Carter v. New Orleans Ry. & Light Co.
Carter v. New Orleans Ry. & Light Co.
Opinion of the Court
Plaintiff, a white youth, while returning from a negro prize fight, on one of the defendant’s cars, about 12 o’clock at night, was wrongfully put off the car by the conductor, who erroneously asserted that plaintiff had not paid his fare. I-Ie asks damages in the sum of $3,000 for mental and physical suffering, mortification, shame, and humiliation, and punitory damages.
Defendant admits that plaintiff had paid a fare, and that he was put off the car wrongfully, about the hour stated, by the conductor, and that it offered plaintiff $25, which offer was refused.
The district judge apparently took the view'that the plaintiff, being a patron of a negro prize fight, and still in the company of the people with whom he had spent several hours of the night, and the defendant, being engaged in carrying those people, and “sehuttling” cars for their accommodation, were not entitled to much consideration, and he left them where they had voluntarily placed themselves, and gave judgment for plaintiff for $25. .Plaintiff has appealed.
“You want to beat somebody out of a nickel; you want to cheat me out of a nickel.”
The language was false, severe, and rogatory. The plaintiff had paid a fare to the conductor on the car from which he had been transferred. The accusation was calculated to reduce plaintiff to even a lower position than that he was then voluntarily occupying, in his own eyes, and, perhaps, in the eyes of his chosen associates of the night. 1-Ie. will be allowed $100 for this item.
It is therefore ordered, adjudged, and de
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.