Kokomo, Marion & Western Traction Co. v. Walsh

108 N.E. 19, 58 Ind. App. 182, 1915 Ind. App. LEXIS 107
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedMarch 3, 1915
DocketNo. 8,462
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 108 N.E. 19 (Kokomo, Marion & Western Traction Co. v. Walsh) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

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

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]*185acts 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]*1862. [185]*185Under the heading, “Points and Authorities,” in appel[186]*186lant’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.

The' other questions presented by appellant’s brief are those predicated on the 25th and 26th grounds of its motion for new trial, which, in effect, present the same question, viz., that the court erred in overruling appellant’s motion to appoint Drs. W. H. McClurg, J. W. Wright and Edgar Cox, to make a physical examination of appellee, which motion was made immediately after Dr. N. C. Hamilton, a witness called in behalf of appellee, had closed his testimony and before appellee rested.her cause. It is very earnestly insisted that this ruling of the court was erroneous and prejudicial to appellant. As affecting this ruling the record discloses the following proceedings connected therewith. The averments of the complaint with reference to the particular injury involved in the motion for such examination [187]*187are as follows: ‘ ‘ That by reason of the suddenness, violence and great force of plaintiff’s fall and blow hereinbefore described, plaintiff suffered a very serious organic displacement, which plaintiff desires not to describe and plead in detail unless required by defendant so to do. That the defendant has been heretofore fully advised of the nature of such injury and now has entire knowledge thereof. That plaintiff is a young woman of the age of twenty-one years. *- * * That by reason of said injuries plaintiff has an almost unbearable constant pain in her side; that the natural functions of her person are no longer performed, except with great irregularity, assisted by artificial means and accompanied with great pain and suffering; that she has become extremely nervous and has lost her natural self-control; that she experiences periodic attacks of nausea and is frequently confined to her bed themvith. *' * * That said injuries except those to the limb, are permanent unless the same can be remedied and overcome by a surgical operation. That said operation consists in cutting and laying open the abdomen and the performance of very delicate and skilled surgery. That such operation is unsuccessful in more eases than those in which it is successful and is extremely dangerous to the life and physical condition of the patient.” On January 24, being the 15th judicial day of its January term, 1912, the trial court, on the motion of appellant appointed Drs. W. IT. McClurg and J. W. Wright to make a physical examination of appellee at her residence at one o’clock p. m. January 27, 1912. An examination was made on the day named. On February 13, 1912, the cause pro? eeeded to trial and at the close of the testimony of appellee’s witness, Dr. N. O. Hamilton, appellant filed a written motion for a physical examination of appellee, which motion is as follows: ‘.‘The defendant at this time immediately after Dr. N. C. Hamilton has concluded his testimony and before the plaintiff has testified in her own behalf and before the plaintiff has rested her cause, moves the court that the [188]*188physicians heretofore appointed by the court, to wit, Drs. W. H. McCIurg and J. W. "Wright, and also Dr. Edgar Cox be appointed by the court to make an examination of the plaintiff of the same kind and character that is testified to by Dr. N. C.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Duprey v. Wager
451 A.2d 416 (New Jersey Superior Court App Division, 1982)
NAT. DAIRY PRODUCTS CORP. v. Grant
241 N.E.2d 275 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1968)
Lander v. State
154 N.E.2d 507 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1958)
Templin v. Erkekedis
84 N.E.2d 728 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1949)
Greenhow v. Whitehead's, Inc.
175 P.2d 1007 (Idaho Supreme Court, 1946)
Mann v. Bulgin
203 P. 463 (Idaho Supreme Court, 1921)
City of Valparaiso v. Kinney
131 N.E. 237 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1921)
Lake Erie & Western Railroad v. Griswold
125 N.E. 783 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1920)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
108 N.E. 19, 58 Ind. App. 182, 1915 Ind. App. LEXIS 107, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/kokomo-marion-western-traction-co-v-walsh-indctapp-1915.