Louisville & Nashville R. v. Wilkerson
Louisville & Nashville R. v. Wilkerson
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
The demurrer to the first paragraph of appellee’s petition was properly overruled. If appellant undertook, as a carrier of passengers, to transport appellee from Lebanon to the Nelson farm, it was bound to stop its train and allow appellee to get off at his point of destination, and if it failed to do this, such failure was> a breach of contract, for which it is answerable in damages.
The demurrer to the second paragraph was properly sustained. It. is not material that appellant violated its contract in failing to stop its train. This failure did not warrant appellee in leaving the train
It was error in the court to allow appellee to introduce on the trial evidence as to the injuries he thus received, and also as to the sickness of his wife, and as to the effect his injuries had upon her. The measure of the damages to which appellee is entitled, if he is entitled to recover at all, is correctly set out in instruction No. 4, given for appellant, and no proof should have been heard that did not tend to elucidate the questions incident to the element of damages therein stated.
Instruction No. 1, given for appellee, is correct except as to the measure of damages. It is error in such a case as this to tell the jury that they may assess damages at such sum as they may believe the plaintiff is entitled to. It leaves this important question to be determined in accordance with the opinions and feelings of the jurors, instead of by the rules of law. To this extent this instruction and instruction No. 4, given for appellant, are inconsistent. This is a case of mere breach of contract, and exemplary damages cannot be awarded. When the incompetent testimony is excluded, and instruction No. 1, given for appellee, is corrected as indicated, said instruction and instruction No. 4, given for appellant, will present the whole law of the case.
Instruction No. 7, asked by appellant, was properly refused. It is for the jury, uninfluenced by the court, to pass upon the credibility of competent witnesses.
Upon the cross appeal the judgment is affirmed, but upon the appeal of the railroad company it is reversed. The cause is remanded for a new trial upon principles consistent with this opinion.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.