Case Name: DE LA TORRE v. METROPOLITAN ST. RY. CO.
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1900-02-09
Citations: 62 N.Y.S. 604
Docket Number: 
Parties: DE LA TORRE v. METROPOLITAN ST. RY. CO.
Judges: 
Reporter: West's New York Supplement
Volume: 62
Pages: 604–605

Head Matter:
DE LA TORRE v. METROPOLITAN ST. RY. CO.
(Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department.
February 9, 1900.)
Damages—New Trial—Verdict.
Where plaintiff sued for a serious injury, it was proper to set aside a verdict in her favor for nominal damages, and grant a new trial, since the verdict necessarily found that the,injuries resulted from defendant’s negligence, to which she did not contribute, and hence she was entitled to recover substantial damages.
Appeal from trial term, New York county.
Action by Rose De La Torre against the Metropolitan Street-Railway Company. From an order setting aside a verdict for nominal damages and granting a new trial, defendant appeals.
Affirmed.
Argued before VAN BRUNT, P. J., and PATTERSON, O’BRIEN, McLAUGHUN, and INGRAHAM, JJ.
Charles F. Brown, for appellant.
William 0. Reddy, for respondent.

Opinion:
McLAUGHUN, J.
Action to recover damages for personal injuries alleged to have been sustained by reason of the defendant's negligence. The plaintiff, upwards of 64 years of age, on the 7th day of August, 1896, in alighting from one of the defendant's cars, either fell, or was by the sudden starting of the car thrown to the street and injured. .The plaintiff claimed that, having signified to the conductor her desire to leave the car, it came to a full stop, and while she was in the act of stepping therefrom it was suddenly started, and by reason thereof she was thrown down and injured. On the other hand, the defendant claimed that the plaintiff stepped from the car while it was in motion, and before it had come to a stop. As to the plaintiff's injuries, the testimony introduced on her part tended to show that she was seriously injured; that immediately after she was thrown to the street she was picked up unconscious, and in that condition carried to her home; that, after regaining consciousness, she was, on the day of the accident and for several days thereafter, in a high state of excitement, and during a portion of the time was in a delirious condition; that for at least two weeks she was unable to leave the house; that a physician was called immediately following the accident, and that he attended the plaintiff for a considerable length of time, for which he charged $150. The jury rendered a verdict for the plaintiff for six cents, which the trial court set aside, and granted a new trial, upon payment of the costs and necessary disbursements, and the defendant has appealed.
We think the order should be affirmed. The jury, in rendering a verdict for the plaintiff, necessarily reached the conclusion that her injuries were caused by the negligence of the defendant, and that her own negligence did not in any way contribute to them. If these facts were established in her favor, she was entitled to re- . cover such sum as would compensate her for the injuries which she had sustained, and for the expenses incurred by reason of them. The learned trial justice, therefore, very properly set aside the verdict, and directed that the issues involved be submitted to another jury.
The order appealed from should be affirmed, with costs. All concur.