Wohlenberg v. Melchert

53 N.W. 982, 35 Neb. 803, 1892 Neb. LEXIS 378
CourtNebraska Supreme Court
DecidedDecember 16, 1892
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 53 N.W. 982 (Wohlenberg v. Melchert) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nebraska Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wohlenberg v. Melchert, 53 N.W. 982, 35 Neb. 803, 1892 Neb. LEXIS 378 (Neb. 1892).

Opinion

Norval, J.

This action was brought in the court below by defendant in error to recover damages for personal injuries alleged to have been sustained by John Melchert, a minor, resulting from kicks given by the plaintiff in error. The jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff below, assessing his damages at the sum of $2,000. Judgment was entered upon the verdict, to reverse which the defendant brings the cause to this court on error.

The first question presented for consideration is raised by the motion filed by defendant in error to strike out of the transcript and record, copies of certain affidavits made by Frederick Wohlenberg and E. L. Holyoke, which were filed in the office of the clerk of the district court, and which, presumably, judging from their character, were used on the hearing of the motion for a new trial. The motion to strike is well taken, for the reason that the affidavits in question were not made a part of the record in the case by bill of exceptions. Affidavits used at the hearing of a motion in the district court, to be available in the supreme court, must be included in the bill of exceptions. This is too well settled to require the citation of cases.

Complaint is made that the verdict is not sustained by [805]*805the evidence, and that the damages assessed by the jury are excessive. The record shows that John Melchert, in October, 1882, at the time the alleged injuries were received by him, was residing with” his. step-father, the plaintiff in error, and was at that timé about ten years of age. We quote from the bill of exceptions that portion of the direct testimony of the defendant in error, which describes the nature and character of the injury and how it occurred, as follows:

Q,. Where were you when you were injured ?

A. In the house.

Q,. Who injured you ?

A. Fred Wohlenberg.

Q. How did it occur?

A. It was in the morning. The three boys slept upstairs. He called me, and told me to call the boys. I called them, and he said, what are you doing up there, you damned hog? And he kicked me on the side, kicked me down. I cried; my mother came in and he kicked me twice after that.

Q,. Where were you kicked?

A. In the dining room of his house.
Q. Where did he kick you each time?
A. On the side and back.
Q. What did he have on his feet?
A. He had boots.
Q. How large were the boots?
A. About number 10.
Q. How hard did he kick?
A. He kicked hard enough to kick me down.
Q. How many times ?
A. Three times.
Q. Who were present and saw this ?
A. My mother, sister, and brother.
Q. Which brother was it?
A. My half brother, Fred Wohlenberg.

[806]*806Q,. The son of Mr. Wohlenberg?

A. Yes, sir.

Q,. Before that time did you ever have any pain or sickness?

A. No, sir; I was healthy.
Q. Can you describe the pain that was occasioned by these kicks ?

A. Yes, I can. It is such that I cannot do any work, and whenever I do any work it lays me up. I have pain all the time.

Q,. How was it at that time?

A. I don’t hardly remember, it has been so long ago. I know it was awful bad. 0
Q. What did you do, and what did your mother do, if anything, for this injury?

A. We did nothing for a while, and then I went to Dr. Peters, who treated me for my kidneys, but did not do me any good.

Q,. What then did you do?

A. I did not do anything until a year and a half ago, when I went to Dr. Hart, who put a plaster of Paris jacket on.

Q. How many of these plaster of Paris jackets did you have?

Á. Two.

Q,. How long did you wear them?

A. About two months.
Q. Explain what the plaster of Paris jackets are?
A. They fit something like a corset, only closer to the body.

Q,. They are cast right on the body?

Q,. Do you know the object and purpose of wearing them ?

A. They thought it would strengthen my back and hold that rib in place.

[807]*807Q. Do you know what.part of your body was injured by these kicks?

Q. Where was it ?
A. It was the last floating rib, and the spine.

Q,. Did you have any curve in the spine prior to that time ?

A. Not that I know of.
Q. Do you know .how your spine has been since that time?
Q. How was it ?
A. Curved.
Q. What has been your business since?

A. I worked a long time at the 99-cent store, worked. on a farm a while, and for the State Journal Company.

Q,. Who did you work for at the 99-cent store?

A. Mr. Shelton.
Q. How long did you work for him ?
A. "Very nearly two years.
Q. While you worked for him did you suffer pain resulting from your injuries?

A. Yes, sir; I always suffer pain in my side and in my back . whenever I do hard wor k.

Q. How is it at the present time ?
A. There is a pain there now, a steady pain; I can hardly explain it.
Q. How is it when you lift any article, especially one of any weight?
A. It hurts me a great deal worse than at other times.

Q,. Did you see any other doctor than Dr. Peters ?

A. Yes, sir; Drs. Mitchell, Righter, and Woodward.
Q. Did you consult any physician out of this town ?
A. Yes; some in Omaha.
Q. Who were they ?
A. Dr. MacNamara.

[808]*808Q,. What did you go there for ?

A. To have my back straightened by the electric treatment. I was at the hospital.
Q. What objections did he have to your going?
A. He made none that I knew of, because I was not staying there.

Q,. Why was that?

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
53 N.W. 982, 35 Neb. 803, 1892 Neb. LEXIS 378, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wohlenberg-v-melchert-neb-1892.