Opinion ID: 1899923
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

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

Text: The testimony shows that the father, Maynard Dahl, was 46 years of age; that for about three years prior to his death he had been working in a hardware store at an average weekly pay of $40 per week; that the employer would have continued him in that employment; that he maintained a home for his wife and daughter in Ellendale. The evidence further shows that he had the interest of a father in the welfare of his daughter. The fatal trip to Britton, South Dakota, was taken to obtain treatment for the plaintiff with a Dr. Graff. There is no claim that the father was not in good health. His life expectancy was 23.80 years. The plaintiff had a right to expect from her father not only support by the way of nurture, clothes and housing but also the care and protection of a father. She is deprived of that. Those are services that cannot be supplied as well by anyone other than the father. Every young girl now has the right to expect her father to provide her special training along whatever line of work she plans to enter. All these services are certainly of pecuniary value to a growing child. The presumption is that the plaintiff would have those valuable services from her father during her growth and development and even after that as she might need them during his life expectancy. In Umphrey v. Deery, 78 N.D. 211, 48 N.W.2d 897, 899, this court held: In an action for the benefit of the surviving wife and surviving minor children for the wrongful death of the husband and father who had been discharging his obligation to support his wife and children and was discharging such obligation at and immediately prior to his death, it will be presumed that such surviving wife and surviving minor children sustained a substantial pecuniary loss from the death of the husband and father. The law will imply a pecuniary loss in some amount to the wife and children by the death of the husband and father who was at the time employed and presumably receiving wages, and therefore able to discharge his obligation to support them. The presumption is in favor of substantial damages. 5 Sutherland on Damages, 4th ed. § 1267, p. 4894. A presumption of pecuniary loss exists in favor of one legally entitled to service or support from one killed by the wrongful or negligent act of another. Where the relation of husband and wife, or of parent and minor child exists, the law generally presumes a pecuniary loss to the survivor from the fact of death so that proof thereof is not required, unless he has in some way forfeited his claim. 25 C.J.S., Death, § 118, pages 1284-1285. Plaintiff's damages on account of the loss of such services and training are elements the jury had a right to consider. The pecuniary value of the loss of the support, protection, and counsel of her father and of the special training she had a right to expect was a matter for the jury to determine. The jury may also consider the possibility that Maynard Dahl might be able to better his position with continued service in the hardware business. Kennelly v. Northern Pacific Railway Co., 48 N.D. 685, 700, 186 N.W. 548. The evidence shows that the support of plaintiff now costs $600 per year and that that cost will increase greatly as she advances in school, especially if she enters college. Add to that the value of the services, protection and education that would be provided by the father the verdict of $10,000 does not seem unreasonable.