Western Union Telegraph Co. v. Ayers

131 Ala. 391

• Court: Supreme Court of Alabama
• Decided: November 15, 1901
• Status: Published

Opinion

DOWDELL, J.

The appellee, IT. L. Ayers, 'sued the appellant, Western Union Telegraph Co., for negligent failure to deliver a telegraphic message. In each count of the complaint mental anguish and suffering is laid as an element of damage. The message which was delivered to the appellant company for transmission was as follows: ‘‘Birmingham, Ala., Oct. 10, 1899. To W. H. Dill, Morris, Ala. Ina not expected to live. Come at once. (Signed) H. L. Ayers.” Ina, the person named in the message, was an infant daughter of H. L. Ayers. IF. IT. Gill, the person to whom the message was addressed, is the brother-in-law of IT. L. Ayers and uncle of the said Ina. The message was not delivered to Gill in time for him to reach the home of appellee before the -death of appellee’s daughter Ina, which occurred about 10’:48 p. m. of the day on which the message was sent. It is averred in the complaint that the mental pain and anguish suffered by the plaintiff, and for which damages are claimed, was on account of the absence of Gill from the bedside of plaintiff’s daughter Ina, in her dying moments, and that this was caused by the negligence of the defendant in transmitting and delivering tlie telegram.

Tliis is the first time, so far as we are advi-sed, that the precise question here presented has been before this court. In all of the cases, which have heretofore been considered by this court where damages for mental suffering have been -claimed and allowed, on account of negligence in the transmission or delivery of telegraphic messages., there existed a relationship -of the closest and most affectionate hind, such as husband and wife, parent and child, or brother and sister, between the. sendee and the person concerning whom the message was sent, and furthermore generally the party suing being the one, who wa-s prevented by -reason of the negligence complained of from being present at the death-bed or funeral of such deceased relative. In cases where the damages are claimed for mental pain and suffering by the sender of the message on account of the absence of the sendee resulting from the negligence of the carrier, a like close and affectionate relation must exist between the sender, sendee and the person concerning whom the-message is sent. That the father of Ina in the present case suffered great mental pain and anguish on account of her approaching death was most natural, and the law would presume as much, but how the absence of a brother-in-law on such -occasion could add to the-intensity of his anguish and mental suffering, or how a jury could determine such a question, is difficult to-conceive or understand. We are unwilling to extend the-doctrine of recoverable damages on account of mental pain and -suffering to cases of this -character, wherein-, there does not exist that close degree of relationship, such as parent and child, husband and wife, brother and sister, from which natural love and affection are presumed. To do so would, in our judgment, tend to promote axxd encourage a species of litigation more or less; speculative ixx its nature and unjust -and oppressive in its results. The weight of authority, as well as sound reason, seem to be against it, and we prefer to follow the doctrine as laid down up-on this question in the following cases: Western Union Tel. Co. v. Steinburger, 54 S. W. Rep. 829; Western Union Tel. Co. v. Luck, 41 S. W. Rep. 469; Western Union Tel. Co. v. Coffin, 30 S. W. Rep. 896; Western Union Tel. Co. v.McMillan, 30 S. W. Rep. 298; Western Union Tel. Co. v. Garrett. 34 S. W. Rep. 649; Western Union Tel. Co. v. Gibson, 39 S. W. Rep. 198; Western Union Tel. Co. v. Brown, 2 L. R. A. 766; Western Union Tel. Co. v. Davidson, 54 S. W. Rep. 853, rather than that laid down in the case of the Western Union Tel. Co. v. Cashin, reported first in 31 S. E. Rep. 493, and again in 32 S. E. Rep. 746.

Rulings' xxpoxx motions to strike pleadings can only be reviewed here when properly presented by bill of exceptions. The bill of exceptions in the present case contains no reference to the action of the court on motions to strike. Since the question we have considered was properly reserved on objections to evidence and by charges requested by the defendant there exists no necessi ty for considering the ruling on the demurrers by which it was 'sought to raise the same question. — Goldsmith, Forcheimer & Co. v. Picord, 27 Ala. 142.

The rulings of the trial court not being in conformity with the Mews above expressed, the judgment will be reversed and the cause remanded.

Beversed and remanded.