Vogt v. Aldrich

POLLEY, J. Plaintiff brings this action to recover damages alleged to have been caused by the seduction of his daughter. By the amended complaint, he alleges that the female involved is his servant and daughter; that, at various times from the 5th day of August, 1910, to the latter part of the year 1913, defendant debauched and had carnal knowledge of the said daughter; and that, at various times during said period, defendant, for the purpose of such debauchery, abducted and enticed the said female to leave the residence and service of plaintiff and his family, and, for that purpose, kept her secreted and concealed from plaintiff for periods of time ranging' fom two weeks to six months; that, as a result of such wrongful conduct on the part of the defendant, plaintiff was deprived of the service of his said daughter, and was subjected to shame, mortification, disgrace, dishonor, and mental suffering. Fie further alleges that, at the time of the above-mentioned wrongful acts, the defendant was a married man, but that he represented himself to be a single man and desirous of getting married. At the trial plaintiff called a witness to the stand, but, before any testimony was taken, defendant interposed an objection to [182] the introduction of any evidence, for the reason that the amended complaint does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action. This objection was sustained, and, on motion of the defendant, the court directed a verdict for defendant. Judgment was entered upon the verdict, and from such judgment and an order denying a motion for a new trial, plaintiff appeals. [1] Respondent’s objection to the introduction of any evidence is based, on the ground that plaintiff has not brought himself within the provisions of section I, c. 212, Laws of 1903, and that, for that reason, he cannot recover. 'It is. not contended by respondent that the amended complaint does not ¡state a cause of action for seduction under the common law and the statute as it existed prior to the enactment of said chapter 212, and, for the purpose of this case, we shall assume that it does state a cause of action under the law as it then existed. By section 1 of chapter 212, Session Laws of 1903, it is provided that, in all cases of seduction, the father, mother, sisters, brothers, or any person in loco parentis may maintain an action against the seducer for the recovery of all medical attendance, nursing, and other expenses incurred upon the subsequent illness and confinement of the person seduced, together with exemplary damages; and section 2 of said act provides that the party seduced may maintain an action against her seducer for all actual damages sustained by her, and for exemplary damages. To this act is attached an emergency clause, by which it is declared that there is no adequate provision in the statutes of this ¡state relating to seduction. It is the contention of respondent that the purpose of this statute was to cover the whole subject of seduction; that the remedy provided is exclusive of the common-laiw remedy; and that the father of a seduced daughter can no longer recover damages for the loss of services for the shame, mortification, mental suffering, and disgrace resulting from the debauchery of his daughter. Respondent claims that the ¡intent to abrogate the common-law rule on the part of the lawmakers is shown not only by the general language of the act, but that it is clearly indicated by the declaration found in the emergency clause; that, by the use of the clause “there is no adequate provision in the statutes of this state [183] relating to seduction,” the Legislature renounced the common-law right of recovery and substituted the right provided by the statute in lieu of the common-law right. With this contention we cannot agree. It seems clear to us that it is the intent of chapter 212, Laws of 1903, to give a right of recovery to certain persons who could not have recovered under the common law nor under the statute as it existed prior to 1903, -rather than the abrogation of any existing rights. First, it gives to certain -persons, or classes of persons, enumerated in section x, who theretofore had' no right of recovery, the right to recover for all medical attendance, nursing, and other expenses incident to the illness and confinement resulting from the seduction; and, second, it gives to the seduced female herself the right, in all cases of seduction, to recover all actual damages she may have suffered because of the seduction, besides exemplary damages by way of punishment of the offender. Under the law as it existed ¡prior to 1903, the father -could, recover all the items of -damage enumerated in section 1 and, in addition thereto, he could also recover for loss of services and for the disgrace and humiliation resulting from the seduction. The effect of the law, then, is not to create any cause of action that did not theretofore exist, but -it names new parties who might recover upon a cause of action, already existing and recognized by law. The mere fact that the father, who already possessed the right of action, is enumerated with other parties who did not already have this right does not necessarily deprive him -of -other rights that -he did- possess. There is nothing in ■chapter 212' that conflicts with subdivision 3 of section 32 of the 'Civil Code, and, there being no express repeal of said subdivision, the same is still in full force and effect. The rights conferred by chapter 212 are in no wise inconsistent with the father’s right of recovery as it existed under the common law, and the statute prior to 1903, for loss of service and the shame and mental suffering occasioned by the debauchery of his daughter, and the same is true with regard to- the right -conferred by the statute upon the injured female herself. Her right of recovery does not conflict with the right previously existing in favor of the father. Similar statutes have been enacted in other states, and it has been repeatedly held that a recovery by the daughter under those statutes is no bar to an action by the father for the same [184] seduction. Bartlett v. Kochel, 88 Ind. 425; Stevenson v. Belknap, 6 Iowa, 97, 71 Am. Dec. 392. Respondent’s position is not strengthened by the language used in the emergency clause. It will be noted that it does not declare that there is no pro-vision of law relating to seduction, but there is no adequate provision in the statutes of this state. It relates to 'the adequacy of the statute of this - state, rather than the exisence of the statute itself. It appears to have been the intent of the author of the statute 'to guard against the construction contended for by respendent, and it is our opinion that the statute in question was not intended to, and did not, abrogate the common law, nor the statute as it existed prior to 1903, nor affect the father’s right of recovery for the debauchery of his daughter. [2] For the reasons above stated, the objection to- the admission of any testimony, which amounted to a demurrer to the amended complaint, should have been overruled. But there is a further reason why the objection should have been- overruled. The amended complaint sets up two causes of action — one for seduction, and one for abduction. Chapter 212, Laws of 1903, makes no reference whatever 'to- abduction. This leaves the law relative thereto- just as it wa-s prior to the enactment of chapter 212, and appellant should have been permitted to submit evidence under this cause of action.' The judgment and order appealed from are reversed, and a new trial awarded.