Bergert & Bro. v. Davenport City Railway Co.
Bergert & Bro. v. Davenport City Railway Co.
Opinion of the Court
1. The first error insisted on in argument is, that “ the verdict is against the weight of the evidence in the case.”
The statute provides (Revision, § 3112), that “when the verdict, report or decision is not sustained by sufficient evidence,” a new trial will be granted; and this court has said that “ when satisfied that a verdict is against the weight of evidence, a new trial will be awarded. But to justify such interference, the mind should be brought irresistibly to the conclusion that the verdict was not the result of a free, sound and unbiased exercise of judgment on the part
In this case we are of opinion that the evidence fully justified the verdict.
2. It is next claimed by appellant’s counsel that the instructions numbered 1, 2 and 3, asked by defendant and refused by the court, embodied the law, and should have been given or embodied in the charge of the court, which it is insisted was not done.
On examination of the charge of the court, we find the same rules of law given to the jury for their guidance as are embodied in the instructions refused. The jury is told, in substance, that it must be shown that the defendant was guilty of a want of ordinary care and caution; that the person driving the horse at the time of the injury was exercising ordinary care and caution, and that both of these facts must concur in order to authorize a recovery by the plaintiff. This embodies the same doctrine contained in the instructions asked by defendant and contended for in argument. There was, therefore no error in refusing the instructions asked.
3. It is also insisted that there was error in giving the second, third and fourth paragraphs of the charge of the court, for the alleged reason “ that the court entirely ignored the question of contributory negligence.”
Upon examination of portions of the charge objected to, we do not find either of them open to the objection urged. In each paragraph, the court places the right of the plaintiff to recover, not only on proof of the negligence of defendant, but also requires it to be shown that the person driving the horse was exercising ordinary care and vigilance at the time the injury occurred.
The judgment of the district court is
Affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.