Case ID: misc_18/html/0651-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Dumore, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Charles Prignitz, Appellant, v. William McTiernan, Respondent.
    (County Court, Oneida County,
    December, 1896.)
    1. Damages — Treble.
    Where the finding of the jury does not state whether it was for single or treble damages, it will be presumed that treble damages were awarded.
    2. Appeal — Opinion no part of the record.
    Reference cannot be had to the opinion of the court below to ascertain' what the findings of fact were.
    
      3. Tort — Evidence.
    In an action for willful destruction of property it is improper to ask the plaintiff how much the property was worth to him, although it is claimed that it had a special value to him.
    Appeax from a judgment of the City Court of Utica.
    L. N. Southworth, for appellant.
    Thomas D. Watkins, for respondent.
   Dumore, J.

This action was brought to recover treble damages for the unlawful and willful destruction of property. •One ground of error complained of is that the court below awarded plaintiff single damages only when he was entitled to treble damages. I agree with plaintiff that the evidence shows that defendant unlawfully and willfully destroyed plaintiff’s property. Plaintiff was, therefore, entitled to recover treble damages. Penal Code, § 654; Livingston v. Platner, 1 Cow. 175; King v. Havens, 25 Wend. 420; Jermain v. Booth, 1 Den. 639.

But the rule seems to be well settled that unless it appears from the record that the single value alone was found, it will be presumed that the treble value was found. Livingston v. Platner, 1 Cow. 175; Addison on Torts, vol. 2, § 1396; Wait’s Law & Prac. (5th ed.) 822.

In this Case the finding does not state whether it is for single or treble damages. It, therefore, falls within the rule above stated and it must be presumed that treble damages were awarded.

A copy of the opinion of the city judge is furnished frqm which it is argued by plaintiff that single damages.only were awarded;, but reference cannot be had to the opinion to ascertain what the findings of fact were. Titus v. Orvis, 16 N. Y. 617; Percival v. Percival, 124 id. 637.

The record, therefore, fails to disclose that treble damages werp not awarded by the trial court.

Another alleged error is that the plaintiff testified that the value of his .time and his expenses amounted to $15.25 and that evidence. was uncontradicted. That, therefore, the single damaged should' have been $15.25 and the treble damages $45.75, while the trial court only awarded $5 as damages. This would be so except for the rule of law that the evidence of a party or interested: witness is not conclusive upon the trial court even though it may not be contradicted. McNulty v. Hurd, 86 N. Y. 547; Kearney v. Mayor, 95 id. 617.

The evidence as to damages, therefore, presented a question of fact for the trial court and that finding is conclusive upon this court unless invalidated by. the commission of some error in law.

The only other question raised upon this appeal which is worth considering is the ruling upon the following question asked plaintiff by his counsel, viz.: “ Q. How much was it worth to you to get that paper in the shape it was at the time it was torn up? ” Defendant’s objection as incompetent, etc., was sustained. Plaintiff contends that as the property destroyed had a special value to the plaintiff it was proper to ask plaintiff what the property was worth “ to him ” and cites as authority for such contention Frankenstein v. Thomas, 4 Daly, 256; Sedgwick on Damages, § 251; 61 Texas, 553.

I have examined the cases cited and they do not quite sustain the plaintiff’s contention. To allow a question in that form would be a departure from the general rule, and in the absence of an authority in this state I decline to establish such a precedent.

As the' record discloses no error of the trial court by which the plaintiff was prejudiced, the judgment must be affirmed, with costs.

Judgment affirmed, with costs.