Kokomo, Marion & Western Traction Co. v. Walsh

108 N.E. 19, 58 Ind. App. 182, 1915 Ind. App. LEXIS 107
Indiana Court of Appeals·Decided March 3, 1915·No. No. 8,462·Published·Cited by 8 cases

Opinion

Hottel, C. J.

Appellee recovered a judgment against appellant for $2,500, damages for personal injuries received by lier while a passenger on one of its cars. Prom this judgment appellant appeals and by its assignment of errors challenges the ruling on its demurrer to the complaint and, its motion for new trial.

1. The only reference to the complaint found in appellant’s brief, under the heading, "Points and Authorities,” is the statement that, "where a violation of a rule is relied upon the same should be set out in the complaint.” There is an averment in. the complaint, "that in stopping and starting said car for the purpose of permitting passengers to alight from the same the conductor has sole charge, and, by the rules of the defendant, the motorman [185] acts entirely in accordance with said conductor’s signals, directions and instructions. ’ ’ For the purposes of this case, it is not necessary that we should decide whether, where the violation of a rule is relied on as negligence in a personal injury action, such rule should he set out in the pleading, nor, is it necessary that we decide whether appellant’s objection to the complaint pointed out in its brief, as above indicated, is sufficient under the rules of the court to present any question, for the reason that the other averments of the complaint show that such objection is without merit. These averments are as follows: “That the said conductor and motorman stopped said car at said corner, and after the same had come to a complete stop, plaintiff arose from her seat and was walking in said passageway or aisle toward the sliding door, which stood partially open. That while plaintiff'was so walking, as aforesaid, and while she was a distance of only a few feet from said rear door, the defendant by and through its said conductor and motorman negligently and carelessly storied said car in motion forward and did so suddenly and violently, without giving any signal or warning to this plaintiff. That, by reason of said negligence and carelessness of the defendant and the said sudden and violent movement of said car, the plaintiff was then thrown violently toward the back of same, against the edge of said partially opened rear door and struck same with great force.” This language of the complaint makes clear the fact that the negligence relied on was not the breach of a rule, but the acts of the appellant by and through its conductor and motorman, viz., the negligent and careless starting of the ear suddenly and violently and without signal or warning at a time when appellee was on her feet attempting to go out of the car to alight. The averment relative to the rules was merely an incidental or collateral averment, unnecessary to the negligence charged. The complaint is sufficient independent of and without such averment.

[186] 2. [185] Under the heading, “Points and Authorities,” in appel[186] lant’s brief, subdivisions one and two are as follows: (1) “If a legal proposition is once clearly and fully stated to a jury, tbe court should not repeat the same in other instructions, and, while such repetition may not within itself be reversible error in this case, when taken in connection with other errors relied upon, this cause should be reversed. Muller v. Bower [1899], 22 Ind. App. 294, 298, [53 N. E. 790].” (2) “Such repetition in instructions tends to confuse a jury and gives undue emphasis and prominence to a particular fact, and this practice should be avoided by the trial court. Union Mut. Life Ins. Co. v. Buchanan [1885], 100 Ind. 63, 80.” Nothing is presented by these points for either of two reasons: (1) The particular instructions subject to the infirmity complained of are not indicated nor, is the proposition complained of as being repeated, indicated; (2) appellant concedes that repetition of the same proposition in different instructions, while not 'commendable, is not within itself reversible error. In addition to the authority cited by appellant on this question, see, Modern Woodmen, etc. v. Kincheloe (1911), 175 Ind. 563, 566, 94 N. E. 228, Ann. Cas. 1913 C 1259; Miller v. Coulter (1901), 156 Ind. 290, 298, 59 N. E. 853.

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Kokomo, Marion & Western Traction Co. v. Walsh, 108 N.E. 19, 58 Ind. App. 182, 1915 Ind. App. LEXIS 107 (Ind. Ct. App. 1915).

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