Nordgren v. Lawrence
Nordgren v. Lawrence
Opinion of the Court
— Respondent brought this action to recover damages suffered by her because of certain acts of appellant while with her family she was occupying a furnished house belonging to appellant. The pertinent facts are these:
Respondent and her family had occupied the house since July 3d, as a tenant from month to month. On August 26, appellant was informed that respondent would not occupy the house the third month. About eight o’clock on the morning of August 28, appellant, by the use of a ladder, climbed upon a back porch extending out from the second story, and forced open a door leading from the porch into a bedroom then occupied by a daughter of respondent, who had just risen and was not yet dressed. This daughter, whose age is not given, ran to the room of an older sister, who came
Appellant first complains that certain instructions to the jury were erroneous. He contents himself with alleging error, but points out no vice in the instructions, nor reason why his claim of error should be sustained. Having read them, no suggestion presents itself to our mind why they should be held erroneous, and they are sustained.
It is next contended that the action should have been dismissed because of a variance between the amended complaint and the proof. The amended complaint alleged the respondent was “seised and possessed and entitled to the possession of said house and premises.” The proof showed a tenancy from month to month. While the word “seised” is ordinarily used to express the owner’s possession of a freehold estate, we fail to see how the appellant could be misled by this allegation. He certainly knew the character of respondent’s possession of the premises, and the variance complained of in the pleading could not have misled him in maintaining his defense. If we assume there was a variance, it was not material. Rem. & Bal. Code, § 299 (P. C. 81 § 287).
The next contention is, that the action should have been brought under the forcible entry and detainer statute. There is no merit in this contention and no discussion of it is necessary.
The next assignment is that there was no proof of damages, and that there could be no recovery for respondent’s mental distress. Whether or not an action will lie for mental distress alone, when unaccompanied by injury to person or property, need not here be discussed. Such a question is not present in this case. In this state mental suffering may be taken into consideration in assessing damages, where the same is a result of a wrongful act, even though there be no actual physical injury. Willson v. Northern Pac. R. Co., 5 Wash. 621, 32 Pac. 468, 34 Pac. 146; Davis v. Tacoma R. & Power Co., 35 Wash. 203, 77 Pac. 209, 66 L. R. A. 802.
Other assignments are the denial of judgment and motion for new trial. There was no error in denying the motion for judgment. The motion for new trial included, among other questions, a claim that the verdict was excessive, thus presenting that question here. In discussing this assignment, no reference need be made to the reprehensible conduct of appellant. It speaks for itself. In this state, however, vindictive damages are not allowed; and upon this assignment of error we must look to the nature of the injury suffered by respondent to determine whether or not more than compensatory damages have been allowed. Respondent was in ill health at the time, and the only thing she complains of as a result of appellant’s actions is that she was greatly disturbed
The judgment is reversed, and if within thirty days from the going down of the remittitur, respondent shall accept judgment for $500, the judgment so entered will stand; otherwise a new trial is ordered. No costs to either party in this court.
Ellis, Fullerton, and Main, JJ., concur.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Kathrina Nordgren v. John Lawrence
- Cited By
- 18 cases
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- Published
- Syllabus
- Landlord and Tenant — Actions—Pleading—Variance—Materiality. In an action against a landlord, it is an immaterial variance, if any, that the complaint alleged that plaintiff was “seised and possessed and entitled to the possession” of premises, and the proof showed that she was a tenant from month to month, where the defendant knew the character of the possession. Landlord and Tenant — Lease—Termination. A tenancy from month to month is not terminated on the 28th of August, where the lease was made June 11th at which time it was not known when the tenancy would begin, the receipt for rent deposited recited that the rent was to commence about the 28th of the month, and the tenant moved in July 3d, and had fully paid for the second month. Landlord and Tenant — Damages—Actions—Remedies by Tenant. An action for damages against a landlord who unlawfully entered the premises before the termination of the tenancy and made a general nuisance of himself need not be brought under the unlawful detainer statute. Damages — Mental Suffering. Recovery may be had for mental suffering which was the result of the wrongful acts of the defendant in an unlawful entry upon plaintiff’s premises, although there was no actual physical injury. Landlord and Tenant — Damages—Excessive Verdict — Mental Suffering. A verdict for $1,000 damages is excessive, and should be reduced to $500, where plaintiff, who was ill, was greatly disturbed and frightened when the defendant, her landlord, unlawfully forced an entrance into the house early in the morning, and made a general nuisance of himself until late in the afternoon, her fright was only temporary, and her illness not augmented.