Lantis v. Pfarr

Decision Date10 February 1966
Docket NumberNo. 38457,38457
Citation410 P.2d 900,67 Wn.2d 994
CourtWashington Supreme Court
PartiesLarry D. LANTIS and Florence M. Lantis, husband and wife, Appellants, v. Philip John PFARR and Barbara Pfarr, husband and wife, and Philip Jeffery Pfarr, Respondents.

Hamblen, Gilbert & Brooke, Philip S. Brooke, Jr., Spokane, for appellants.

MacGillivray, Jones, Clarke & Schiffner, John D. MacGillivray, Spokane, for respondents.

PER CURIAM.

The plaintiff, Florence Lantis, who will be referred to as though she were the only plaintiff, sustained injuries in an automobile accident. Liability of the defendants was conceded, and the only issue was the amount of the damages. From a judgment entered on a jury verdict which awarded $334.61 for car damage, $153.20 for medical expenses, $300 for time loss, and $1,500 as general damages (a total of $2,287.81) the plaintiff appeals. The prayer of the complaint had been $36,000 for present and future loss of wages and $150,000 as general damages.

From what, at the time, appeared to be relatively slight injuries, the plaintiff, who had worked as a waitress and taken care of her own home, contends that she has become afflicted with seizures or spells of unconsciousness rendering her permanently incapable of engaging in any gainful occupation or any activities involving the use of her left arm.

The jury not only assessed the plaintiff's damages in the amounts indicated, but in answer to a special interrogatory found that there was no causal connection between the accident of August 16, 1962, and the spells or seizures of which the plaintiff complains.

The sole assignment of error is that the trial court erred and abused its discretion in denying the plaintiff's motion to increase the verdict of the jury or for a new trial on damages only.

The ruling on such a motion is a matter peculiarly within the discretion of the trial court. We will not reverse the refusal to grant a new trial on such grounds, except for a manifest abuse of discretion. Mullin v. Builders Development & Finance Service, Inc., 62 Wash.2d 202, 205, 381 [410 P.2d 901] P.2d 970 (1963); Lipshay v. Barr, 54 Wash.2d 257, 339 P.2d 471 (1959).

There was substantial evidence to sustain the jury's finding that there was no causal relationship between the accident of August 16, 1962, and the spells or seizures of which the plaintiff complains. It is not our province to weigh the testimony, and we will not substitute our views on disputed facts...

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6 cases
  • Maehren v. City of Seattle
    • United States
    • Washington Supreme Court
    • August 10, 1979
    ...190, 570 P.2d 1035 (1977). In reviewing the evidence, we will not substitute our judgment for that of the trial court. Lantis v. Pfarr, 67 Wash.2d 994, 410 P.2d 900 (1966). The trial court On October 20, 1971, the Seattle Civil Service Commission, by resolution, promulgated Civil Service Ru......
  • Harding v. Warren
    • United States
    • Washington Court of Appeals
    • January 5, 1982
    ...(1979). The reviewing court may not substitute its judgment for that of the trial court. Maehren v. Seattle, supra; Lantis v. Pfarr, 67 Wash.2d 994, 410 P.2d 900 (1966). Where the evidence is conflicting, the trier of fact may believe entirely the testimony of some of the witnesses and disb......
  • Gustin v. Susnar
    • United States
    • Washington Supreme Court
    • April 28, 1966
    ...of Seattle, 57 Wash.2d 233, 247, 356 P.2d 316 (1960); Malstrom v. Kalland, 62 Wash.2d 732, 734, 384 P.2d 613 (1963); Lantis v. Pfarr, 67 Wash.Dec.2d 984, 410 P.2d 900 (1966), and Harvey v. Wight, 68 Wash.Dec.2d 185, 412 P.2d 335 (1966), and cases cited and discussed, are but a few of the au......
  • Kuster v. Gould Nat. Batteries, Inc.
    • United States
    • Washington Supreme Court
    • June 22, 1967
    ...of the trial court are supported by substantial evidence. Hollingbery v. Dunn, 68 Wash.2d 75, 411 P.2d 431 (1966); Lantis v. Pfarr, 67 Wash.2d 994, 410 P.2d 900 (1966). In accordance with this rule the evidence as viewed most favorably to the plaintiff will be quoted or In regard to the pla......
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