G., H. & S. A. R'y Co. v. Jessee
G., H. & S. A. R'y Co. v. Jessee
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
(Transferred from Austin.)
§ 403. Petition in suit against carrier for delay in delivering goods; held sufficient on general demurrer; case stated. Appellee was a photographer at San Antonio.
§ 404. Same; bad as to damages claimed, on special exception; measure of damage against carrier for delay, where goods are not intended for, the market. One of the special exceptions to the petition was, that the damages claimed were too remote. This exception should have been sustained as to the damages claimed for loss of profits. When goods are not intended for sale in the market of destination, but are intended to serve some specific purpose of the owner, in the absence of special circumstances which may make the carrier liable for some special loss, or for the expense which the owner
§ 405. Loss of profits cannot be allowed as damage, unless, etc. “Loss of profits in a business cannot be allowed as damage, unless the data of estimation are so definite and certain that they can be ascertained reasonably by calculation, and then the party in'fault must have had notice, either from the nature of the contract, or by explanation of the circumstances, at the time the contract was made, that such damages would ensue from non-performance.” Meld on Dam. §,385; De La Zerda v. Korn, 25 Tex. Sup. 188; Calvit v. McFaddin, 13 Tex. 324; R. R. Co. v. Ragsdale, 46 Miss. 458.] In this case, no special circumstances are alleged in the petition which would entitle appellee to other damages than those authorized by the general rule stated in the preceding section; that is, the rental value of his “outfit” during the delay. It is not alleged .that appellant, at the time of receiving the goods for transportation, or at any time, had notice of the particular purpose of their shipment; or of the particular necessity or advantage to appellee of' their delivery at Stafford Junction at a certain date; or' that appellee would suffer any special damage by delay. As presented by the petition, the case is an ordinary one of the breach of a contract to transport and deliver goods within a reasonable time, and the measure of damage is the rental value of the goods during the delay, they not being goods intended for market. Loss of profits, and especially of such uncertain character as those claimed, to ascertain which there are no definite data from which to form an estimate, are not allowable upon the state of facts alleged in the petition.
§ 406. Challenge to array of jurors. It was not error to overrule appellant’s challenge to the array of jurors. Such a challenge can only be entertained upon the ground that the officer who summoned the jury has acted corruptly, and has wilfully summoned jurors known to be prejudiced against the party challenging, or biased in favor of the adverse party. [R. S. art. 3074.] No such ground was relied upon in this case. The provisions of the statute relating to the summoning and formation of juries in civil cases are merely directory, and a substantial compliance therewith is all that is required.
§ 407. Evidence of damages not recoverable; error to admit. It was error to permit appellee to testify as to the amount of profits he had realized in his business during previous “pay days ” at Brackett. Such evidence was too remote to have any legitimate bearing upon the issues in the case. It did not tend to prove any damage that was recoverable under the allegations in the petition.
§ 408. Charge of court; should instruct as to measure of damage. The charge was erroneous. It left the jury at liberty to award the full amount of damages claimed ■ in the petition, without instructing as to the proper rule by which to estimate damages in the case. [W. & W. Con. Rep. §§ 446, 1148.]
Reversed and remanded.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.