Opinion ID: 1899923
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Damages and Verdict in the Mother's Case.

Text: The evidence in the case shows that plaintiff's mother was 48 years of age and had a life expectancy of 22.36 years. That she was keeping house for the plaintiff and plaintiff's father in the house provided by the father. At the time of the accident plaintiff was 10 years old. The evidence shows she was then in the 5th grade. That shows she was advanced for her age and indicates the care and the interest of her mother in keeping her in school. That indicates also the attitude of the mother to provide for the plaintiff the training and education which would make her better able to meet the problems of life as they arose. The plaintiff had a right to look forward to that care, advice and counsel for the 22.36 years of normal expectancy of her mother's life whenever she needed it. The jury is not limited in determining the value of a mother to the plaintiff to the services and care that would be given to the plaintiff by hired substitutes. No one can take the place of a good mother in the development of a child. It has frequently been held, however, that damages are not confined to the loss of such education as is procurable only by pecuniary means, but that they may be given for the loss of the personal care, training and instruction of a parent, and even of a mother where father still survives. Tiffany, Death by Wrongful Act, 2d ed. § 162, p. 344. It is certainly possible, and not only so, but highly probable, that a mother's nurture, instruction, and training, if judiciously administered will operate favorably upon the worldly prospect and pecuniary interests of the child    If they (the children) acquire health, knowledge, and a sound bodily constitution, and ample intellectual development under the judicious training and discipline of a competent and careful mother, it is very likely to tell favorably upon their pecuniary interests. Tilley v. Hudson River R. Co., 24 N.Y. 471; Id., 29 N.Y. 252, 86 Am.Dec. 297. The jury awarded to the plaintiff $7500 for the loss of her mother from whom she had a right to expect that training only a mother can successfully give. If that is apportioned among the next ten years of her life when plaintiff is in most need of that training it only amounts to an average of $750 a year or about $2.10 a day. Certainly  a mother's loving care, training and counsel is of more value than that over and above the care any stranger could give her, even when figured on the basis of pecuniary value. It will make her a stronger and abler young woman. All this the jury had a right to consider. To us the verdict does not seem unreasonable.