Dickey v. Phœbe Jackson

• Court: Texas Supreme Court
• Writing for the Court: Nickels
• Citation: Dickey v. Phœbe Jackson, 1 S.W.2d 577 (Tex. 1928)
• Decision Date: 11 January 1928
• Docket Number: (No. 1002-4874.)
• Parties: DICKEY et al. v. PHŒBE JACKSON.

Page 577

1 S.W.2d 577

DICKEY et al. v. PHŒBE JACKSON.

(No. 1002-4874.)

Commission of Appeals of Texas, Section A.

January 11, 1928.

Error to Court of Civil Appeals of First Supreme Judicial District.

Action by Phœbe Jackson against Mrs. Edith Dickey and others. Judgment for plaintiff was reformed and affirmed by the Court of Civil Appeals (293 S. W. 584), and defendants bring error. Judgment of Court of Civil Appeals reversed and cause remanded.

Hunt & Teagle and Cam Kay, all of Houston, for plaintiffs in error.

John H. Crooker and W. B. Bates, both of Houston, for defendant in error.

NICKELS, J.

The original opinion of the Court of Civil Appeals is reported at page 310 of 275 S. W. Upon former petition in error the case was remanded to the Court of Civil Appeals for consideration of assignments not previously given disposition. 281 S. W. 1043. Subsequent proceedings in that court are shown in 293 S. W. 584.

Miss Jackson averred that "as a result of the injuries aforesaid and in her attempt to alleviate the damages caused thereby," she has been "compelled to employ skillful medical attention and skin experts, and will in the future" (be compelled to do so), "and will become liable to pay for said medicine and medical treatment the sum of $1,500." If it be true that she will, as alleged, "become liable" in the sum mentioned, it is so, inter alia, because the medicines and services will reasonably have that value, because, for aught that appears, the vendors and doctors will be remitted to quantum volebant or quantum meruit. Her allegation is largely that of a mere conclusion, and from its terms the essential reasonableness of those expenses must be deduced; yet, absent special exception duly presented and overruled, the pleading must be held sufficient to present the matter of those items of damage. Ry. Co. v. Lee, 21 Tex. Civ. App. 174, 51 S. W. 351, 57 S. W. 573, and other cases cited by the Court of Civil Appeals.

But proof of reasonableness is as essential as its averment. Proof on the subject, except for some money actually paid for medicine, is wholly absent, save as physical condition past and present may be detailed and its future nature deduced therefrom. The reasonable worth of medicines already procured and services already had was the subject of easily available evidence; what might yet be needed and the amount of expense reasonably necessary to get it is a familiar subject of expert estimation. On none of those subjects could there be said to exist common knowledge, and evidence was as necessary as it would have been if the value of a tract of land or of a horse had been at issue instead of medicines and personal services.

In the charge, the jury was told that "any amount" which Miss Jackson "has expended and will likely have to expend in the future for medicine and medical treatment" might be taken into consideration in fixing the amount of damages. What might be allowed in respect to those elements is not otherwise restricted, even by reference to the petition or the amount claimed therein. The amount returned in the verdict, generally, is $5,000. What was included for "medicines and medical treatment," past or future, or both, is of course unknown, and on the record it is unascertainable. For lack of proof in respect to the reasonable value or cost involved in those items, the jury should not have been allowed to consider them. Wheeler v. T. S. E. Ry. Co., 91 Tex. 356, 360, 361, 43 S. W. 876, and cases there cited; T. & N. O. Ry. Co. v. Spencer (Tex. Civ. App.) 244 S. W. 1089, 1093; Northern Texas Traction Co. v. Smith (Tex. Civ. App.) 223 S. W. 1013, 1015.

We do not have a case wherein the taint of the error may be allocated definitely and, so, avoided through remittitur (as in I. & G. N. Ry. Co. v. White, 103 Tex. 567, 131 S. W. 811; Ry. Co. v. Trawick, 80 Tex. 275, 15 S. W. 568, 18 S. W. 948; Texas-Mexican Ry. Co. v. Blucher [Tex. Civ. App.] 42 S. W. 1022; H. & T. C. Ry. Co. v. Pereira [Tex. Civ. App.] 45 S. W. 767; M., K. & T. Ry. Co. v. Pawkett, 28 Tex. Civ. App. 583, 68 S. W. 323; Colorado Canal Co. v. Sims, 42 Tex. Civ. App. 442, 94 S. W. 365; St. L. S. W. Ry. Co. v. Long, 52 Tex. Civ. App. 42, 113 S. W. 316; A., T. & S. F. Ry. Co. v. Keel Grain Co. [Tex. Civ. App.] 132 S. W. 837; Johnson v. Oswald [Tex. Civ. App.] 151 S. W. 1164; Trinity Lbr. Co. v. Conner [Tex. Civ. App.] 176 S. W. 911; Western Union Tel. Co. v. Partlow, 30 Tex. Civ. App. 599, 71 S. W. 584; E. P. & S. W. Ry. Co. v. Eichel [Tex. Civ. App.] 130 S. W. 922; Huggins v. Carey [Tex. Civ. App.] 149 S. W. 390; City of Orange v. Moore [Tex. Civ. App.] 246 S. W. 1099; Trabue v. Wade & Miller [Tex. Civ. App.] 95 S. W. 616; Bering Mfg. Co. v. W. T. Carter & Bro. [Tex. Civ. App.] 255 S. W. 243; O'Neal v. Rutt [Tex. Civ. App.] 256 S. W. 1024), but, the rather, one within the condemnation of the rule that curative remittitur ought not be permitted "when the error may have had an influence upon the general verdict." G., H. & S. A. Ry. Co. v. Wesch, 85 Tex. 593, 599, 22 S. W. 957, 958; H. & T. C. Ry. Co. v. Bird (Tex. Civ. App.) 48 S. W. 756; ...