Rees v. Sheridan
Rees v. Sheridan
Opinion of the Court
This is a sequel to the suit of Sheridan v. Reese, 122 La. 1027, 48 South. 443, in which the injunction sued out by the plaintiff was dissolved, and the defendant’s right to sue for and recover damages occasioned by the injunction was reserved.
The present suit was brought to recover damages in the susn of $31,124.04, itemized as follows, to wit:
1.The difference between $6 per thousand feet (the price stated in the contract) and $3 per thousand feet (the value of the stump-age) on 291,000 feet of lumber manufactured and paid for by him, or $3 per thousand feet on 291,000 feet, amounting to $873.
2. The amount paid by him on account of' •the purchase price of the sawmill bought from Gary, $2,341, and the value of the buildings erected by him in connection with the mill, $919.06, making $3,260.06, which he was unable to pay for because of the issuing of the injunction, and which were seized and sold.
3. Loss of 237,000 feet of lumber, worth $16 per thousand, which was seized and sold by Sheridan, and in which Sheridan had, after violating the contract, an interest of only $3 per thousand, the value of the stumpage, making $13 per thousand on 237,000 feet, or $3,081.
4. Cost of feeding 50 oxen for 16 days while the mill was. closed by the injunction, at $12.60 per day, $195.60.
5. Wages paid during these 16 days, $176.
6. Loss of oxen, which were seized and sold because plaintiff could not pay the amount he owed on them, $1,200.
7. Loss on contract to furnish lumber caused by the injunction and shutting down of the mill, $86.
8. Traveling expenses, etc., incurred in attending court and defending the injunction suit, $247.
9. Attorney’s fees, $1,000.
10. Destruction of plaintiff’s financial credit, standing, and reputation, $10,000.
11. Humiliation, distress, and anguish of mind caused by the injunction and the consequent destruction of his business and loss of his property, $5,000.
The district judge rendered judgment for the plaintiff for $1,250. The defendant appealed.
Counsel for plaintiff and appellee state in their brief that they filed, in this court, an answer to the appeal, praying that the judgment be amended by increasing the award of damages. No such answer is in the tran
In Byrne & Co. v. Gardner & Co., 33 La. Ann. 8, it was held that damages actually sustained comprise not only pecuniary loss and actual expenses incurred, such as costs and counsel fees, but also the mortification, annoyance, and vexation caused to the defendant by the attachment. In the same case the court quoted Sedgwick on Damages, p. 35, but held that the evidence did not show loss of credit or loss of business. The general rule is that damages are the amount of the loss the creditor has sustained or of the gain or profit he has been deprived. Civil Code, art. 1934.
Our opinion in Sheridan v. Reese, 122 La. 1027, 48 South. 443, shows that there was no foundation in fact for the injunction, and that such equitable remedy was abused. In such a ease, the damages are not restricted to counsel fees and costs.
We are satisfied that the evidence shows an actual property and pecuniary loss to the amount awarded by the trial judge, if not more.
Judgment affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- REES v. SHERIDAN
- Cited By
- 3 cases
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- Published
- Syllabus
- (Syllabus by the Court.) 1. Limitation oír Actions (§§ 48, 105*) — Suspension oe Period — Reconventional Demand — Action eor Damages — Injunction Bond — Prescription. A reconventional demand interrupts prescription during the pendency of the action. An action for damages on an injunction bond is not prescribed by one year. [Ed. Note.^-Eor other cases, see Limitation of Actions, 'óent. Dig. §§ 259-265, 351, 514, 515; ' Dec. Dig. §§ 48, 105.*] 2. Injunction (§ 186*) — Damages—Dissolution — Allowance oe Damages. Where the remedy by injunction has been abused, damages will be allowed on the dissolution of the writ as in cases of wrongful suing out of other conservatory writs. [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Injunction, Cent. Dig. §§ 397, 399-405; Dec. Dig. § 186.*]