De la Zerda v. Korn
De la Zerda v. Korn
Opinion of the Court
—There is little cause to doubt that a
The defendants had abandoned their other defenses, and relied on the general denial. The plaintiff did not read in evidence the plea which had been abandoned by the defendants, and without the admissions they contained, it is not very apparent upon what evidence the jury found a verdict against the defendant, Maverick. But there is another question in the case which renders it unnecessary to decide upon the sufficiency of the evidence to support the verdict; that is, the question of the measure of damages.
Though the case made by the evidence may have well entitled the plaintiff to a recovery against the defendant, De la Zerda, yet it is conceived the rule laid down by the court, by which to measure the amount of the recovery in damages, was not quite correct, and the jury may have been misled by it. The jury were instructed that the true measure of damages for the plaintiff was “ the difference between the profits shown as likely to accrue to him in those premises, and the profits (if any) which he might make in another stand by the use of reasonable diligence and industry and the loss to his stock in trade.”
The future profits likely to accrue to the plaintiff in the prosecution of his business we think a subject too remote and contingent to constitute the proper subject of computation as damages in this action.
The difficulty of laying down a precise and certain rule upon this subject, which shall be applicable to all cases, has been often recognized. The difficulty consists not so much in ascertaining a general rule, as in the application of any rule which may be stated as the result of the authorities to cases as they arise. But I apprehend it will be found, that future contingent profits of the character of those within the contemplation of the charge of the court in this case
Reversed and the cause remanded.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Nemecio De la Zerda v. Louis Korn
- Cited By
- 3 cases
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- Syllabus
- Where the suit was for terminating a lease by the destruction of the premises, which had been rented for business purposes, it was error to toll the jury that the difference between the profits shown as likely to accrue to him in those premises, and the profits, if any, which he might make in another stand by the use of reasonable diligence and industry, and the • loss to his stock in trade, is the true measure of damages. The general rule is, that where, there does not appear to have been a willful wrong, or gross negligence, remuneration is restricted to the immediate consequences of the unlawful acts. (For the cases upon the measure of damages, see Paschal’s Dig., Note 540, p. 351.)