Driscoll v. Cincinnati Traction Co.
Driscoll v. Cincinnati Traction Co.
Opinion of the Court
However wide may have been the difference between the original cases out of which these proceedings in error arose, judgments of reversal were rendered by the circuit courts in both cases because of the misconduct of counsel for the prevailing parties, and the propriety of the judgments of reversal should be tested'"by considerations which are substantially identical. In both cases the misconduct for which the circuit court reversed the judgments consisted of remarks, obviously improper, which counsel made in presenting the case to the jury. Remarks of counsel to jury always constitute misconduct when they either tend to diminish respect for the administration of justice or to subject the claims of the adverse party in the
In the case firstly entitled, Miss Driscoll recovered a judgment in the trial court against the traction company for a personal injury alleged to have been received by her while a passenger on one of its cars caused by the negligent starting of the car by the conductor while she was in the act of alighting therefrom. In addressing the jury after the testimony had been adduced her counsel said: “Of course, he paid no attention to her. He rang the bell thinking she was off. just as it happens every day, the car started before she was off and
It is entirely obvious that this observation, of counsel unsupported by any evidence in the case tended to the prejudice of the defendant. What could be done to avert its natural effect was promptly done by both offending counsel and by the court. The withdrawal of the remark by counsel and the admonition of the court certainly informed the jury that the remark so improperly made should not have any influence whatever in determining their verdict. The proceedings of courts frequently require the conclusive assumption that jurors regard the instruction of the court as to matters of this character. If, over the objection of counsel for the traction company, evidence of other like incidents had been admitted and the court had subsequently concluded that the admission was improper and had directed the jury to disregard it, it would hardly be doubted that the instruction to disregard the evidence would have cured the error in its admission. And we cannot say, nor could the circuit court say, that effects of .the improper remark of counsel remained in the case to operate to the prejudice of the defendant.
In the other original case, Tuttle was placed on trial upon an indictment for an assault upon a woman. In his defense much reliance was placed upon testimony tending to separate him from the assault by so short a distance that precision as to time was quite necessary. The witnesses upon this point were quite noticeably precise, and some of them explained their precision by testifying to their observation of the strokes of a clock in the neighborhood and their recollection thereof at the time of trial, although Tuttle was not accused for several days after the assault. It appeared from the evidence that shortly before the trial was entered upon counsel for the accused were in the neighborhood interviewing persons who were supposed to be informed as to his presence in that
One cannot read records of this character without sincere regret that honorable and intelligent counsel should become so consumed with a desire for victory as to discredit the modes appointed by the law for the ascertainment of truths which are involved in the administration of justice. Extended comment upon these cases does not seem to be necessary. None of the counsel involved can think for a moment that those who observed the administration of justice in these cases bore away
. But in view of the considerations suggested thus briefly, we think the misconduct did not, in either case, justify a. judgment of reversal. In both cases the judgment of the circuit court will be reversed and the original judgment affirmed.
Reversed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Driscoll v. The Cincinnati Traction Company The State of Ohio v. Tuttle
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Judgment should not be reversed for misconduct of counsel, when— Effect of retraction by counsel—And admonition of court— Court procedure. 1. A judgment should not be reversed for such misconduct of counsel for the prevailing party as tends only to discredit the administration of justice without subjecting the claim of the adverse party to prejudicial considerations not involved in the case. For misconduct of that character the trial court is authorized to apply more appropriate correctives. 2. A judgment should not be reversed for misconduct of counsel for the prevailing party in alleging facts which no evidence tends to establish if from the nature of the case the retraction of counsel and the admonition of the court, it appears that the natural effect of the misconduct has been averted.