Reilly v. Cohen
Reilly v. Cohen
Opinion of the Court
This is the defendant’s rule for a new trial. The action was originally against Cohen and the Parmer’s Trucking Company, and judgment went for the plaintiff against both defendants on a former trial. This record presents the second trial of the case against Cohen alone, the former judgment having been reversed on his appeal. Both verdicts were in favor of the plaintiff for $20,000.
The reasons urged in support of the rule are that there was no proof of negligence in the defendant; that in any event the verdict was against the weight of the evidence; that the damages are excessive, and that the trial judge improperly directed the jury to allow a bill for medical services rendered to the plaintiff.
That the proofs were legally sufficient to impose liability on the defendant is settled by the Court of Errors and Appeals in its review of the first trial, in which the evidence was substantially the same as on the present trial. Reilly v. Cohen, 4 N. J. Adv. R. 676 (not yet officially reported), and on the weight of the evidence we think the verdict should not be disturbed. The collision happened in this manner: As the bus neared the standing gasoline truck a green truck coming from the north attempted to pass the gasoline truck and entered the space between the gasoline truck and the easterly side of the bridge. It in turn was followed by the truck of the Farmers Trucking Company. As the green truck was leaving the space between the gasoline truck and the plaintiff, the bus driver entered the same narrow space and as he did so collided with the truck of the Farmers Trucking Company. The morning was a foggy one in which it is said by appellant in his brief that one could not see further than twenty feet. In this situation defendant’s driver, without being able to see what was ahead, proceeded without warning at a speed variously stated as from ten to twenty-five miles an hour through the narrow space without slowing down because, as stated by himself, he thought he had room, and that he took
Except as hereinafter referred to we think the damages were not excessive. The plaintiff* suffered a rupture of the kidney, a fracture of the vertebrae, lacerated ligaments, concussion of the brain and unconsciousness. He was in the hospital five weeks, suffered great pain, which still continues; was unable to work for a year, and only then as a watchman. His injuries are permanent. The accident happened over three years ago, the verdict is the second for the same amount, and the present value of the loss as assessed by the jury is not such as to justify its modification by the court except in this respect: The learned trial judge directed the jury to allow $500 for medical services if the jury found for the plaintiff. We are unable to find any evidence in support of this claim. The charge was for a bill which the attending physician had rendered at the instance of the plaintiff’s employer, the Standard Oil Company, by which company it had been voluntarily paid. There was no evidence from which liability of the plaintiff for the moneys so paid could be inferred.
The result we reach is that if the plaintiff will accept the sum of $19,500, the rule will be discharged; otherwise, it will be made absolute.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.