Abrams v. Columbia, Newberry & Laurens Railroad
Abrams v. Columbia, Newberry & Laurens Railroad
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
This action was brought in a magistrate’s court to recover $50, the value of a bundle of household goods alleged to have been shipped from' AVhitmdres, S. C., a station on the Seaboard Air Line Railway, *543 to the plaintiff, the owner, at Laurens, S. C., a terminus oí the defendant’s railroad; demand was made also for the statutory penalty of $50* against the defendant for failure to adjust and pay the claim- within forty days after it was filed. The jury found a verdict for $50, whereupon the magistrate entered judgment not only for the amount of the verdict, but also for $50 as the penalty -and the interest on the claim from date o-f filing, which he adjudged the plaintiff entitled to recover, in addition to1 the verdict. The appeal is from a judgment of the Circuit Court affirming the judgment of the magistrate.
The statute under which the penalty was claimed has been declared constitutional in Seegers v. S. A. L. Ry. Co., 73 S. C., 71, and the exception on that point must fail.
The judgment of this- Court is, that the judgment of the magistrate be set aside, with leave to the plaintiff to enter judgment for the surra of fifty dollars.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Abrams v. Columbia, Newberry and Laurens Railroad.
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. Appeal. — This Court will not review judgment of Circuit Court affirming magistrate in refusing nonsuit because there was no evidence to show that freight was delivered to defendant, or that it was a connecting carrier, unless appellant can show entire failure of evidence to support them. 2. Inin. — When Charge of magistrate is not given, this Court cannot consider if he charged on the facts. 3. Common Carrier — Constitution—Freight—Magistrate—Interest. —24 Stat., allowing interest on claim for damage to or loss of freight does not require to demand interest, and if consignee sues for actual amount of damage without interest and recovers amount claimed, he is entitled to penalty. This statute is constitutional. 4i. Ibid. — Freight—Magistrate—Judgment.—In a suit against carrier for an amount of damage to freight and for penalty for failure to pay claim, no demand made for interest in suit, where verdict is for amount claimed, magistrate has no authority to enter up judgment for interest and penalty in addition to verdict.