Mansur-Tebbetts Implement Co. v. Smith

Mr. Justice Sample delivered the opinion of the Court. The court did not err in sustaining the demurrer to the second plea. The provision in the mortgage referred to, that if the property “ shall be attached or claimed by another person or persons, * * * it, the appellant, may treat such act as a default on the part of mortgagors,” relates to another person than a party to the instrument. The moment the mortgage was executed the mortgagee claimed the property “ in the nature of a pledge and conditional sale, to become absolute in the mortgagee on condition broken. But until a forfeiture has thus accrued, the mortgagee has only a lien upon the pledge for the security of his claim against tbe mortgagor, and would be liable in damages if he were to sell the same or otherwise convert it to his own use.” Rhines v. Phelps, 3 Gilm. 463. The evidence in this case shows, at the most, for appellees, that while Isaac Smith did not want the property taken under the mortgage' until his notes were surrendered, yet he did not object to the delivery of the property by his engineer, Jennings, after the job of threshing was finished at Watson’s, and the proof shows that Jennings did, in the absence of any agent of appellant, take the threshing outfit to Carlyle Mills. It is incredible that Jennings would have done this over the objection of his employer. In fact, the Smiths do not pretend that the]7 did object. They objected to the work of the separator, which the evidence shows was substantially worthless. The appellees had but few jobs of threshing engaged, and their own engineer would not recommend its work to farmers, who relied on his judgment. He says: “ I don’t think it would have threshed more than three or four hundred bushels more until it would have fallen down.” Evidently it would not pay the expenses of running the outfit, which took five or six men to operate it. In the light of this evidence, it is idle to calculate the profits of such a machine. Counsel on both sides agree “ the measure of damages in such cases is the value of the right of possession until forfeiture of the condition of the mortgage, and the value of the property after payment of the mortgage debt, citing Jones on Chattel Mortgages, 3d Ed., Sec. 437. The court in its instructions applied this rule, which, in the light of the evidence, makes it clear that the verdict for $1,632.73 is largely composed of punitive damages. The jury were instructed that if they believed from the evidence “ that a trespass was committed as charged in the declaration * * in a wanton, willful and insulting manner, and that the plaintiff has suffered any actual damage therefrom, then the jury are ordered to find exemplary damages.” This instruction in effect is repeated several times, and defendant’s instructions were modified against its protest recognizing the right to give such damages. The claim for punitive damages in this way was made so strong and'kept so prominently before the jury that it amounted to an invitation to allow such damages. A jury must not be invited •or pressed to give damages of that character. See Browning v. Jones, 52 Ill. App. 606, for collation of authorities. The record has been read to find evidence to sustain the instruction in regard to this trespass having been committed “ in a wanton, willful and insulting manner,” and we are unable to do so. There was no anger manifested by any one, threats made, force used, or insults offered. The most that can be said is, that an unauthorized demand was made for the surrender of the property, to which appellees, granting all they claim, reluctantly yielded and delivered up the property, after finishing the Watson job of threshing, and made no protest at the sale. The most that can be said is, that appellees wanted their notes delivered up, as a condition of their consent, and doubtless this was largely because the separator was worthless. There is nothing in the record to show that appellee declared that appellant had no legal right to take the property, or make a demand for its surrender. They did not say, “ the mortgage does not authorize you to take it.” They should have known, and in law were presumed to know, as well as appellant, whether the mortgage authorized the property to be taken. They yielded to a claim that the mortgage did not warrant, and delivered up the property, making at the time of the claim the counter-claim that the notes should be surrendered, which Avas not complied with, whereby their right to compensating damages was preserved. But in order that punitive damages may be allowed, as repeatedly held by the Supreme Court, “either malice, violence, oppression, or wanton recklessness must mingle in the controversy. The act complained of must partake of a criminal or wanton nature, else the amount sought to be recovered must be confined to compensation.” City of Chicago v. Martin, 49 Ill. 245, which case, after reviewing the authorities, cites and follows case of Kennedy v. North Mo. R. R. Co., 36 Mo. 351; T. P. & W. R. R. Co. v. Patterson, 63 Ill. 307, and cases cited. The injury complained of must be done wantonly or willfully—Miller v. Kirby, 74 Ill. 248-—with a reckless disregard of rights. Becker v. Dupree, 75 Ill. 167. It is held that vindictive or exemplary damages should not be awarded in an action for the illegal seizure and asportation of plaintiff’s goods when there is no evidence of wanton or malicious wrong on the part of the defendant. Engle v. Jones, 51 Mo. 316; Wannamaker v. Bowes, 36 Md. 42; Hyatt v. Adams, 16 Mich. 180. A person can not consent to an invasion of his right, and then claim punitive damages. Farwell v. Warren, 70 Ill. 28. It is true, a mere belief in the right to do the act complained of, or ignorance of the law, can not shield a person— Jasper v. Purnell, 67 Ill. 358; Singer Mfg. Co. v. Holdfodt, 86 Ill. 455—-where there is no reasonable claim; yet, in order to justify punitive damages, the element of wantonness or reckless disregard of rights must be shown. Thei e must not be an apparent or qualified recognition of the propriety of the act, as there was in this case,where there might well be a difference of opinion as to the legality of the claim. While the doctrine of punitive damages is recognized and firmly established in this State, yet, as said in Holmes v. Holmes, 64 Ill. 298, the courts should see to it that it is not perverted. The word “authorized,” as used in an instruction in regard to punitive damages, is criticised as being equivalent nearly to the word “ entitled,” which, it has been held, was error to use. W. St. L. & P. Ry. Co. v. Rector, 104 Ill. 303. While it is not believed to be the best word to use, yet its use has never been condemned so far as we are aware. It was used in the case of Hodgson v. Milward, 3 Grant’s Cases, Penn., 406, with apparent approval. See Sedgwick, on the Measure of Damages, 6th Ed., notes to p. 569. This large verdict is probably attributable to the fact the threshing machine was worthless, and that the jury believed the notes should have been delivered up, which is probably true, in the light of this evidence, as a matter of fair dealing. But, as the court properly instructed them, those matters could not be considered in the way of damages in this case. That can be determined in a suit on the notes. Eor the reasons stated, the judgment is reversed and the cause remanded.