Bass v. Durand, 36314.

• Decision Date: 21 February 1940
• Docket Number: No. 36314.,36314.
• Parties: WARREN BASS v. DANA DURAND and R. BRYSON JONES, Appellants.
• Court: Missouri Supreme Court

136 S.W.2d 988 WARREN BASS
v.
DANA DURAND and R. BRYSON JONES, Appellants. No. 36314. Supreme Court of Missouri. Division Two, February 21, 1940.

Appeal from Jackson Circuit Court. — Hon. Darius A. Brown, Judge.

REVERSED AND REMANDED.

Ryland, Stinson, Mag & Thomson and Wright Conrad for appellants.

(1) The court erred in overruling defendants' motion, made during the course of the trial, to discharge the jury and declare a mistrial because of the failure of juror Miller to give full and complete answers on voir dire examination and the shown bias and prejudice of juror Miller toward the pivotal and principal witness of the defendant, and in failing to grant defendants a new trial because of bias and prejudice of juror Miller and his failure to make full and complete answers to questions on voir dire examination. Gibney v. Transit Co., 204 Mo. 704, 103 S.W. 43; Pearcy v. Insurance Co., 111 Ind. 59; Heasley v. Nichols, 80 Pac. 769; Theobald v. Transit Co., 191 Mo. 395, 90 S.W. 354; State v. Wyatt, 50 Mo. 309; Billmeyer v. St. Louis Transit Co., 108 Mo. App. 6, 82 S.W. 536; State v. Taylor, 64 Mo. 358; Carroll v. United Rys. Co., 157 Mo. App. 247, 137 S.W. 303; Naylor v. Smith, 46 S.W. (2d) 600; State v. White, 326 Mo. 1000, 34 S.W. (2d) 79; Harding v. Fid. & Cas. Co., 27 S.W. (2d) 778; Murphy v. Cole, 338 Mo. 13, 88 S.W. (2d) 1023; 50 L.R.A. (N.S.) 958. (2) The verdict is grossly excessive. Wilbur v. Ry. Co., 110 Mo. App. 689, 85 S.W. 671; Clark v. Miss. River & B. & C. Ry. Co., 324 Mo. 406, 23 S.W. (2d) 174; Donley v. Hamm, 98 S.W. (2d) 966; Rouchene v. Gamble Const. Co., 338 Mo. 123, 89 S.W. (2d) 58; Lynch v. Baldwin, 117 S.W. (2d) 273; Tash v. St. L.-S.F. Ry. Co., 335 Mo. 1148, 76 S.W. (2d) 690; Colwell v. St. L.-S.F. Ry. Co., 335 Mo. 494, 73 S.W. (2d) 222.

Charles F. Williams, Homer A. Cope, Cope & Hadsell and Walter A. Raymond for respondent.

(1) Juror Miller answered fully and fairly all questions asked on voir dire. The court properly overruled defendant's motion for a mistrial and for a new trial on the ground of concealment of facts as not supported by the record and also on the ground that no prejudice to the defendant was shown. State v. Trainer, 80 S.W. (2d) 135; Hoffman v. Dunham, 202 S.W. 431; Bank of Malden v. Stokes, 220 Mo. App. 131, 280 S.W. 1057; Steffen v. S.W. Bell Tel. Co., 331 Mo. 574, 56 S.W. (2d) 51; Jordon v. St. Joseph Ry., L., H. & P. Co., 335 Mo. 319, 73 S.W. (2d) 210; State v. Baker, 324 Mo. 846, 24 S.W. (2d) 1042; State v. Craft, 299 Mo. 332, 253 S.W. 227; State v. Murray, 316 Mo. 31, 292 S.W. 437; Allen v. Chicago, R.I. & P. Ry. Co., 327 Mo. 526, 37 S.W. (2d) 609; State v. Kaufman, 335 Mo. 611, 73 S.W. (2d) 219; State v. Wampler, 58 S.W. (2d) 269; Shields v. Kansas City Rys. Co., 264 S.W. 895; Knight v. Kansas City, 138 Mo. App. 153, 119 S.W. 993; Parlon v. Wells, 322 Mo. 1001, 17 S.W. (2d) 532; Massman v. K.C. Pub. Serv. Co., 119 S.W. (2d) 838; Webb v. M.-K.-T. Ry. Co., 342 Mo. 394, 116 S.W. (2d) 29. (2) The verdict is not excessive for the extremely painful, serious and disabling injuries plaintiff received. Busby v. S.W. Bell Tel. Co., 287 S.W. 438; Cordray v. Brookfield, 88 S.W. (2d) 166; Cole v. Uhlmann Grain Co., 340 Mo. 277, 100 S.W. (2d) 323; Webb v. M.-K.-T. Ry. Co., 342 Mo. 394, 116 S.W. (2d) 30; Cazzell v. Schofield, 319 Mo. 1169, 8 S.W. (2d) 588; Brunison v. Souders, 225 Mo. App. 1159, 35 S.W. (2d) 626; Farthman v. McMahon, 258 S.W. 63; Bradford v. St. Joseph, 214 S.W. 285; Boyd v. Andrae, 44 S.W. (2d) 894; Tash v. St. L.-S.F. Ry. Co., 335 Mo. 1148, 76 S.W. (2d) 699; Petera v. Ry. Exchange Bldg., 42 S.W. (2d) 951; Bowles v. Eisenmayer, 22 S.W. (2d) 886; Burns v. Polar Wave Ice & Fuel Co., 187 S.W. 149; State ex rel. Stein v. Becker, 334 Mo. 749, 67 S.W. (2d) 756; Clooney v. Wells, 252 S.W. 76; Baker v. C., B. & Q. Ry. Co., 327 Mo. 936, 39 S.W. (2d) 546; Brackett v. Black Masonry & Contracting Co., 326 Mo. 387, 32 S.W. (2d) 292; Wack v. Schoenberg Mfg. Co., 331 Mo. 197, 53 S.W. (2d) 34; Zumwalt v. C. & A. Ry. Co., 266 S.W. 723; Myers v. C., B. & Q. Ry. Co., 296 Mo. 239, 246 S.W. 261; Clayton v. Wells, 324 Mo. 1176, 26 S.W. (2d) 974; Whittington v. Westport Hotel Operating Co., 326 Mo. 1117, 33 S.W. (2d) 969; Hoelzel v. C., R.I. & P. Ry. Co., 337 Mo. 61, 85 S.W. (2d) 131; Melican v. Whitlow Const. Co., 278 S.W. 367; Talbert v. C., R.I. & P. Ry. Co., 321 Mo. 1080, 15 S.W. (2d) 765.

WESTHUES, C.

Respondent Bass filed this suit against appellants to recover damages for personal injuries alleged to have been sustained when a car driven by appellants collided with a delivery truck driven by respondent. There was a verdict and judgment in respondent's favor in the sum of $20,000, from which judgment appellants appealed. The conclusion reached by us renders unnecessary a statement of the facts on the merits.

Appellants briefed two points. We need consider only the first, which is, that the trial court erred in not declaring a...