Case Name: Charles Kummer, Respondent, v. The Christopher & Tenth Street Railroad Co., Appellant
Court: New York Court of Common Pleas
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1895-12
Citations: 14 Misc. 507
Docket Number: 
Parties: Charles Kummer, Respondent, v. The Christopher & Tenth Street Railroad Co., Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Miscellaneous Reports
Volume: 14
Pages: 507–508

Head Matter:
Charles Kummer, Respondent, v. The Christopher & Tenth Street Railroad Co., Appellant.
(New York Common Pleas
General Term,
December, 1895.)
After three successive verdicts for the plaintiff, in a case turning only on issues of fact, the court will not set aside the last verdict because, in its opinion, supported by incredible testimony.
; Appeal from judgment on verdict and order denying new trial in action for personal injury.
The opinion sufficiently states the case.
Merrill c& Rogers, for appellant.
Herbert T. Ketcham, for respondent.

Opinion:
Pryor, J.
It is settled by countless adjudications in England and in this country that if a verdict be contrary to law or to the manifest justice of the case, the court will set it aside as often as the jury may return it. Here, whether the verdict be against law or justice depends upon the facts found by the jury; and, if the testimony for the plaintiff be true, their verdict can be contrary neither to the law nor to the justice of the case. For the proof establishes the right" of the plaintiff to a recovery beyond the possibility of doubt.
Our conclusion as to the injustice of the former verdict was founded expressly upon our persuasion that the case was a fabrication.
The question, then, is exclusively as to the credibility of the witnesses for the plaintiff; and we are to decide whether, after three concurring verdicts in his favor, we shall set aside, the last, because, in our opinion,, supported by evidence unworthy of belief.
Upon a review of the evidence on which the second verdict proceeded, we concluded that it was discredited by inherent improbabilities and contradictions; and for that reason we directed its submission to another jury. In so submitting it on the trial under review, the learned presiding judge point edly and emphatically admonished the jury of its infirmities; and yet they have again rendered a verdict' for the plaintiff. Thus, three successive juries have avowed their conviction of the veracity of the witnesses for the plaintiff,, however repugnant to probability their story may appear to us.
Obviously, unless we are to usurp the prerogative of the 'jury in their peculiar function, to determine the credibility of witnesses, we must give effect to the" present'verdict' Nelson v. R. R. Co., 7 Misc. Rep. 656. ^Such is the immemorial practice in case of repeated' verdicts for the sáme party upon the same proofs, even where the court still considers the verdict as contrary to the weight of evidence; namely, to yield its opinion to. the reiterated conviction of the-jury. Clerk v. Udall, 2 Salk. 649 ; Chambers v. Robinson, 2 Strange, 692; Swinnerton v. Marquis of Stafford, 3 Taunt. 232; Fowler v. Ætna Fire Ins. Co., 7 Wend. 270,. 275 ; Nichols v. Tuttle, 35 N. Y. St. Repr. 851; Yeandle v. Yeandle, 40 id. 791.
The point fhat the court erred in submission of the case to the jury is manifestly untenable. Bagley v. Bowe, 105 N. Y. 171,179; Colt v. Sixth Ave. R. R. Co., 49 N. Y, 671; Ambler v. Whipple, 32 Am. St. Rep. 210.
Judgment and order affirmed, with costs.
' Bookstaver and Bisciioee, JJ., concur.
Judgment and order affirmed, with costs.-