{ "id": 1379791, "name": "Missouri Pacific Railroad Company v. Wood", "name_abbreviation": "Missouri Pacific Railroad v. Wood", "decision_date": "1924-07-14", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "240", "last_page": "243", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "165 Ark. 240" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ark.", "id": 8808, "name": "Arkansas Supreme Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 34, "name_long": "Arkansas", "name": "Ark." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "119 Ark. 143", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 8718212 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/119/0143-01" ] }, { "cite": "88 Ark. 533", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1517168 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/88/0533-01" ] }, { "cite": "130 Ark. 522", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 8722217 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/130/0522-01" ] }, { "cite": "67 Ark. 371", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1152565 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/67/0371-01" ] }, { "cite": "81 Ark. 13", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1530686 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/81/0013-01" ] }, { "cite": "130 Ark. 522", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 8722217 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/130/0522-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 356, "char_count": 6597, "ocr_confidence": 0.481, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.474361132786863e-07, "percentile": 0.659873799592177 }, "sha256": "bfd8734c69dd7f562d005c36d65a38412627ab9ae3617cf22032b51271cb3707", "simhash": "1:aa407e9edf4631e2", "word_count": 1111 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:02:20.871856+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "Missouri Pacific Railroad Company v. Wood." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "McCulloch, C. J.\nAppellees instituted this action against appellant railroad company to recover the value of a building destroyed by fire, which is alleged to have been communicated to the roof of the building from a passing locomotive. The building was rented by appellees to tenants for business purposes, and it was totally destroyed by fire. The value of the building was alleged to be the sum of $2,000, and recovery was asked for that amount, with statutory penalty and attorney\u2019s fees.\n' The appellant answered denying that the fire which eonsnmed th\u00e9 building of appellees was communicated \u00edrom an engine.\nThere was a trial of the issues before a jury, which resulted in a verdict in favor of appellee for the value of the building, fixed by the jury at the full amount sought to be recovered by appellees.\nThe fire occurred between two and three o\u2019clock on the morning of July 13,1921. The building was situated \u25a0in the city of Camden, near appellant\u2019s track, and testimony was adduced tending to show that a northbound freight train, operated by appellant, passed \u2022 along the track near the building shortly after two o\u2019clock in the morning of the date mentioned, that the engine was throwing sparks at the time, and that the fire was discovered shortly afterwards. One of the witnesses testified that a fire alarm was sounded about thirty minutes after the train had passed. It was a northbound train, according-to the-testimony of appellee\u2019s witnesses. The. .witnesses-also testified that, when the fire was discovered and the alarm was sounded, it was observed that the roof of the building was on fire, and that there was no fire at first on the inside of the building. Testimony was also introduced concerning the value of the building.\n\u25a0 There was a sharp conflict in the testimony in that appellant introduced witnesses whose testimony, if believed, established the fact beyond controversy that the only northbound train on appellant\u2019s track which passed through Camden on the night in question was a certain extra freight train, which passed Camden about ten o\u2019clock and arrived at G-urdon about twelve o\u2019clock. Appellant introduced its train dispatchers, and the train-master, and the conductor, engineer and fireman of the particular train involved in this controversy. The record of- the movement of trains was also introduced, and all this testimony tended very .strongly to prove that the only northbound freight train'that night was One which passed through Camden about ten o\u2019clock \u2014 certainly not later than eleven o\u2019clock. We cannot, however, treat this testimony as uncontradieted, for several witnesses introduced by appellees testified positively that a northbound-freight train passed through Camden on appellant\u2019s road about two o\u2019clock or two-fifteen in the morning. There being a conflict, and there being legally sufficient evidence to justify a verdict either way, we are not at liberty to disturb the finding of the jury on that issue.\nThere is also a conflict in the testimony as to the location of the fire at the time it was discovered and the alarm given. As before stated, appellee\u2019s witnesses testified that the roof was burning, and that there was no indication of fire on the inside of the building, but, on the other hand, appellant\u2019s witnesses testified that the building was\u2019afire on the inside, not on the roof. Appellant also introduced photographs and other testimony tending to show that the building caught from the flue of a stove in the rear end of the building.\nIt is earnestly insisted that the evidence is not sufficient to sustain the verdict, but we are of the opinion that there is legally sufficient evidence on all of the issues in the case, and that the verdict of the jury is conclusive.\nThe only other assignment of error relates to an instruction given by the court on the measure of damages, which stated the measure of damages to be the cash market value of the building. It is contended- that the measure of damages should have been stated as the difference between the value of the premises before and after the destruction of the building. That question has, however, been put at rest by the decision of this court in the case of Bush v. Taylor, 130 Ark. 522, where we said that \u201cif the value of the property destroyed depends upon its connection with the soil, the measure of the damages is the difference in the value of the land before and after the fire. But, if the property destroyed could be replaced in substantially the condition in which it existed before the fire, then the measure of the damages is the cost of so replacing it.\u201d This means, of course, the replacement value, taking into consideration the depreciation of the old building, and'that is tantamount to saying that the cash market value at the time is the true measure of damages. In the opinion in that case there is pointed out the distinction between destroyed property, such as fruit trees, pasture grasses, etc., which depend for their value upon their connection with the soil.\nThere is no error in the record, and the judgment is affirmed.", "type": "majority", "author": "McCulloch, C. J." } ], "attorneys": [ "E. B. Kinsworthy and Samp Jennings, for appellant.", "Smead & Meek and Creed Caldwell, for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "Missouri Pacific Railroad Company v. Wood.\nOpinion delivered July 14, 1924.\n1. Appeal and error \u2014 conolusiveness of verdict. \u2014 The verdict of a jury upon conflicting evidence is conclusive.\n2. Railroads \u2014 fire\u2014evidence.-\u2014Evidence held legally sufficient to sustain finding that fire was communicated to plaintiff\u2019s building by a passing locomotive of defendant.\n3. Damages \u2014 building destroyed by fire. \u2014 The measure of damages for a building destroyed by fire is its replacement value, taking into consideration the depreciation of the building before the fire; in other words, the cash market value of the building.\nAppeal from Ouachita Circuit Court; L. S. Britt, Judge;\naffirmed.\nE. B. Kinsworthy and Samp Jennings, for appellant.\nInstruction No. 3 as to the measure of damages was erroneous. The proper measure of damages was the difference between the market value of the property before and after the fire. 81 Ark. 13; 67 Ark. 371; R. C. L., p. 480, No. 43; R. C. L., p. 481, No. 44.\nSmead & Meek and Creed Caldwell, for appellee.\nInstruction No. 3 correctly told the jury that the measure of damages sustained by plaintiffs was the reasonable cash market value of the property destroyed at the time and place of the fire. 130 Ark. 522. See also 77 . N. W. (Iowa) 517; 33 Cyc. pp. 1389, 1390, 1391. - The .case in 81 Ark. 13 relied on by appellant is not in-conflict with this view. See also 89- Ark. 418; 88 Ark. 533. The plaintiffs were entitled to the amount allowed by the jury. 119 Ark. 143." }, "file_name": "0240-01", "first_page_order": 264, "last_page_order": 267 }