Louisville Gas & Electric Co. v. Mobley
Louisville Gas & Electric Co. v. Mobley
Opinion of the Court
Opinion op the Court by
Reversing.
Robert L. Mobley, who conducted a restaurant in the city of Louisville during the winter of 1917, brought this suit against (he Louisville Gas & Electric Company
The main questions here involved were all considered in the recent case of Louisville Gas & Electric Company v. Sherman, 202 Ky. 648, 261 S. W. 1, and for the reasons therein stated a new trial will have to be granted.
In its instructions the court not only authorized the jury to find for loss of profits, but also for the dimunition in the fair market value of plaintiff’s business. It is true that the jury found no damages on account of the diminution in the market value of the business, but in view of another trial we deem it proper to say that no damages on that account should have been authorized by the instructions. The particular damage was asked on the ground that plaintiff was forced by the shortage of gas to sell his business at a loss. As a matter of fact, the supply of gas was adequate when the business was sold, and the evidence was insufficient to show either that plaintiff was forced to sell by the shortage of gas, or that he would have received a higher price for the business if there had been no shortage. Not only so, but the damages were too speculative, remote and uncertain to be allowed.
Judgment reversed and cause remanded for a new trial consistent with this opinion.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.