Bray v. Tardy

• Decision Date: 23 June 1914
• Docket Number: 22,406
• Citation: 105 N.E. 772,182 Ind. 98
• Parties: Bray et al. v. Tardy et al
• Court: Indiana Supreme Court

105 N.E. 772

182 Ind. 98

Bray et al. v. Tardy et al

No. 22,406

Supreme Court of Indiana

June 23, 1914

From Warrick Circuit Court; Ralph E. Roberts, Judge.

Condemnation proceedings by Madison J. Bray and others, as members of the Board of Water Works Trustees of the City of Evansville against Frank Tardy and others. From a judgment awarding damages, this appeal is prosecuted.

Affirmed.

George A. Cunningham and Daniel H. Ortmeyer, for appellants.

J. E Williamson, for appellees.

OPINION

Erwin, J.

This was a proceeding instituted in the Vanderburgh Circuit Court by appellants, as members of the Board of Water Works Trustees of the city of Evansville, for the condemnation of certain real estate in Vanderburgh County, to be used in connection with the water works and filtration plant belonging to the city of Evansville. A change of venue was taken to Warrick County where the cause was tried, which resulted in a verdict and judgment for appellees in the sum of $ 6,000.

It is the duty of appellants to show by their brief reversible error. In that part of the brief filed by appellants devoted to propositions, points and authorities, as required by clause 5 of Rule 22 of the rules of this court, four abstract propositions of law are set out under separate headings, under three of which are numerous citations, but no specific mention is made of any ruling relied on as error. This does not comply with the rule, and presents no question for our consideration. Kaufman v. Alexander (1913), 180 Ind. 670, 103 N.E. 481. If it were not for the fact that appellees, in their brief, refer to and discuss certain alleged errors, there would be no question for our decision.

Appellants complain that the court erred in giving instruction No. 4. The part of the instruction complained of reads as follows: "I instruct you that in assessing the amount of damages, the jury are not required as matter of law to accept the opinion of witnesses as to values, but must exercise your own judgment in determining that question, as well as the amount of damages, after considering all the evidence in this case, which may throw any light on the subject of damages sustained by the defendant Tardy". We are of the opinion that the court meant that the jury was not bound to take the opinion of any particular witness as to value of the real estate and damages, but that the value of the real estate was to be fixed by the jury after considering all the evidence in the case on the question of damages, and was not open to the construction claimed by appellants, that the jury should be the judges of the damages sustained without regard to the evidence.

Appellants complain that instruction No. 5 is erroneous. The instruction is as follows: "The court directs you, that the opinion of witnesses as to the value of the property in question should be given such weight as the jury may believe the same is entitled to, taking into consideration the knowledge of such witnesses as to such value, and you are directed to disregard the evidence of each witness as to the value of the property, who discloses by his evidence that he did not know the market value of the property for all the uses to which it could be reasonably put." This instruction probably is erroneous and would be reversible error were it not for the fact that appellants have invited the error. It is pointed out by appellees that during the trial of the cause, certain witnesses for appellees testified as to the value of the lands taken, if used for harbor purposes, to which evidence appellants objected and moved to strike out for the reason that...