Munk v. City of Watertown

HARDIN, P. J. Upon the close of the evidence the trial judge ruled that he would submit to the jury—First, “the question of the negligence of the city in not furnishing an outlet for the flow of the Wood-ruff, Sherman, and Washington streets sewer, so it set it back in the premises of the plaintiff at the time alleged in the complaint, and proved on the trial;” and, second, “also on the question of damages.” By this ruling, apparently, all other questions tvere eliminated from the case, and those two questions were presented to the jury by a charge which commented upon the evidence bearing upon those questions. Appellant’s learned counsel attempts to shield the defendant from liability by proof of certain plans and specifications which were adopted by the common council, and insists that in the exercise of its discretionary powers and functions, of a judicial nature, it should be exempt from liability. He calls our attention to numerous cases that are reviewed and referred to in Seifert v. City of Brooklyn, 101 N. Y. 136, 4 N. E. Rep. 321. In that case, however, it was held, viz.: “A municipal corporation has no right, in the exercise of its powers to determine when, where, and how to make improvements, to do so upon a plan which substantially involves the appropriation by it of the property of a citizen to a public use without making compensation therefor. Where exercise of a judicial or discretionary power by a municipal corporation results in a direct and physical injury to the property of an individual, which, from its nature, is liable to be repeated and continuous, but is remediable by a change of plan, and the adoption of prudential measures, the corporation is liable for such damages as occur in consequence of its continuance of the original cause after notice, and an omission to adopt measures to remedy the evil. ” In that case it is said: “It does not shield the corporation where injury results solely from the defective manner in which the authority was originally exercised, and from continuance in wropg after notice of the injury. ” — 229 — In the decision in Garratt v. Trustees, etc., (Sup.) 16 N. Y. Supp. 717, affirmed 32 N. E. Rep. 142, we do not understand that the doctrine of the Seifert Case is disturbed. In the Garratt Case, in the opinion delivered in the court of appeals, it is said: “It is not alleged or found, and there is no request to find, that the defendants have omitted any duty which they owe to the plaintiff with respect to the construction of the gates or the manner of their operation. It is not found, and there is no request to find, that in any of these particulars the defendants, or their predecessors, have been guilty of any negligent or unlawful act.”' In the case in hand, evidence was given tending to show negligence on the part of the defendant. In the case before us, as soon as the plaintiff’s premises were flooded, on the 1st of January, 1891, he sought out several of the officers of the defendant, and called their attention to the circumstances attending the flooding of his premises, and the deposit therein of filthy waters and noxious matters; and within a few days a committee in behalf of the common council visited the premises of the plaintiff, and made an inspection of the premises. Surely on that occasion the defendant had knowledge that the sewer was inadequate and insufficient for the purposes for which it was designed. Shortly thereafter, the defendant, by its agent, sought to remedy the defects, and to remove the cause of the flooding of the premises of the plaintiff. However, their efforts were insufficient until after the damages mentioned in the complaint were sustained by the plaintiff and bis wife. After a careful perusal of the evidence, we are of the opinion that the same warranted a finding by the jury of negligence on the part of the defendant, and that the case falls within the principles laid down in the Seifert Case. It seqms some injuries were done to the plaintiff’s premises in the month of November, and a claim therefor was presented to the defendant, and allowed. Probably, then the defendant obtained information sufficient to call upon it to remedy the defects and imperfections. In the course of the charge the trial judge observed: “I charge you that, in view of the facts and circumstances proved in this case, that it is not sufficient, to charge the city with liability', that the Baker street sewer was insufficient as an outlet, but you must further find that the city had notice prior to the alleged flooding, in January, of the plaintiff’s premises, that this outlet was insufficient and inadequate to carry off the water.” We think the charge was sufficiently favorable to the defendant. We think the evidence warranted the jury in finding in accordance with the instruction. Although, in a subsequent sentence, the judge remarked to the jury, viz. “I think you will have no difficulty in finding in the affirmative,” we are of the opinion that he did not take the question from the jury; that he did no more than to express an opinion as to the evidence, leaving the jury at liberty to find in accordance with the testimony upon that subject. Gardner v. Picket, 19 Wend. 186; Althof v. Wolf, 2 Hilt. 345, affirmed 22 N. Y. 355. In a subsequent portion of his charge he observes, viz.: “But, did the city have notice of this inadequacy of outlet? On that proposition you have the fact that, at the time when this Sherman street sewer was put into the Baker street sewer, the city engineer examined the manholes at that locality', and he discovered a certain amount of sediment around the inside of the wall of the manhole, some two feet higher than the tile itself, indicating, as he — 230 — says, that the water had risen above the tile, above the sewer, up into the manhole,—two feet above it, The city engineer was one of the defendant’s officers. Notice to him was notice to the city; and it is for you to say whether or not that was sufficient evidence, or sufficient notice, rather, to charge the city with negligence in preparing the proper outlet for this Sherman street server.” And further on, in his comments to the jury, he said: “You have the fact that, prior to this January flooding, actual experience