Brammer v. Wabash Railway Co.
Brammer v. Wabash Railway Co.
Opinion of the Court
I. We have the question whether under the notice given by plaintiff to defendant, plaintiff is entitled to recover double damages, under section 1289 of the Codo of 1873, which contains the following: “And if such corporation neglects to pay the value of or damage done to any such stock within 30 days after notice in writing, accompanied by an affidavit of such injury or destruction, has •been served on any officer, station or ticket agent employed •in the management of the business of the corporation in the county where the injury complained of was committed, such owner shall, be entitled to recover double the value of the .stock killed or damages caused thereto.” It is not provided what the notice shall contain, but in Manwell v. Railway Co., 80 Iowa, 662, we said as follows: “It was said in Mendell v. Railway Co., 20 Iowa, 11, in effect, that the purpose of the notice and affidavit is to advise the corporation how much and for what the injured party claims. The .affidavit must show the injury to or destruction of the property. The notice should advise the corporation of the loss of which complaint is made and of the demands of the person injured on account of it. The notice and affidavit together should, so far as practicable, inform the company of such material facts as will enable it to investigate the claims made, and decide whether it will pay the amount •demanded without litigation within the time limited. These requirements are not within the letter, but they are within the evident spirit and purpose, of the statute.” In addition to service of the notice and affidavit set out to the petition, it appears that on the sixteenth day of November, 1893, the plaintiff received from the defendant’s station ■agent at Percy a blank stock report, which he filled up, and forwarded, stating therein, “That there was one bay mare killed, 5 years old, on or about 10 or 11 of Nov., 1893”; and on said sixteenth day of November said report so verified was delivered to the defendant’s station agent at Percy,, and by him forwarded to the defendant’s adjusting agent.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Jonh Brammer v. Wabash Railway Company
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published