Gibbs ex rel. Hill v. Poplar Bluff Light & Power Co.

GRAY, J. This is an action commenced in the circuit court of Butler county, to recover damages for personal injuries alleged to have been sustained by plaintiff, by reason of the alleged negligence of the defendant in causing the reflector over one of its arc lights to fall and strike the plaintiff. On November 20, 1908, plaintiff, who was at said time eighteen years of age, was injured on Main street, in the city of Poplar Bluff, by reason of the fact that a metallic reflector dropped from an electric arc light, striking him on the forehead and cutting a gash about two inches in length across the forehead from the left brow to the right side. His father was 'dead and his mother had remarried, and the boy had been permitted — 23 — to take care of himself and receive the fruits of his labor for about two years previous to the accident. The physicians testified that the disfigurement on the forehead was permanent. David W. Hill was appointed as the next friend, and this suit was instituted for $2000 damages. The trial resulted in a verdict for the plaintiff in the sum of $700, and defendant has appealed. The defendant at the time alleged, was a corporation engaged in the operation of an electric light plant, and furnishing electric current in the city of Poplar Bluff, for lighting purposes. The evidence shows that the arc light was maintained near the station of the St. Louis, Iron Mountain and Southern Railway Company, and was for the purpose of lighting the station, and it was between the tracks, but in one of the streets of the city. The plaintiff, at the time of the injury, and just prior thereto, was sitting on a speeder that was by the post over which the light was suspended. While he was sitting there, an employee of the defendant came and climbed the post. The plaintiff testified that as this employee commenced to climb the pole, he got up <and started to move, and when he got something like about six feet from the post, the reflector fell and struck him. There were other witnesses who corroborated the plaintiff’s testimony. The most reliable testimony concerning the situation, and the cause of the reflector to fall, was given by the testimony of Luther West, an employee of the defendant, and we quote the following from his testimony: “I went to climb up the pole and there was a shade — heavy—on the light; and the wind was blowing mighty hard; and the shade had shook loose; and when I was climbing the pole, of course, that shakes the pole more; and the shade fell and lodged between the two side bars; and when I was on about two steps — I had bolts in the pole to climb, and I made a step to ge.t up to it and catch it, and before I could catch it, it fell out; and I hollered ‘look out,’ and this — 24 — young fellow looked up, and it hit him in the face when it came down.” Upon the testimony of this witness, and under the allegations of the'petition, the plaintiff was entitled to go to the jury. The allegation of negligence in the petition is as follows: “The defendant, its agents, servants and employees, carelessly and negligently insecurely hung said reflector above said light, and by tbe carelessness and negligence of tbe defendant, its servants and employees, on or about tbe 29th day of November, 1908, tbe said reflector was caused to fall from tbe top of said pole and to strike on tbe face and forehead of tbe plaintiff.” The instruction in behalf of tbe plaintiff, submits tbe issue in tbe language of tbe petition. Tbe said employee of tbe defendant testified that tbe wind bad shaken tbe shade loose, and on account thereof, and on account of bis climbing tbe pole, tbe shade fell and lodged, and with tbis knowledge, and without giving any warning to tbe plaintiff, who be knew was sitting below, he attempted to climb to tbe shade and to catch it, but before be could do so, it fell, and then be gave tbe plaintiff tbe warning. It is true there was other evidence in behalf of tbe defendant that tbe shade bad been properly bung, but tbis was a question for tbe jury. [Bank v. Hammond, 124 Mo. App. 177, 101 S. W. 677.] When tbe plaintiff showed that tbe lamp was in tbe street and that tbe shade fell upon bim and there was no evidence as to tbe cause of its falling, a natural inference arose that it fell by some neglect or omission of duty on tbe part of tbe owner. [Gallagher v. Illuminating Co., 72 Mo. App. 576; Blanton v. Dold, 109 Mo. 1. c. 74, 18 S. W. 1149.] Tbe plaintiff having made out bis prima fade case, tbe demurrer, at tbe close of bis evidence, was properly overruled. In behalf of tbe defendant, as above stated, tbe testimony shows that with knowledge of tbe position of tbe boy, and that tbe shade was loose, the employee — 25 — of the defendant climbed the pole, and knowing that his climbing would shake the lamp and increase the danger of it falling, and that even after it had fallen and lodged and was liable to fall again, he gave no warning to the plaintiff, but continued to climb the pole. Under these circumstances, it cannot be said as a matter of law, that the plaintiff had not proven the allegation of his petition that the servant of the defendant negligently caused the reflector to fall. The court permitted the plaintiff to prove that he had incurred a doctor’s bill of $6 in treating his injuries. The defendant objected to this testimony on the ground that he had not paid the bill. The petition does not allege he had paid for these services, but only alleged that he had incurred the same. The testimony was proper. [Muth v. Railroad, 87 Mo. App. 422.] We understand the rule