Court Opinion

ID: 7122826
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 12:54:48.704991+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:14:10.057559
License: Public Domain

The opinion of the court was delivered by
Schoonover, J.:
This action was commenced by Hugh Fox in the district court of Harvey county to recover damages for the obstruction of ingress and egress to and from his premises, by reason of the construction and operation of a line of railway by plaintiffs in error.
The case was tried to a jury, and a verdict rendered *651in favor of plaintiff below for $892.55. On motion for new trial the court found as follows :
“The court, being fully advised in the premises, finds that the verdict of the jury is excessive and not sustained by the evidence in the cause ; and it is therefore considered, ordered and adjudged by the court, that unless the plaintiff shall remit $180 of the principal sum awarded by the jury in the verdict, and accept judgment for $500, with interest thereon from the date named in the petition and in the instructions of the court, the motion for a new triál will be sustained.
“Whereupon the plaintiff in open court remitted $180 of the principal sum awarded by the jury, and stated that he would accept the judgment for $500, with interest as aforesaid and as ordered by the court. Whereupon the court, being fully advised in the premises, finds that said motion for a new trial be and the same is hereby overruled, to which findings, orders and ruling of the court said defendants, and each of them, then and there duly excepted and excepts.”
The trial court finds that the verdict is excessive and not sustained by the evidence. This finding brings the case within the rule laid down in the case of A. T. & S. F. Rld. Co. v. Richards, 58 Kan. 344, and cases there cited and reviewed. The court says :
“ It is the duty of the trial court 'which finds that a verdict for damages for bodily injuries negligently inflicted is excessive in amount, and that such excess is not due to inadvertence or errors in calculation, but is excessive in view of the'character and extent of the •injuries sustained, and does not express the real opinion of the jury as to the allowance, justly to be made, to set such verdict aside and award a new trial of the cause; and the error of its failure to do so cannot be cured by ordering a remission of a portion of the sum adjudged to be excessive.”
A large number of errors are assigned and discussed by plaintiff in error, but for the reason given the judgment of the district court is reversed.