The MacCabees v. Rector

103 S.W.2d 232
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedFebruary 12, 1937
DocketNo. 1626
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 103 S.W.2d 232 (The MacCabees v. Rector) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
The MacCabees v. Rector, 103 S.W.2d 232 (Tex. Ct. App. 1937).

Opinion

GRISSOM, Justice.

The plaintiff sued the defendant for damages alleged to have been suffered by her as a result of a fall upon the steps of her home rented from the defendant. Plaintiff alleged, and the jury found, in substance, that the defendant rented the house to plaintiff and her mother; that as a part of the rental contract the defendant agreed to repair the back steps at said house; that the defendant did repair the steps but negligently left the top step with an outward slope which caused her fall and injury. The cause was submitted to a jury on special issues, all of which were answered favorably to the plaintiff, and the judgment was rendered against the defendant for the sum of $12,-000, from which judgment the defendant, The Maccabees, has appealed.

Appellant’s first proposition is, in substance, that, since it was undisputed that appellee had certain physical defects resulting from a childhood attack of infantile paralysis which gave rise to a tendency to stumble when walking, and since the slope in the tread of the step did not exceed 1¾ inches over a width of 12 inches, and there be no evidence offered and no issue submitted “that appellant knew that said step was to be used by a person suffering [such] disabilities * * * it was incumbent upon appellee to plead and prove to the satisfaction of the court that said step in its repaired state would likely 'cause injury to a normal person, failing which ap-pellee did not discharge the burden resting upon her showing appellant ought to have anticipated or foreseen her alleged injury,” and therefore the court should havé instructed a verdict for appellant.

It-was admitted that appellee had infantile paralysis when she was 2 years of age. She was 33 at the time of the trial. There was evidence that as a result of infantile paralysis one leg was shorter than the other, that some of the muscles of this leg were atrophied, and that she had a “toe drop” of approximately 20 per cent. On the other hand, there was evidence that prior to her alleged fall that such defects were not noticeable, that she was strong and healthy and able to do hard-work.

The court gave the usual definition of proximate cause, containing the usual statement as to “foreseeableness.” The jury found in answer to special issue No. 7 that plaintiff’s fall was not attributable to the shortening of plaintiff’s leg and foot drag or toe drop. The court instructed the jury that it could not consider any damages “on ac^ count of injuries, pains, mental and physical, or physical deformities, or injuries or damages, if any, suffered by the plaintiff as a result of her childhood attack of infantile paralysis; nor can you consider any damages, if any, to her nerves as. a result of such attack of infantile- paralysis.” The jury was further instructed that it could not consider any damages on account of any alleged paralysis.

It appears that the cause was tried upon the theory that appellant’s act in repairing the steps was negligent as applied to a normal person and without reference to any physical defects in appellee resulting from infantile paralysis. Further, the jury expressly found that the appellee’s fall was not attributable to such defects.

Appellant’s first “additional proposition” is in substance that, since the jury found the house was rented to appellee and her mother, and since the mother used the steps after they were allegedly defectively repaired and prior to appellee’s fall thereon, notice of the existence of such defects was imputed to appellee “through the actual notice thereof necessarily obtained by the co-tenant * * * in the use of the steps,” and therefore the court should have given the requested instructed verdict for appellant.

If it be conceded that the evidence conclusively shows that appellee’s mother used the steps prior to her daughter’s injury, it is not shown that she actually knew of the defective condition in the steps, if such existed, and we do not think that it would follow as a matter of law that such presumed kowledge by the mother of any defective condition in the steps would be attributable to the appellee.

Said propositions are overruled.'

While plaintiff was testifying, her counsel pretended to hand her a piece of paper and caused her to keep her hand out[234]*234stretched at full length before the jury. Thereupon defendant’s counsel, in view of the demonstration, renewed its motion to compel plaintiff to submit to a physical examination. The motion was overruled.

Plaintiff’s pleadings alleged that as a result of her fall she became extremely nervous. Because of alleged injury to her nervous system she sought damages. The allegations found support in her medical testimony. She testified that at the time of the trial her condition as to nervousness had improved, that she did not then “shake.”

We have found nothing in the record' showing that when she extended her hand before the jury that she displayed any nervousness. If she did not then display nervousness, it certainly cannot be said that she exhibited any injury for the inspection of the jury and thereby waived the inviolability of her person. If such act revealed a lack of nervousness, it may have been detrimental to her cause but could not have been injurious to the defendant.

Three doctors had suggested the advisability of a possible fusion operation on the plaintiff. Some of such suggestions were contingent upon' other things. However, evidence of a general nature to such effect was in the record. In the court’s charge he, in writing, instructed the jury with reference thereto as follows:

“You cannot compensate the plaintiff, in any way for mental or physical pain or apprehension which might be the result of any proposed operation by the plaintiff;
“Nor, can you consider in arriving at such amount, if any, the cost of such operation ; nor the loss of time or earning power or incapacity which will result therefrom.”

At the close of the evidence defendant filed its motion wherein it moved the court to strike from the record all the testimony of Drs. Cash, Carrell and'Perry “concerning an operation on the plaintiff and concerning the nature, extent, disability and expense in connection with such operation” (italics ours), and further moved the court to instruct the jury that “they cannot and must not consider such testimony.” The motion for such instruction was marked “given” and signed officially by the trial judge.

Thereafter the following proceedings were had while plaintiff’s counsel was making the closing address to the jury:

Plaintiff’s Counsel:. “They are the only three doctors on this earth who know anything about this case, the injury to her spine, if any. What does Dr. Carrell say? He recommends a fusion.”
Defendant’s .Counsel: “We object to that.”
Plaintiff’s Counsel: “What did he say — ”
Defendant’s Counsel: “We object — ”
Plaintiff’s Counsel: “What did Dr. Perry say?”
Defendant’s Counsel: “We object to the argument of counsel — ”
Plaintiff’s Counsel: “Sure, they would object. Certainly, they holler, cry and cry because, gentlemen — ”
The Court: “Wait a minute, Mr. Scarborough, he objects — ”
Plaintiff’s Counsel: “Let him state it to you.

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104 S.W.2d 613 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1937)

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Bluebook (online)
103 S.W.2d 232, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/the-maccabees-v-rector-texapp-1937.