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Sebring v. Mawby

Supreme Court of Michigan
Oct 3, 1930
232 N.W. 194 (Mich. 1930)

Summary

In Sebring v Mawby, 251 Mich. 628 [ 232 N.W. 194 (1930)] this court said: "The law furnishes no exact rule by which damages for pain and suffering can be measured.

Summary of this case from Kelly v. Builders Square, Inc.

Opinion

Docket No. 118, Calendar No. 34,938.

Submitted June 11, 1930.

Decided October 3, 1930.

Error to Wayne; Smith (Guy E.), J., presiding. Submitted June 11, 1930. (Docket No. 118, Calendar No. 34,938.) Decided October 3, 1930.

Case by Della E. Sebring against Frank Mawby and another for personal injuries. From judgment for plaintiff, defendants bring error. Affirmed.

G. Sweetman Smith, for plaintiff.

Edward N. Barnard, for defendants.


In an action to recover damages for injuries received when struck by the defendant's automobile, the plaintiff received a verdict for $4,490, of which $4,000 was for pain and suffering, $390 was for hospital expense, and $100 was for medical services. A motion for a new trial was made on the ground that the verdict was excessive. The motion was denied, and the defendants have brought error.

The sole question involved is whether the verdict, as to the amount allowed for pain and suffering, is excessive.

The plaintiff was 59 years of age at the time of the accident. She suffered concussion of the brain, a fracture of the hip, and what the surgeon described as "a condition to the kidney zone and some hemorrhage from this organ." She was in a plaster cast for eight weeks. At the time of the trial, six months after the accident, she was able to move about to a limited extent by means of crutches. The evidence shows serious and painful injuries, followed by intense suffering for a long period.

The law furnishes no exact rule by which damages for pain and suffering can be measured. Their determination must necessarily be left to the good sense and sound judgment of the jury in their view of the evidence. It has frequently been said by courts and text-writers that the award of the jury will not be disturbed unless it is so great as to shock the judicial conscience, or unless it was induced by something outside of the evidence, such as passion or prejudice. There is no claim of any such influence in this case. In view of the evidence, we cannot say that the verdict was excessive.

The judgment is affirmed, with costs to the plaintiff.

WIEST, C.J., and BUTZEL, CLARK, POTTER, SHARPE, NORTH, and FEAD, JJ., concurred.


Summaries of

Sebring v. Mawby

Supreme Court of Michigan
Oct 3, 1930
232 N.W. 194 (Mich. 1930)

In Sebring v Mawby, 251 Mich. 628 [ 232 N.W. 194 (1930)] this court said: "The law furnishes no exact rule by which damages for pain and suffering can be measured.

Summary of this case from Kelly v. Builders Square, Inc.
Case details for

Sebring v. Mawby

Case Details

Full title:SEBRING v. MAWBY

Court:Supreme Court of Michigan

Date published: Oct 3, 1930

Citations

232 N.W. 194 (Mich. 1930)
232 N.W. 194

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