Court Opinion

ID: 9640780
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 17:15:13.250189+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:10:32.765404
License: Public Domain

GILBERT and RUDKIN, Circuit Judges
(concurring in part).
Judge DIETRICH finds that there was no interference in certain of these cases, that there was interference in certain other eases, and that in all eases the proof of damages was insufficient. We concur in these findings and conclusions, and also concur in the opinions where no interference was found. But in the remaining cases a new trial should be granted. The first and principal question in each case was that of interference, and, if that issue was found against the plaintiff, any inquiry into the incidental question of damages became wholly immaterial. Of course, We do not deny to the court below the right to base its decision on both grounds, but in so doing prejudice resulted to the several plaintiffs; for, had the court below correctly decided that there was unlawful interference, as found by Judge DIETRICH, then the court might, and we think should, in the exercise of a sound judicial discretion, either open the case for further testimony on the question of damages or grant a new trial of that issue. But, having erroneously found that there was no right of aetion in any event, the court could not consistently, and doubtless would not, go through the idle formality of taking testimony on an immaterial issue. We are not asked to reverse a judgment free from error, but are simply called upon to determine whether an admitted error was prejudicial to the parties complaining. And, while the testimony was insufficient to enable the court to fix definitely the amount of damages, we think that substantial damages were shown, and that an affirmance of the judgments would result in a miscarriage of justice.
For these reasons, we concur in the opinions in the following cases: Kogler, No. 5068; Ball, 5069; Woodyard, 5070; Christiansen, 5076; Landes, 5077; Woodyard, 5078; Hibbard, 5079; Ladd, 5080; Bird, 5081; Ladd, 5082; Martinez, 5083; Ladd, 5084; Cohn, 5085; Tripp, 5086; Goff, 5087; Nielson, 5088, and Caughell, 5089. In the remaining cases, namely, Bird, No. 5067; Cantillon, 5071; Decker, 5072; Bangs, 5073; Lindemam, 5074; Pacific Hunting & Fishing Co., 5075; and Norton, 5090 — the judgments are reversed, and the causes are remanded for a new trial.