Court Opinion

ID: 9811844
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 22:30:43.432187+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:21:55.083346
License: Public Domain

Clark, C. J.,
concurring: Concurs in the opinion of Mr. Justice Hoke in every respect. Counsel in this case, as in some others, intimated that juries are too prone to give verdicts against corporations in actions for personal injuries, and counsel on the other side stressed the value of juries.
The right of trial by jury is based upon long experience, and is confirmed as a right in both State and Federal Constitution. Like all human institutions, it is not perfect, but the experience of the ages is that there is no better means of reaching an impartial determination on the facts in dispute than the verdict of twelve good men and true who are summoned from the body of the county, and who, when their duty is done, return whence they came. When there is any serious miscarriage it is not due to the jury system, but to defects in its operation as by not using sufficient care to secure an impartial and intelligent jury by purging the jury box of incompetent or unfit persons, or in other respects. There is little doubt that the verdict of juries on the facts are correct fully as often, if not oftener, than the decisions of the trial judges upon the law. The errors of the latter are supposed to be corrected on an appeal, but there is a speedier method of correcting the errors of the jury, for the presiding judge has the discretion to set aside the verdict if it is palpably contrary to the weight of the evidence, or procured by bias or improper means. The jury for the ascertainment of facts is the democratic feature of our administration of justice. It adds to public confidence in the courts beyond that which obtains in countries where the facts are ascertained by a judge and not by a jury.
On the other band, the verdicts obtained against corporations in favor of employees are not often due to the bias of juries against corporations. Juries, as a rule, seek to ascertain and determine the merits of the case *147submitted to them. They feel that, as a matter of justice, when an employee in a great business has been injured in the scope of bis duties the loss sustained should be taxed against the business in which be is engaged, and should not fall upon the family of the employee who has been killed or crippled. And such is general opinion. For this reason the former ruling that an employee could not recover where the negligence of a fellow-servant contributed to the injury has been repealed by statute in this and most other States.
For the same reason, though the negligence of the injured party contributed to bis death or injury, both the U. S. statute and that of this State now provide that in cases where the injury occurred in railroad service, contributory negligence shall not be a full defense, but the loss shall be prorated according to the degree of negligence shown by the company and the employee. Furthermore, in many States there are now Employees’ Compensation acts determining what amount of compensation shall be allowed in all cases of personal injuries, irrespective of any negligence shown by the injured party. This action of the legislative bodies but evinces the general sentiment expressed by juries in their verdicts that the loss sustained by the injury or death of the employee while in the service of the company shall be charged upon the business and not fall wholly upon the family of the unfortunate employee. The world has grown more just in its views as to those who create the wealth of the world and bear the bulk of its burdens while receiving a minimum of recognition.