Opinion ID: 2352695
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Refusal of defendants' motion for a partial directed verdict.

Text: At the close of the testimony the defendants moved for an order directing a verdict for defendants as to plaintiffs' claims based on Mrs. Slattery's alleged traumatic neurosis on the ground that she had as a matter of law failed to minimize her damages. This contention is based on Mrs. Slattery's failure to take a course of psychiatric treatment recommended in a letter of September, 1960, from Dr. Kay to her attorneys. This was the first time that psychiatric treatment for Mrs. Slattery had been recommended. Mrs. Slattery did not take these treatments. In these circumstances defendants invoke the well-settled principle that it is the duty of a person injured by the tort of another to take all reasonable steps to minimize his damages. This principle is not questioned. Wise v. Western Union Telegraph Co., 37 Del. 209, 181 A. 302; Murphy v. American Barge Line Co., 3 Cir., 169 F.2d 61; 48 A.L.R.2d 346, 349. The court accordingly charged the jury that it was the duty of the plaintiff to use reasonable care to try to prevent or minimize the damages. Defendants, however, contend that because Mrs. Slattery failed to take psychiatric treatment after the September 1960 letter, she is as a matter of law entitled to no damages whatever for traumatic neurosis, even though she had developed this ailment before September, 1960. This contention is clearly unsound. The extent of Mrs. Slattery's injury, and the amount of damages, if any, to be disallowed because of her failure to take psychiatric treatments after September, 1960, were questions of fact for the jury under all the circumstances. It is quite clear from Dr. Kay's testimony that Mrs. Slattery had suffered from the neurosis for a considerable time before she consulted him. There is no suggestion that psychiatric treatment was recommended during this period. Therefore she could not have been deprived of all recovery for the neurosis. Moreover, as to the period from September, 1960, to the time of trial, there was a jury question whether she acted unreasonably in not taking the treatment in the light of Dr. Kay's rather pessimistic prognosis as to her recovery even if she took the treatment. It follows that binding instructions on the extent of recovery would not have been proper. The court correctly submitted the question to the jury under proper instructions. The defendants' prayer for a partial directed verdict was properly refused.