Case ID: ohio-cc-ns_12/html/0373-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

AS TO SETTLEMENT OF DAMAGES FOR A TORT.
    Circuit Court of Hamilton County.
    Emma DeGarmo v. Cincinnati Traction Company.
    Decided, July 3, 1909.
    
      Failure to Bead Paper before Signing — Not Negligence, When — Release — Evidence—Error in Arresting Case from Jury.
    
    
      Horace A. Reeve, for plaintiff in error.
    
      Kittredge, Willy & Stimson, contra.
    Giffen, P. J.; Swing, J., and Smith, J., concur.
   At the time plaintiff signed the release pleaded as a defense, it was not known that she had sustained any serious bodily injury, although she was extremely nervous.

She testifies as follows:

“I said what am I signing this for ? He said it is to show that I paid you the money for dress damages.”

The conversation was confined wholly to the damages to her dress, for which she received fifteen dollars. Under such circumstances it was not negligence on the part of plaintiff to omit reading the paper before signing, and the court erred in arresting the case from the jury. Perry v. O’Neil & Co., 78 O. S., 200.

It was error also to sustain the objection to: “Q. Did you rely upon what Mr. McCarthy told you?”

Judgment reversed and cause remanded for a new trial.