Koestel v. Cunningham

JUDGE HAZELRIGG delivered the opinion of the court. Cunningham recovered of Koestel a judgment for $500 in damages by reason of injuries inflicted on him'by the bite of the latter’s dog. For the appellant it is insisted that the instructions given .on the trial are erroneous, chiefly because they submitted the question of punitive damages to the jui’y. ’The verdict does not appear to exceed the actual damages of the plain [423] tiff under tbe proof, but if it did wé should not regard it as invalid. The general rule in tort actions is that if the defendant act maliciously, wilfully, or with such gross negligence as to indicate a wanton disregard of the rights of others, the jury are not confined to an assessment of compensatory damages only. The first sections of the chief instruction permit damages, pro Added the jury believe from the evidence that the plaintiff was bitten by the defendant’s dog, for loss of time, doctors’ bills, etc. And the last sections allovv punitive damages if the jury should believe from the evidence “that the defendant’s dog at the time he bit the plaintiff, if he did bite him, was of a fierce or dangerous disposition towards persons, and was liable to attack and injure a person, and the defendant theretofore, that is, before the first day of August, 1892, had knowledge of that fact.” We think the instruction was proper. At the common law the dbg was regarded as 'a tame, harmlesss and docile animal, and its owner not responsible for any vicious or mischievous act it might do, unless he had a previous knowledge of its mischievous or vicious propensities. As an English judge put it, “the dog was entitled to his first bite.” The statute, however, enlarges this responsibility and “every person owning, having or keeping any dog shall be liable to the party injured for all damages done by such dog.” (Ky. Fffat., sec. 68.) The proof establishes overwhelmingly tfiat the defendant’s dog bit the plaintiff while he was in no way provoking him, when the plaintiff casually passing along fhe public street Avas unaware of the impending attack. It also conduced to show that the animal was vicious towards persons, and had so been for a considerable length of time prior to [424] the occurrence in- question. The defendant’s knowledge of this feature of his dog’s nature was not shown by any direct proof, but circumstances were put in evidence conducing to show that he must have been aware of it. The jury had enough evidence before them on that question to so conclude. His wife certainly knew of it. It'is elaborately argued by counsel that the instruction did not submit to the jury the question whether it was the dog of the defendant that bit the plaintiff, but assumed such state of case. We think otherwise. The language is clear and emphatic on that point. Judgment affirmed.