Court Opinion

ID: 9448829
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-03 23:45:34.186593+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:31:33.378503
License: Public Domain

LUMBARD, Chief Judge
(dissenting).
While I agree with Judge Waterman’s conclusions on the points he discusses, I would reverse the judgment and grant a new trial as to Maripet because of the repeated interjection by plaintiff’s counsel of prejudicial references to the plaintiff’s children. These references were persisted in even after the law in this circuit had been cited and despite the admonition of the distinguished visiting judge who presided at the trial. In a case where the issues of negligence and contributory negligence were so doubtful, and the damages awarded were so generous, we should not disregard the probable adverse effect of such flagrant tactics as this record discloses.
The law in this circuit is well settled that in damage suits references to the plaintiff’s children are irrelevant, Slat-tery v. Marra Bros., Inc., 186 F.2d 134 (2 Cir. 1951) and cases cited in footnote 4, page 137. Where suitable objection has been made such error by itself is enough to require reversal, as Judge Learned Hand pointed out in the Slat-tery opinion.
The record here is eloquent testimony to the repeated play of counsel upon the forbidden subject of the plaintiff’s offspring. In his opening statement to the jury counsel said that he would prove that the burns had “affected his ability to do the every day things that any human being wants to do, including the ability to loiter with and play with his children.” Defense counsel interrupted to object. The trial judge made no ruling and merely told counsel to proceed. When the plaintiff took the stand his counsel asked him how many children he had. Objection by the defense was sustained by the judge and counsel withdrew the ques*773tion stating that he did not concede that the objection was well taken. A little later counsel again referred to plaintiff’s family:
“Q. And you came back to the United States, and you married and raised a family? A. Yes.”
A little later further reference to the subject was prompted by counsel’s questions :
“Q. You went back to work in three months, didn’t you? A. Oh, I had to.
“Q. What do you mean, you had to? A. Well, my wife had just given birth on that day, and I was very anxious to get back.
“Q. You mean because your wife . gave birth — ”
At this point there was an interruption and the subject was changed for a moment but counsel returned to it by asking:
“Q. Did you ever have any trouble getting along with your wife and your children? A. No.”
After two more questions the jury was excused for the day and after they had retired defense counsel moved for a mistrial citing the above references to the children. The trial judge overruled the motion stating that the references seemed innocuous and “not intended to inject an objectionable fact.” Defense counsel again referred to the Slattery, case which had previously been cited.
The next day plaintiff’s counsel was on the point of referring to the children in the direct examination of another witness when timely interruption from dér fense counsel and admonition from the court succeeded in persuading plaintiff’s counsel that he should not risk a motion for a mistrial.
When the plaintiff’s wife took the stand after the luncheon recess, counsel’s third question was “And how many children do you have?” Objection to the question was sustained by the court, but the very next question referred to the plaintiff supporting the witness “and your family.”
At the end of the proof, the judge inquired whether counsel wished the court to comment in the charge to the jury regarding references to the children. Defense counsel asked the court to make “very brief reference to it by simply saying that the question of whether the plaintiff has children or the number of children has nothing to do with either his right or recovery or the amount of his damages.” Plaintiff’s counsel then assured the court he would make no comment about the children: “I feel that if I tell your Honor now that in view of that, I’ll make no comment about it in my summation, I don’t think that your Honor has to make any statement about it to the jury.”
Despite his assurance, plaintiff’s counsel at the conclusion of his argument for damages for pain and suffering did make such reference, saying:
“Do you think he’ll ever be able to live as happily with a devoted wife and children in the future as he did before? Is that pain? Is that suffering?”
Despite this deliberate breach of the court’s injunction by plaintiff’s counsel, the judge made no comment in his charge to the jury. As the' judge failed to make some attempt to restore the balance, there was nothing defense counsel could do to repair the damage. Had further admonition come as a part of the judge’s charge it would have carried some weight; as a supplemental instruction, on further prodding by counsel, it would have served only to emphasize what should not have been mentioned and what should not have been repeated.
On this record I can only conclude that an improper issue was deliberately and repeatedly injected into the case by plaintiff’s counsel as a calculated risk. I also conclude, reluctantly, that the trial judge failed to protect the defendants as he was required to do by the controlling cases in this circuit. We have recently reversed a jury verdict because matter prejudicial to a plaintiff was not excluded by the trial judge, St. Clair v. East*774ern Air Lines, Inc., 279 F.2d 119 (2 Cir. 1960), and we have recently reversed convictions in two criminal cases because of improper and prejudicial summations by government counsel, United States v. Persico, 305 F.2d 534 (2 Cir. 1962); United States v. Bugros, 304 F.2d 177 (2 Cir. 1962). There is every reason why we should similarly protect defendants in damage actions, even though this requires a reversal of the judgment and a new trial.
I would reverse the judgment as to both defendants, granting a new trial against Maripet, and directing dismissal of the complaint against Shell.