-prsupreme-1962.