Gordon v. Dewender
Gordon v. Dewender
Opinion of the Court
This suit was brought by the plaintiff to recover compensation for personal injuries and the pecuniary loss resulting from a collision between an automobile driven by the defendant and one in which the plaintiff was riding. The collision occurred on the Lincoln highway between Rahway and New Brunswick, at a point where the highway adjoins the side of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company’s right of way. About the time of the collision one of the railroad company’s trains came along, emitting a considerable amount of smoke and steam, thus obscuring to some extent the highway and persons traveling upon it, and the accident occurred upon that part of the highway thus obscured. The trial of the case resulted in a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, the jury awarding him $6,060. We are asked to set aside this award for two reasons: first, that the verdict of the jury was contrary to the charge of the court in relation to the obligations of the respective drivers; and, secondly, because the verdict is excessive.
As to the contention that the verdict is plainly excessive: our examination of the testimony relating to the character of the plaintiff’s injuries and the pecuniary loss resulting therefrom satisfies us that this contention is well founded. If the plaintiff will consent to a reduction of his verdict to $4,000, he may enter judgment for that amount. Otherwise the rule to show cause will be made absolute.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.