Kibler v. Southern Ry.
Kibler v. Southern Ry.
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of 'the Court was delivered by
The pleadings and, in the main, the facts in this cause are fully set forth in the report of the first appeal herein, Kibler v. Southern Railway Company, 62 S. C., 252. Under the judgment of this Court, a new trial was had before his Honor, Judge Ernest Gary, and a jury, resulting in a verdict for plaintiff for $400. After entry of judgment an appeal was taken from such judgment on the following grounds:
“R Error in overruling the defendant’s motion for a non-suit upon the following grounds : (1) The complaint does not allege facts which would warrant a verdict for punitive damages and there is no evidence of actual damages. (2) There is no evidence tending to show malice, fraud, wantonness or oppressive, insulting or rude conduct on the part of the defendant or its servants. (3) In an action for punitive damages resulting from an alleged wilful tort, damages resulting from ordinary negligence are not recoverable.
“II. Error in refusing defendant’s first request to charge, and in holding that the complaint stated sufficient facts to warrant a recovery of punitive damages.
“III. Error in refusing the defendant’s eighth request to charge, as follows: ‘A railroad company has the right to •impose an excess charge of twenty-five cents upon passengers who fail to buy tickets when opportunity is offered, and *244 .rebate check is furnished,’ and in charging: T refuse to change you that, because it is in conflict with the statute law of this 'State. The statute has defined what they shall charge, and thejr have no right, under any construction of the law, to charge in excess of that amount,’ and in charging : ‘The railroad company would have no right, where the passenger refuses to pay the legal rate of transportation— and I mean by legal rate that fixed by the act of the General Assembly — that the railroad company has no right to charge him any excess either by rebate check, or drawback check or otherwise.’ Specifications: (i) The right to impose this excess has been settled upon the former trial of this case by the decision of Judge Izlar, from which there was no appeal. It is the law of the case. (2) The imposition of this excess is not a charge, but a reasonable regulation conducive to the orderly conduct of business, and is valid. (3) The defendant had the right under the statutes of this State and under the regulations of the railroad commissioners offered in evidence to impose this excess.”
First. As to the exception that the Circuit Judge erred in his refusal to grant a nonsuit:
(2) The evidence tended to show that the citizen who tendered the legal fare was ordered from the train, and that there were other passengers on board to witness the plaintiff’s humiliation, when required -to leave the train. This testimony was before the jury. It was before the Court when this motion for nonsuit was refused. It was for the jury to weigh it to see if there was malice, fraud, wanton *245 ness, etc. The Circuit Judge committed no error, as here pointed out. Subdivision 2 of exception 1 is overruled.
Second. It is complained that the Circuit Judge erred in refusing to charge the first request of the defendant. The “Case” for appeal fails t'o state to us what this request was: On page 43 there is a blank space left for its insertion in the “Case.” It is overruled.
It is the judgment of this Court, that the judgment of the Circuit Court be affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Kibler v. Southern Railway
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. Punitive Damages — Conductor—Railroads—Nonsuit.—Allegations that a conductor wilfully, wrongfully, unlawfully and intentionally refused one passage on a train who has tendered the legal fare, makes a cause -of action for punitive damages, and there being evidence tending to support these allegations, nonsuit was properly refused. 2. Ibid.— Ibid.— Ibid. — Ibid.— Passenger — Jury.—Punitive damages may be given for wanton, oppressive, rude and insulting conduct of conductor to passenger, and there being evidence to that effect, this was a question for jury. 3. Res Judicata. — A legal proposition charged by a Circuit Judge on former trial and not appealed from, is not binding on subsequent Judge on new trial of same case ordered by this Court, as the law of the case. 4. Railroads- — Passenger.—Can a railroad company charge a rebate of twenty-five cents of passenger not buying ticket?