Opinion ID: 1884898
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: caskey's appeal

Text: Caskey raises questions as to the amount of damages but not as to liability. He contends that the trial court erred in failing to grant his motion for a mistrial when Treadwell injected insurance into the trial. Treadwell was asked by Caskey's attorney whom he contacted to get the boat raised, and he responded, The insurance adjuster recommended this man to me, sir. Caskey's attorney immediately moved for a mistrial, which was overruled. Later, Caskey's attorney asked Treadwell, Did you know Mr. Tate prior to the time the boat went down? Treadwell replied in the negative and the attorney asked, How did you get to Mr. Tate? (The man who raised the boat). Treadwell answered, Whenever the insurance company that he had his insurance with recommended the man to me. The motion for a mistrial was renewed and the court overruled it on the ground that Caskey's counsel had elicited the answer. We hold there was no reversible error committed by the trial court. The matter was largely within the discretion of the trial judge and it does not appear that he abused his discretion. Copiah Dairies v. Addkison, 247 Miss. 327, 153 So.2d 689 (1963). Several questions as to the amount of damages are raised by Caskey. We are of the opinion there is no merit to the argument that it was not necessary to pay the cost of raising the boat and temporary repairs. The record shows that the sunken boat was a hazard to navigation. The proof as to the necessity of the repairs and reasonableness of the cost is not satisfactory, but considering all the circumstances we hold that the rule announced in National Fire Insurance Co. v. Slayden, 227 Miss. 285, 85 So.2d 916 (1956), does not require reversal. Competent proof was offered on behalf of Treadwell that before the accident the boat was worth $6500, and it had a salvage value of $1000. On this item, Treadwell is entitled to recover $5500, being the difference in the two figures. The jury was also justified in awarding Treadwell $600 for raising the boat, $400 for fishing equipment lost, $517.80 for temporary repairs and $65 for food and gasoline lost, or a total of $7,082.80. We find no basis in the evidence for damages in excess of $7,082.80, and, therefore, the judgment is reduced by the sum of $917.20. Otherwise it is affirmed as against Caskey in the sum of $7,082.80. Caskey also complains of the instruction given at the request of Treadwell on the measure of damages. It is conceded that this instruction is erroneous. However, no objection was made to the granting of this instruction other than that it was filed late. In some cases the content of an instruction cannot be determined until all the proof has been offered. The trial judges necessarily have discretion in allowing instructions to be requested or amended after the evidence is in.