Illinois Central Railroad v. Engle

Mississippi Supreme Court
Illinois Central Railroad v. Engle, 102 Miss. 878 (Miss. 1912)
60 So. 1
Reed

Illinois Central Railroad v. Engle

Opinion of the Court

Reed, J.,

delivered the opinion of the court.

' The appellee sued to recover from appellant actual and punitive damages sustained by reason of her detention at a crossing blocked by appellant’s trainmen. There was a verdict for one thousand dollars. Appellee was ill and went in a buggy to see a physician about eleven miles from her home. On the trip it was necessary to cross appellant’s railroad track. In going, the track was blocked for twelve - minutes, and in returning for forty-two minutes.

Under the statute, the crossing could have been blocked each time for five minutes. Section 4049, Code 1906. The appellee was kept waiting in the pbulic road at a railroad crossing for the total time of forty-four minutes. It was proper for the jury to award her damages.

Taking into consideration all of the facts and circumstances of this case, we deem the verdict excessive and to the extent that it evinces passion or prejudice on the part of the jury.

For this reason we reverse and remand the case, unless the appellee will enter a remittitur for five hundred dollars, in which event the case is affirmed. If remittitur is not entered, the judgment of the circuit court is reversed in so far as it fixes the amount of damages to be recovered. In all other respects, the judgment will remain in full force and effect, and the cause will be remanded only for the purpose of ascertaining the amount of damages to be recovered by the appellee.

Remanded..

Reference

Full Case Name
Illinois Central Railroad Company v. Eliza Engle
Cited By
4 cases
Status
Published
Syllabus
1. JRailboado. Obstruction of highway. Code 1906, section 4049. Damages. Excessive damages. Where a party was kept waiting for forty-five minutes at a highway crossing by reason of its being blockaded by a railroad train in violation of section 4049, Code 1906, she was entitled to recover the damages sustained thereby. :2. Same. Where plaintiff, a woman, being ill, was on her way to see a physician and was detained on a public crossing on account of its being blocked by a railroad train for twelve minutes while going and for forty-two when returning a verdict for one thousand dollars was excessive and should be reduced to five hundred dollars.