had demonstrated the fact that this outlet was insufficient, because of «the November flooding, which has been testified to by the plaintiff, and of which the city had knowledge. ” We think the defendant obtained no exception to- that branch of the charge which would warrant us in interfering with the verdict. We think the city may not escape the consequence following the change of plans and reception of the waters of Camp ditch simply because it passed no resolution of its common council authorizing the change. The evidence indicates a direction by one of the aldermen of the city, in its behalf, at the time the departure was made from the plans and specifications prepared by the engineer, and embraced in the contract. The city having approved of the construction of the sewer, as it did when it settled with the contractor, it is too late for it to say that the plans and specifications can shield it from liability. Stoddard v. Village of Sara-toga Springs, 127 N. Y. 261, 27 N. E. Rep. 1030; Nims v. City of Troy, 59 N. Y. 500. In the course of the charge upon the subject of damages, the judge observed: “You have the fact that the plaintiff’s wife waS sick in bed; that he lost the value of her services. And you may include in your verdict such damages as you shall deem the proper compensation for the loss of her services, aside from the actual expenditures in the procuring of servants to take her place. ” Appellant’s learned counsel claims that that portion of the charge which we have just stated was erroneous, and he took an exception thereto in the following language: “I except to so much of your honor’s charge as says we are entitled to give the plaintiff damages for the loss of the services of the wife, incurred during her sickness. ” The language of the exception is obscure, indefinite, if not unfortunate. If the evidence relating to that subject was indefinite, the plaintiff would be entitled to recover 'nominal damages. Second, the facts and circumstances, the strength and health of the wife, were before the jury; and some evidence pertinent to the question of the value of domestic services and household services was before the jury. The case differs from Leeds v. Gaslight Co., 90 N. Y. 26, as in that case there was “no evidence, on which an estimation of such value could be founded,” given, and it was said in that case that “if plaintiff fails to prove the value of the time lost, or facts on which an estimate of such value can be founded, only nominal damages for that item can be given.” Masterton v. Village of Mt. Vernon, 58 N. Y. 391, was an action to recover damages for the negligence of the defendant, and, in the course of the opinion, Grover, J., said: “The plaintiff had the right to prove the business in which he was engaged, its extent, and the particular part transacted by him, and, if he could, the com — 231 — pensation usually paid to persons doing such business for others. These are circumstances the jury have a right to consider, in fixing the value of the time. ” At the close of the opinion in People v. Protective Union, 118 N. Y. 109, 23 N. E. Rep. 129, it was said: “There was some evidence upon which to base their estimate; and the question, in this respect, differed from that in Leeds v. Gaslight Co., 90 N. Y. 26. ” If a request had been made to the trial judge, that, in the absence of more full facts and circumstances, the jury should only give nominal damages, probably the request would have been yielded to. We think the exception is not sufficient to warrant us in disturbing the verdict. After the issue was joined, apparently, plaintiff applied for leave to serve a supplemental complaint, and, as no appeal is made from that order, we do not review the action of the court in respect thereto, nor as to the rulings at the trial receiving evidence thereunder. It was conceded at the trial that the complaint was amended in conformity to the order made in that regard. We have looked at the other exceptions discussed in the brief of the learned counsel for the appellant, and we are of the opinion that none of them require us to interfere with the verdict. However, a majority of the court are of the opinion that there was error in respect to the damages awarded, and that the judgment ought to be modified by reducing the damages to $112.75. Judgment and order reversed, and a new trial ordered, with costs to abide the event, unless the plaintiff stipulates to modify the judgment by reducing the damages to $112.75, and, if such stipulation be given, the order and judgment, as modified, affirmed, without costs of the appeal to either party., MARTIN, J. The plaintiff’s claim for damages included an item of $180 for loss of services of his wife during her sickness, which was claimed to have been occasioned 'by the defendant’s negligence. The only evidence in relation to this item was that plaintiff’s wife was sick, and confined to her bed, about two weeks; that up to that time she had been in the habit of doing her work for years, keeping no servant, and working some outside; and that a woman who was employed in the house during her sickness received 75 cents a day for her services, which were of that value. In submitting the case, the court, after referring to the other items of damage proved, which amounted, in the aggregate, to the sum of $144.75, instructed the jury as follows: “Aside from those, gentlemen, you have the fact that the plaintiff’s wife was sick in,bed; that he lost the value of her services. And you may include in your verdict such damages as you shall deem the proper compensation for the loss of her services, aside from the actual expenditures in the procuring of servants to take her place. ” To this portion of the charge the defendant took the following exception: “Defendant’s counsel: I except to so much of your honor’s charge as says that we are entitled to give the plaintiff damages for the loss of the services of the wife, incurred during her sickness. ” — 232 — Subsequently, the defendant’s counsel asked the court to charge that— “The plaintiff is not entitled to recover any damages for loss of_ services of the wife, on the ground that the plaintiff has failed to give any evidence showing what the damages were by reason of the loss of such