Summary
In Baker v. Carrington, 138 Va. 22, 120 S.E. 856, this court held that to recover exemplary damages actual malice need not be shown. Whenever the assault is of a wanton nature, manifesting a wilful disregard of the rights of others the party aggrieved is entitled to exemplary damages.
Summary of this case from Friedman v. JordanOpinion
February, 1901.
Warland Warland for motion.
Adolph Kiendl opposed.
The complaint alleges in just so many words that the plaintiff is the owner in fee and entitled to the possession of the real estate described, and that the defendants are unlawfully in possession thereof and withhold the same from the plaintiff, and prays for judgment. This is the time honored and classic form. The defendants move that it be made more definite and certain, i.e., that the source and chain of title be given. I cannot bring myself to declare insufficient a form of complaint which has existed and been used by the educated bar from the beginning. The case of Lawrence v. Wright (2 Duer, 673) is cited for the motion, but I do not think I ought to regard it. The decision there was made in 1853, i.e., soon after our first civil procedure code went into effect, and when it was not altogether understood, and was by some in the contentions of the hour thought to make a greater change in pleading than it actually did. Besides the present complaint is not quite the same.
The property is described in the complaint only by its lot and block number on the official assessment map of the city, and the motion is to make such description more definite. It is definite enough; it could not be more so. And if it were as is claimed too indefinite to locate the land, one would think the defendants would be glad to leave it so, for in that case the sheriff could never eject the defendants and put the plaintiff in possession.
The motion is denied with $10 costs.