The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-02
Verdicts for Very Large Sums in
Case of Death.
A FEW OF THE JUDGMENTS
Sometimes Cheaper to Kill Man Than
to Main Him-Loss CT Limbs Costs
Aggressor Far Into the Thou
sands of Dollars.

an eye or an ear.
These are the questions that are of
exceptional interest to laWyerS just now.
owing to the large amounts recently
awarded in personal damage suits. A
few days ago $4,000 was awarded
boy, Henry Walter, in his suit against
the city. This is the largest verdict
ever obtained against the city. but 9TH
ers have been for $4,000, $4,000 and
$12,500.
What authority in precedent is
there for a 100000 verdict" has been
the query among lawyers. rs the hui
man body more valuable than in he
days when $4,000 was large award?
Are jures reasoning that fin de steele
civilization makes life more worth ttv
ing and the loss of its pleasures more
nearly incompensatable?"
A Precedent for the Verdict.
LAS for the verdict in this Walter
case, said Mathew P. Brady, counsel
for the city yesterday, II have no doubt
it will be reversed on appeal. and one
of the allegations will be the exorbitant
award. Nevertheless, if this were my
only excuse for hope of reversal l
admit I would not recommend an ap
peal. An award of 100000 is large, It's
true, but it should be remembered that
this boy was left in bad shape by this
accident. He is, in fact, total wreck,
paralyzed from his waist down, the
vision Of one eye impaired, the vocal
| organs affected so he shutters like an
idiot. His vital organs are sound, but
they only insure him a miserable dead
| and alive condition. the more terrifying
| because Of the very probability of its
| length.
There is also precedent for an award
| of this size. In the case of Wilbur F.
Davidson against the Illinois Central
| Attorney Noodle of this city obtained
a verdict of $4,000 on the first trial of
| t1,;r lofN = Trif Ctotn DIV
cult court. When the case was revers-
| ed and ordered to a new trial the jury
raised the award to S50,000 This was
| the case of a man injured during The
worlds fair. I believe the plaintiff fin
| ally accepted $35, 600.
| Justice does not excuse, though law
may permit, such exorbitant verdicts.
Juries in general are moved entirely by
| sentiment. When a jury is found in
fluenced only by fact, then is the mill
| ennium nigh There seems to exist a
great and masterful prejudice against
large aggregations of wealth, whether
of municipalities or corporations. Yet
| these same jurymen, average men all,
| ohstinately refuse on election day to
cast their ballots for the control of such
| wealth aggregations. The jury that
voted to give the Walter boy $50, 900 Of
the c!ty's money were moved by SYM
pathy, but l am certain the city will
never have to pay the Judgment
A Leg Worth $4,000.
The highest valuation ever placed on
q leg by a jury was $50, 900 awarded lit
tie Jessie Kruger of this city in her
suit against the West Chicago Street
railway. Senator Billy Mason de-
Tended the corporation, opposing coun-
sci being Theodore T. Case. On appeal
to the appellate court the case was re
versed because of improper remarks
of counsel Judge Shepard disagreeing
The court did not discuss the size OF
the verdict, but objected. among other
things, to Mr.. Cases Characterization
of a street car as the modern jugger
naut." On a second trial the jury dis.
agreed, so the case still hangs fire.
If one leg is worth $4,000. how much
are two legs worth? A Chicago jury
has said 100000, the plaintiff being 6
boy named Camp, the defendant tht
same street railway On appeal thi!
case was reversed and settled out o.
court. For the loss of one leg or botf
judgments rarely stand If for NOR
than $4,000 This amount was recover
; ed from a railroad by a brakeman, bu
during his illness he suffered intensel.
from lockjaw. Georgia seems to valu
state judgments for s4,700 and $3.50
, have been affirmed. Toes are a hi
cheaper. For two $4,000 was obtained
Chicago cases show that juries ar
nowhere more generous with other PEG
pies money. For the loss of a leg, wit
other minor injuries, Frank Wilcox,
child of 6, recovered $4,000 from tn
| Chicago City railway. The appella
l court held that the Judgment was no
excessive. The boys life is wrecked,
they said hope is denied him."
Larger judgments seem the rul
where, instead of amputation, the limb
$ remain attached to the body, mis-
. shapen or paralyzed. The Chicago Cit
!, railroad paid William Taylor $4,000 &c
. crushing his hip and Gripping him fe
life, though he lost no limbs. The ar
pellate court of this state has also sc
it's approval on $4,000 verdict in fave
of a brakeman whose foot and ches
= We're crushed by the j. A. and N. rail
: road.
One Famous Case.
u A famous and oft-quoted case in TIL
state is Holland VS.. Chicago & East
IL ern Illinois railroad. While a passenge
a Holland was injured in a wreck so tbs
he lost the use of his legs and feet +
secured a Judgment for S25, 900. In a
: firming this judgment the court hel
that damages should not be limite
to injuries which impair or destroy II
ability of the injured to earn none,
but should furnish compensation e
!, pain and suffering, for shattere
nervous system, for incapacity to ef
!, joy life
A Judgment for $35, 900, where one lie
, was crushed but saved, the other II
curing amputatio has been held e.
cessive. Broken legs, plain, have ear,
, ed for their owners from 1866 to 5000
the latter where pain continued eve
, after the knitting of the fractur
Juries look Commiserati ngly on the pc
, son whose broken leg mends so tia
. it is shorter than it really ought to b
! He rarely has to take less than S5,03
. Arms, right or left, have been he!
at about the same value as legs