Nolan v. Mendere

LIGHTFOOT, Chief Justice. — Conclusions of Fact. — John Mendere, appellee, owned a lot in the city of Sherman, and had constructed thereon a house, in which he resided with his family; his lot adjoined that of appellant, and the wall of appellee’s house near the line of appellant’s lot was of stone. Appellant constructed a shed or livery stable for stock upon his own lot, and without appellee’s consent, and against his protest, cut holes in the wall of his house and made it a part of appellant’s shed, whereby the wall was damaged and injured to the full extent of the actual damages found by the jury. In addition to the actual damage, appellant acted wantonly and without regard to the appellee’s rights, and greatly disturbed him and his family, to such an extent that the verdict for punitory or vindictive damages is fully sustained by the evidence. Appellee brought suit for damages, and there was a verdict and judgment for appellee for $100 actual damages and $135 exemplary damages, from which this appeal was taken. Conclusions of Laic. — 1. The first assignment of error complains of that part of the charge of the court which instructs the jury upon the question of exemplary damages, as follows: “If you believe that the defendant cut holes or drove plugs in the wall of plaintiff, or that he caused this to be done, and that the wall was thereby damaged; and if you believe in so doing the defendant acted willfully and maliciously, or with gross negligence, or in such a way as to show an utter and reckless disregard of the rights of plaintiff, then you should find for plaintiff what in law are termed exemplary damages, by way of punishment of defendant, in such reasonable sum as you may see proper.” Appellant objects to the use of the word should in the above charge as error, and insists that the word may was necessary and was the only proper word in that connection; and insists that the use of the word should was equivalent to a direct instruction to find for plaintiff exemplary damages. In the case of Mayer, Kahn & Freiberg v. Duke, 72 Texas, 445, Judge Gaines, commenting upon this exact question, on page 453 says: “We are aware that it is usual to instruct the jury in cases calling for a charge upon the subject, that they ‘ may ’ give exemplary damages, provided they find a certain state of facts proved by the evidence. * * * Yet, it seems to me, in many cases, at least, it would *205 not have been error for them to have gone further and instructed the juries that they should find exemplary damages, if they found the facts proved which warranted such damages.” Delivered January 10, 1894. We think the facts of this case justify the charge, and there was no error in giving it. 2. The only remaining assignment presented in the brief of appellant is, that the verdict of the jury is contrary to the law and the evidence, because there is not sufficient evidence to authorize a finding for exemplary damages. We think the evidence was amply sufficient. The judgment is affirmed. Affirmed.