Weingartens, Inc. v. Price

461 S.W.2d 260, 1970 Tex. App. LEXIS 2616
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedNovember 25, 1970
Docket407
StatusPublished
Cited by17 cases

This text of 461 S.W.2d 260 (Weingartens, Inc. v. Price) 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
Weingartens, Inc. v. Price, 461 S.W.2d 260, 1970 Tex. App. LEXIS 2616 (Tex. Ct. App. 1970).

Opinion

SAM D. JOHNSON, Justice.

Suit for personal injuries alleged to be in the sum of $17,500 brought by Rosie Price, joined by her husband, James Price, against Weingarten’s, Inc. Based on answers to special issues found by the jury judgment was entered for the plaintiffs in the sum of $5,000. Appellant Weingartens duly effects appeal to this Court.

In their petition plaintiffs alleged that Mrs. Price had gone to the Weingartens supermarket to purchase groceries; that while shopping inside the store she tripped and fell over the end of an unattended dolly which was protruding into the aisle way; and that Weingartens had negligently left the dolly in the aisle was proximately causing the injuries made the basis of the suit. The petition then continued as follows:

“ * * * As a result of such negligence, your Plaintiff, Rosie Price, has been damaged in the just and reasonable sum of SEVENTEEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($17,-500.00) for which sum your Plaintiff, James Price here now sues in her behalf; such damages to your Plaintiffs, consisting of damages for reasonable and necessary medical expenses incurred and to be incurred in the future, past and future physical pain and mental anguish, and loss of services as a wife.
“WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, Plaintiffs pray that the Defendant be cited to appear and answer herein, and that upon final trial hereof, Plaintiff James Price- have judgment against the Defendant in the just and reasonable sum of SEVENTEEN-THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($17,500.00), as to and for inju *262 ries sustained by his wife, Rosie Price; that they have interest on the judgments at the legal rate; that they have all costs of Court herein expended, and that they have such other and further relief, both general and special, at law and in equity, to which they may show themselves to be justly entitled, and in duty bound will ever pray.”

In the trial before the jury Mrs. Price testified that prior to her fall she had taken in sewing. She was then asked how much income per month she made from such sewing. Specific objection was then interposed by counsel for the defendant because loss of income had not been pled by the plaintiffs. The court overruled the objection and the witness proceeded to testify that she earned $20 to $25 per month before the accident and that after the accident she had been unable to earn anything.

The court’s charge to the jury contained a single damage issue consisting of six elements. The third and fourth of these were as follows:

“c. Loss of earnings in the past.
“d. Loss of earning capacity which, in reasonable probability, she will sustain in the future.”

Specific objection was made by the defendant to the inclusion of these two elements in the court’s charge for the reason that loss of income and loss of earning capacity had not been pled. This objection was likewise overruled. The above two elements were included in. the damage issue submitted to the jury, and the jury’s finding in answer to such issue ($5,000) therefore included consideration of loss of earnings and loss of earning capacity in the future.

Appellant here presents only two points of error. These points are directed to the admission of testimony and the inclusion in the damage issue of the elements of loss of earnings and loss of earning capacity. Weingartens, the appellant, contends here, as it did in the trial court, that there were no pleadings to support the admission of the testimony or the submission of these elements in the damage” issue. Appellants contend that the trial court therefore erred and pray that the cause be reversed and remanded. We conclude that appellant’s points of error must be sustained.

In response appellee contends that her quoted pleadings are sufficient to encompass damages for loss of earnings and loss of earning capacity in the future. Appel-lee relies upon two cases, Clanahan Construction Company v. Mills, 426 S.W.2d 265 (Tex.Civ.App., writ ref., n.r.e.); and Cowden Cab Company v. Thomas, 425 S.W.2d 886 (Tex.Civ.App., writ ref., n.r.e.). Clanahan, supra, was a general injury case where in the words of the appellate court, “the injuries are specifically set out” and damages were alleged in a particular sum. The court’s opinion stated that evidence of future earning capacity was admissible without further pleadings, though it is to be noted that the trial court had permitted a trial amendment which encompassed future earning capacity. It is also to be noted that the court’s opinion does not quote or shed light upon the injuries which were said to be “specifically set out.”

In the second case, Cowden Cab Company, supra, plaintiffs’ petition alleged damages in a specific sum for pain and suffering and mental anguish as a consequence of injuries, together with a prayer “for such other relief, special or general * * The appellate court’s opinion held that such pleading was sufficient to encompass damages for past earnings and decrease in future earning capacity. It is to be noted that the trial court in the Cow-den case, had, however, after the evidence was closed, permitted a trial amendment which encompassed damages for loss of past earnings, and decrease in future earning capacity. The appellate court’s opinion stated that the trial amendment was not *263 necessary and that the pleadings were sufficient without it. The court noted, however, that the complained of evidence was elicited by the defendant (the complaining party on appeal) on cross-examination and that no objection was urged upon further elaboration by plaintiff’s own counsel later in the trial.

At the outset in the case at bar it is to be noted that no special exception to the plaintiff’s, quoted pleading was made by the defendant. It is also to be noted that the plaintiffs made no request at any time for permission to file a trial amendment and none was made. Lastly, we believe it quite clear from the record that the questioned areas of loss of earnings and loss of earning capacity were not tried by consent. See Matthews v. General Accident Fire & Life Assur. Corp., 161 Tex. 622, 343 S.W.2d 251 (1961).

Plaintiff’s quoted pleading clearly shows that Mrs. Price alleged her damages to be in the sum of $17,500, “consisting of damages for reasonable and necessary medical expenses incurred and to be incurred in the future, past and future physical pain and mental anguish, and loss of services as a wife.” (Emphasis supplied). An examination of this vital portion of plaintiff’s petition makes it quite clear that there is no general allegation of damages. Plaintiff’s petition contains no general allegation of permanent injuries which might permit the admission of particular injuries naturally and proximately resulting therefrom. Dallas Railway & Terminal Co. v. Garrison, 30 S.W.2d 1108, (Tex.Civ.App.) rev’d on other grounds, 45 S.W.2d 183

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

Related

Pleasant Glade Assembly of God v. Schubert
174 S.W.3d 388 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2005)
Tom Sonnichsen v. Baylor University
Court of Appeals of Texas, 2004
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Redding
56 S.W.3d 141 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 2001)
Henry S. Miller Co. v. Bynum
836 S.W.2d 160 (Texas Supreme Court, 1992)
Yowell v. Piper Aircraft Corp.
703 S.W.2d 630 (Texas Supreme Court, 1986)
Ortale v. City of Rowlett
696 S.W.2d 640 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1985)
Piper Aircraft Corp. v. Yowell
674 S.W.2d 447 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1984)
Sherrod v. Bailey
580 S.W.2d 24 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1979)
Monsanto Company v. Milam
494 S.W.2d 534 (Texas Supreme Court, 1973)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
461 S.W.2d 260, 1970 Tex. App. LEXIS 2616, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/weingartens-inc-v-price-texapp-1970.