service. ” The court declined so to charge, and the defendant excepted. I think those exceptions fairly present the question of the sufficiency of the plaintiff’s évidence to entitle him to recover for loss of services of his wife during her sickness. It would be hypercritical to hold that the defendant’s exception to the charge in this respect did not sufficiently raise the question of its correctness. It is true the appeal book shows that in taking the exception the defendant’s counsel used the word “we” instead of “the jury.” That it was plainly the intent and purpose of the defendant to except to the portion of the charge relating to this subject is manifest. I think a fair and reasonable construction of the exception shaw's the defendant’s intent, and that the question was fairly raised. It was also presented by his request, the refusal of the court to charge as requested, and the exception taken thereto. Thus the question is whether the evidence was sufficient to justify the court in submitting to the determination of the jury the value of the services of the plaintiff’s wife during her sickness, and to justify the court in instructing the jury that it might include in its verdict such damages as it deemed a- proper compensation for the loss of her services, aside from the actual expenditures in procuring servants to take her place. In Leeds v. Gaslight Co., 90 N. Y. 26, it was held that, where loss of time is claimed as an item of damages from personal injury occasioned by-negligence, if the plaintiff fails to prove the value of the time lost, or facts on which an estimate of such value can be founded, only nominal damages for that item can be given. In Staal v. Railroad Co., 107 N. Y. 625, 13 N. E. Rep. 624, the correctness of the rule in the Leeds Case was recognized; and it was held that in' an action to recover damages for personal injuries caused by the defendant’s negligence, where no evidence was given as to the circumstances and condition in life of the plaintiff, his earning power, skill, and capacity, no damages for future pecuniary loss could be awarded. In Baker v. Railroad Co., 118 N. Y. 537, 23 N. E. Rep. 885, the plaintiff was a music teacher, also a teacher in the public schools. There was evidence to the effect that she was unable to attend her school for six w'eeks; that she-lost her salary as such teacher for that .time; that the injury to her finger w'as of such a character as to render it so sensitive that she could not strike the keys of a piano with it; and that, in giving music lessons, it was necessary for her to play, in connection with her instructions. But there was no evidence as to the amount of the salary paid her as a teacher in the public school, or as to the amount of her wages as a private teacher of music. In that case it was said that she was entitled to recover only nominal damages for her loss of services as such teacher. In Wood v. City of Watertown, 58 Hun, 298, 11 N. Y. Supp. 864, this court had occasion to examine a similar quéstion; and it was there held that where loss of time is "claimed as an item of damagés for personal injury occasioned by negligence, if the party fails to prove the value of the time — 233 — lost, or facts upon which an estimate of such value can be based, only-nominal damages can be given. As was said in that case: “The doctrine of the Leeds Case, so far as applicable to the case at bar, is in no way affected by the doctrine of People v. Protective Union, 118 N. Y. 101, 23 N. E. Rep. 129, as in the latter case there was evidence upon which to base an estimate of the damages. As was said by the learned judge who delivered the opinion in that case, ‘the question, in this respect, differed from that in the Leeds Case.’ An examination of the appeal book upon which the case in 118 N. Y. and 23 N. E. Rep. was heard in the court of appeals shows that the relator’s evidence was to the effect that, while he was a member of the respondent union, his income was from twenty-five to thirty dollars per week, and that after he was expelled it did not exceed five dollars a week. Therefore, in that case, there was evidence upon which a claim for damages could be based, with some degree of certainty. ” The same principle was held in Meagley v. Hoyt, 125 N. Y. 771, 26 N. E. Rep. 719. It seems to me that the question in the present caseds plainly within the principle of the cases cited, and that the evidence was insufficient to justify the court in submitting to the jury the question of the value of the services of plaintiff’s wife, or to authorize the court to instruct the jury that it might include in its verdict such damages as it should deem a proper compensation for the loss of her services. I find in the case no evidence whatever as to the value of the services performed by her when in health, nor of the character or extent'of the work performed by her in keeping the plaintiff’s house. Obviously, there were no facts established by the evidence upon which any fair estimate of the value of her services could be founded. The effect of the charge was to leave it to the jury to guess or speculate as to the value of the services which it was allowed to include as a part of the damages claimed to have been suffered by the plaintiff. I think the defendant’s exception to this portion of the charge, and its exception to the court’s refusal to charge as requested, were well taken, and that, as the case shows that this item formed no inconsiderable portion of the recovery, the judgment should be reversed. I think it no answer to this ruling to say that the plaintiff was entitled to recover at least nominal damages for loss of services of his wife, as the jury must have understood from the charge of the court that the plaintiff was entitled to recover substantial damages for such loss; for it awarded about $100 damages therefor in addition to the full amount paid physicians, nurses, and servants to take her place. I concur in the opinion of the learned presiding justice, except as to the charge of the court as to damages for the plaintiff’s loss of the services of his wife. For that error I think the judgment should be reversed, or modified by reducing the amount ot the plaintiff’s recovery to the sum of $112.75. MERWIN, J., concurs.