Case Name: MURPHY v. NEW YORK CITY RY. CO.
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Term
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1908-03-05
Citations: 108 N.Y.S. 1021
Docket Number: 
Parties: MURPHY v. NEW YORK CITY RY. CO.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's New York Supplement
Volume: 108
Pages: 1021–1023

Head Matter:
MURPHY v. NEW YORK CITY RY. CO.
(Supreme Court, Appellate Term.
March 5, 1908.)
1. Damages—Elements—Rent of Automobile.
In an action for damage to plaintiff’s automobile, the rental value of the automobile while it was being repaired was not an element of damage, where it was not shown that he used another, or had need of one.
[Ed. Note.—For cases in point, see Cent. Dig. vol. 15, Damages, § 279.]
2. Same—Cost of Repairs.
In an action for an injury to plaintiff’s automobile, it was improper to admit testimony as to the cost of the repairs, other than those shown to be due to the accident complained of.
Appeal from Municipal Court, Borough of Manhattan, Sixth District.
Action by John J. Murphy against the New York City Railway Company. From a judgment for plaintiff, defendant appeals. Reversed. - ■
Argued before GILDERS LEE VE, P. J., and BISCHOFE and • MacLEAN, JJ.
James L. Quackenbush (William E. Weaver, of counsel), for appellant.
Kneeland, La Fetra & Glaze, for respondent.

Opinion:
MacLEAN, J.
From the testimony of himself, his companions, and! his chauffeur, it would appear that when the plaintiff's automobile, running at 6 or 7 miles an hour westerly along 112th .street, reached the easterly house line of Eighth avenue, a south-bound trolley car was seen 125 feet above the crossing, coming at 15 to 20 miles an-hour (22 to 30 feet a second); that the automobile was not stopped, but proceeded at the same rate until the chauffeur put on the brakes and' turned the car southward just before colliding with the car about 10' feet south of the northerly crossing. From the relative positions of the automobile and the car when both were still just after the collision, and from the locations of the damage done to them severally,, it would seem rather that the automobile ran into the car than the contrary, heightening the inference of contributory negligence on the-part of the person managing the automobile venturesomely continuing its course in the front of the car coming at high, even runaway, speed. That phase of the contentions presented upon this appeal need not be-further mentioned, as the evidence may be changed on a new trial,, which is necessary by reason of erroneous admissions, against objections and over exceptions, of evidence as to elements of damages provable in this case, namely, testimony as to the rental value of an automobile during the time the plaintiff's was being repaired, although he-neither used another, nor showed that he had need of one, and the testimony as to the costs of repairs, other than those shown to be due to the-accident.
Judgment reversed, and new trial ordered, with costs to appellant, to abide the event.
GILDERSLEEVE, P. J., concurs. .