Case Name: The Batavia Turnpike & Miami Bridge Company v. John Hodapp
Court: Hamilton County Circuit Court
Jurisdiction: Ohio
Decision Date: 1910-01-29
Citations: 13 Ohio C.C. (n.s.) 308
Docket Number: 
Parties: The Batavia Turnpike & Miami Bridge Company v. John Hodapp.
Judges: Smith, J.; Giffen, P. J., and Swing, J., concur.
Reporter: Ohio Circuit Court Reports (new series)
Volume: 13
Pages: 308–308

Head Matter:
FOR RECOVERY ON ACCOUNT OF THE COLLAPSE OF A BRIDGE.
Circuit Court oí Hamilton County.
The Batavia Turnpike & Miami Bridge Company v. John Hodapp.
Decided, January 29, 1910.
In an action for damages on account of a tort, it is error to charge the jury that -the plaintiff may recover if it appears from a preponderance of -the evidence that he was without fault, unless .predicated upon proof that the accident was due to the negligence of the defendant.
D. W. Murphy and George Hoadly-} for plaintiff in error.
Samuel B. Eammel, contra.
Smith, J.; Giffen, P. J., and Swing, J., concur.

Opinion:
It was error in the trial court to charge the jury that "if you find by a preponderance of the evidence that the plaintiff was without fault he would be entitled to recover." This is not a proper statement of the law to the jury, as it eliminates from the ease the duty on the part of the plaintiff to prove that the negligence of the defendant caused the injury complained of, and we do not think the effect of this charge was removed by the -court.
Upon the question of the verdict being excessive, we are of the opinion that such is the case, and had the verdict been for a sum in the neighborhood of $250, under the evidence it would seem .more reasonable.
Judgment reversed.