to be that if the plaintiff alleges in his petition that he has expended sums for medical purposes, then he is not entitled to recover for services contracted for, but not paid. On the other hand, where he does not .allege that the sums have been expended, but liability only incurred, then he can show the amount of the liability. [Nelson v. Railroad, 113 Mo. App. 659, 88 S. W. 1119; Muth v. Railroad, 87 Mo. 422.] It is claimed in this court, however, that the parents are liable for the doctor’s bill, and the plaintiff being a minor, is not liable therefor. The services were for necessaries rendered the infant, and therefore, the infant was liable therefor. [Paul v. Smith, 41 Mo. App. 275; Goodman v. Alexander, 165 N. Y. 289.] It was not necessary, to recover for these services, to allege that there were no persons upon whom the law placed the responsibility therefor. At the common law in an action to recover against an infant for necessaries, the declaration was required to contain allegations as in an action for debt. If the defendant by his plea set up infancy as a defense, plaintiff in his replication alleged — 26 — that the articles were necessaries. The practice of the common law governed in this state, down to the time of the adoption of the Code, and the general understanding has been, that the Code was not intended to exact a more formal complaint than was required at common law, but instead to abolish the forms and technicalities of that practice. [Goodman v. Alexander, 165 N. Y. 289.] The court did not permit the plaintiff to recover for loss of time. It is true, when he was asked by his counsel as to how much time he had lost, the court overruled an objection thereto, but when it was sought to prove the value of this time, the defendant objected to the form of the question. This objection was sustained, and there the matter ended. The court did not submit the question in the instructions to the jury. If the proper proof had been made, then under the facts, the plaintiff would have been entitled to recover the loss of his earnings. The evidence showed his father was dead, and that he had not been living at home for over two years; his mother had remarried, and there is abundant testimony which would have justified the jury in finding that plaintiff was entitled to recover for his services. [Zongker v. Mercantile Co., 110 Mo. App. 382, 86 S. W. 486.] We are asked to reverse the judgment, because: the testimony shows that the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence. The instructions given on behalf of the defendant, were skillfully prepared and submitted this issue favorable to the defendant. Whether the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence in sitting under the lamp when he had no knowledge of its unsafe condition, and notwithstanding he knew that a servant was climbing the pole for the purpose of .doing something with the lamp, was a question for the jury. It is also claimed that plaintiff is not entitled to recover for any future suffering or injury. The doctors testified that the scar on the boy’s forehead was perma — 27 — nent, and- that the disfigurement would always remain. The instruction reads: “If you find the issues in this cause for the plaintiff you should assess his damages at such sum as you may believe from all the evidence, will be a fair compensation to him for any pain of body or mind, and for any permanent physical disfigurement, if any, which you may believe from the evidence the plaintiff has sustained, or will hereafter sustain, by reason of his said injuries.” It is doubtful whether the instruction submits anything concerning the fact, except the permanent disfigurement. But if it does, the boy testified at the trial that the scar was still paining him, and that it took spells of itching pretty often. During the argument of the case before the jury, the plaintiff’s counsel said: “If you fix the amount of plaintiff’s damages at too low a sum, the court can’t raise it.” To this statement the defendant’s counsel objected. Whereupon the court said: “Yes, sir, gentlemen (to the jury), you have a right to fix the verdict.” Counsel in addressing the jury have no right to argue the law of the case otherwise than as it is found in the instructions of the court. But in every case, attorneys are liable to make statements in the heat of argument, which are in violation of this rule, but it is not every statement of this kind that justifies an appellate court in reversing the judgment. If the case is a close one, or if there is anything in the verdict to indicate that the verdict, or any part of it, was based upon the improper argument, then the trial court should interfere and grant a new trial, and if that court fails to perform its duty, then it is the duty of this court to interfere. Under the facts of this case, however, the question of the right of the plaintiff to recover is not a doubtful one, and there is nothing in the verdict to indicate that any portion of it is due to this statement. The evidence shows that the boy received a wound across his forehead which will remain with him as long — 28 — as he lives. No one can say that a disfigurement of this kind, upon the face of a boy eighteen years of age, has not damaged him in the sum of $700, the amount of the recovery in this case. The case was carefully tried by both parties and the defendant did not overlook ■ a single thing beneficial to his client’s side of the case, and therefore, the defendant has had its full day in court and the plaintiff is entitled to the judgment he has obtained, and it will be affirmed. All concur.