Case Name: David Tanzer, Respondent, v. The New York City Railway Co., Appellant
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Term
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1904-12
Citations: 46 Misc. 86
Docket Number: 
Parties: David Tanzer, Respondent, v. The New York City Railway Co., Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Miscellaneous Reports
Volume: 46
Pages: 86–89

Head Matter:
David Tanzer, Respondent, v. The New York City Railway Co., Appellant.
(Supreme Court, Appellate Term,
December, 1904.)
Proof of damages for personal injuries — Judgment not reversed if the damages are warranted by undisputed testimony — Effect of failure to make timely objection.
In an action for damages for personal injuries, where the damages recovered were $200 and the injuries sustained by the plaintiff were severe and required the services of a physician for several days, for which services the bill was $40, such damage may have been based wholly on the testimony as to plaintiff’s injuries and the consequent pain and suffering and the value of medical services. Hence, although in plaintiff’s testimony as to his weekly earnings he included the profits of three men employed by .him as painters, the judgment should not be reversed for the sole reason that there is a possibility that the judgment comprehended a minute portion of said profits. To do so would bo to thwart justice and offer a premium on appeals.
An objection to plaintiff’s testimony that his average earnings were $21 a week on the ground that such answer is “ speculative and remote ” is not well taken, nor is it made in time when taken after the testimony is in.
(MacLean, J., dissented.)
Appeal by the defendant from a judgment of the Municpal Court of the city of Mew York, fifth district, borough of Manhattan, rendered in favor of the plaintiff.
Henry W. Goddard and William E. Weaver, for appellant.
Samuel S. Koenig, for respondent.

Opinion:
Freedman, P. J.
Plaintiff in this case recovered a judgment for $200 damages for personal injuries. The only-question raised by the appellant is as to the admission of testimony as to special damages.
Upon the trial the plaintiff testified that he was disabled by the injury received by him from April fourth to April twenty-third, and he was asked: " Q. What are your average wages? A. One week it is $20 or $25 and some weeks it is more. My average is $21 per week." After this answer was given the defendant's attorney objected "as speculative and remote." The court said: "I will let it stand, and if not connected you may move to strike it out." This objection was not well taken, nor was it made in time; the answer had been given without objection made to the question. More available would have been the objection that the evidence called for was not within the pleadings, but as the pleadings were oral and no such ground of objection was urged, it need not now be considered. Subsequently, and without any objection being made thereto, he again testified that his average earnings were $21 per week, and that he had been unable to earn anything for three weeks by reason of his injuries.
The plaintiff was a painter and at the time he was injured had a contract to paint a house. Upon cross-examination the following testimony was elicited from him. " Q. How many men do you employ? A. Three at this time. Q. Do you do the work yourself or do they do the painting? A. I do the work the same as they do. Q. All of you work together, is that it? A. Yes, sir — that is right. Q. And when you say that your average earnings are $21 per week you mean that there is a net profit from your entire business —• that is the work that you do and the work that the other men do? A. Yes, sir — that is right."
It glso appeared that these three men worked upon the contract taken by the plaintiff during the time he was idle. What proportion of the $21 weekly wages referred to the employees contributed by their labor was not shown. It is perfectly clear, however, that estimating the value of the plaintiff's labor at a fair rate per diem, the so-called " profits " constituted but a small part of plaintiff's average weekly earnings, as it is a matter of common knowledge that the wages of workmen of the class to which the plaintiff belonged would, under ordinary circumstances, nearly, if not quite, equal the sum stated.
The defendant offered no testimony. The injuries sustained by the plaintiff were severe and consisted of a dislocated shoulder and bruises and contusions upon the head, knee and ankle. He required and secured the services of a physician- for several days, the bill therefor being $40. It cannot be said that the damages given may not have been based wholly upon the undisputed testimony as to the plaintiff's injuries, and the consequent pain and suffering occasioned thereby, and the value of the medical services, and for such, they were clearly not excessive.
Under such circumstances to reverse the judgment herein for the sole reason that there is a possibility that the amount of the judgment is, in' part, based upon the testimony of the plaintiff as to his weekly earnings, and that a minute portion of those earnings consist of so-called " profits " would be a thwarting of justice and an inviting of appeals and virtually offering a premium therefor.
Judgment affirmed, with costs.
Gildersleeve, J. concurs.