Grant v. Los Angeles Transfer Co.
Grant v. Los Angeles Transfer Co.
Opinion of the Court
This is an action brought to recover damages for the negligence of defendant. A verdict in the sum of ten thousand dollars was awarded plaintiff, and judgment was entered accordingly. There was a motion for new trial, which was denied. The appeal is from the judgment.
From the record we find that, on January 16, 1917, plaintiff, a minor, was injured in an accident at the corner of Ninth and Los Angeles Streets, in the city of Los Angeles, through the admitted negligence of the defendant. The plaintiff was taken to the city receiving hospital, was there given temporary aid and assistance, and then removed • to the county hospital. The injury consisted of a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula, and a crushing injury to the left leg, just below the knee. The boy was extremely ill when first taken to the hospital, and required stimulation, which was given him by injecting salt solution into *732 his veins. Infection thereafter set in, and his life was in danger. It was- some time before the infection began to subside, after which the injured gradually improved. Since that time his general condition, which was very poor, has been continually improving. It is claimed by appellant that there will be no permanent injury, “except, perhaps, a slight shortening of the leg, but this is indefinite.”
The only evidence in the ease is as to the extent and probable, duration of plaintiff’s injuries.
Only one point is raised by the appeal, namely, that “the amount of the verdict was excessive and was given under the influence of passion or prejudice.”
We have read the entire record, and are not able to agree with appellant in its contention. No good purpose can be served by discussing the evidence, or any part thereof, or in dwelling long upon or giving a verbose statement of our reasons for the conclusion reached. Suffice it to say that we have presented to us here the fact that three juries and two trial judges have passed upon the *733 case at different times, and that each and all of them have concluded that ten thousand dollars was not too great a verdict to be awarded herein. Under this state of the record, coupled with the fact that “it has been repeatedly said by the courts, as well as the text-writers, that ‘in actions for personal torts the law does not attempt to fix any precise rules for the admeasurement of damages, but from the necessity of the case leaves their assessment to the good sense and unbiased judgment of the jury, ’ and that the appellate tribunal ‘will not interfere in such eases unless the amount awarded is so grossly excessive as to shock the moral sense and raise a reasonable presumption that the jury, in reaching their verdict, were actuated by passion or prejudice. ’ ” (Scraggs v. Sallee, 24 Cal. App. 133, [140 Pac. 706]), we think it would require an exceedingly strong case to move an appellate court to set aside the verdict for the reasons urged. It would be going far afield, in our opinion, in the face of these facts, to assume, as a matter of law, that all these—the three juries and two judges—were moved to reach their conclusions “under the influence of passion or prejudice.” No such case is here presented.
Judgment affirmed.
Finlayson, P. J., and Sloane, J., concurred.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- CHARLES GRANT, a Minor, Etc., Respondent, v. LOS ANGELES TRANSFER COMPANY (A Corporation), Appellant
- Cited By
- 9 cases
- Status
- Published