{ "id": 8726311, "name": "Vogler v. O'Neal", "name_abbreviation": "Vogler v. O'Neal", "decision_date": "1956-11-26", "docket_number": "5-1078", "first_page": "1007", "last_page": "1016", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "226 Ark. 1007" }, { "type": "parallel", "cite": "295 S.W.2d 629" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ark.", "id": 8808, "name": "Arkansas Supreme Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 34, "name_long": "Arkansas", "name": "Ark." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "35 Ariz. 60", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ariz.", "case_ids": [ 5011682 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ariz/35/0060-01" ] }, { "cite": "3 A. L. R. 2d 203", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "213 Ark. 246", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1467026 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/213/0246-01" ] }, { "cite": "13 S. W. 2d 306", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "178 Ark. 1046", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1397105 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/178/1046-01" ] }, { "cite": "31 Ark. 684", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1879334 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/31/0684-01" ] }, { "cite": "36 S. W. 2d 667", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "183 Ark. 460", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1441767 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/183/0460-01" ] }, { "cite": "74 S. W. 2d 771", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "189 Ark. 610", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1425519 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/189/0610-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 757, "char_count": 16181, "ocr_confidence": 0.499, "pagerank": { "raw": 3.6648618525368756e-07, "percentile": 0.8906899591443362 }, "sha256": "dc2fdaadec581807f1c3902d610f75715e66fe53390a7a724d2bc3f0e705cd64", "simhash": "1:ab24fd25d719c41f", "word_count": 2761 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T14:58:54.393419+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "Vogler v. O\u2019Neal." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "J. SeabobN Holt, Associate Justice.\nAppellee, Earl O\u2019Neal, brought this action against Ted Yogler, appellant, to recover compensatory and also punitive damages alleged to have resulted from the collision of an automobile driven by Vogler and one driven by O\u2019Neal, on March 4, 1955. Specific acts of negligence on the part of Yogler were alleged in the complaint and in addition it was alleged that such acts were willful, wanton and malicious and entitled O\u2019Neal also to punitive or exemplary damages. Appellee sought $50,000 as compensatory damages and $10,000 as punitive damages.\nAt the trial appellant (Yogler) admitted liability for compensatory damages and denied any liability for punitive damages. The jury returned a verdict for O\u2019Neal for $10,739.45 compensatory damages and $12,-000 as punitive damages. Thereafter the court, on its own motion, reduced the $12,000 verdict to $10,000 to conform to the prayer of appellee\u2019s complaint and judgment was rendered accordingly. This appeal followed.\nAppellant for reversal relied upon the following points: \u201cI. The lower court erred in giving plaintiff\u2019s instructions Numbered 1 and 3. II. The lower court erred in permitting witnesses Brown, Laird and Singleton to testify as to statements made to them by Vogler, and as to Vogler\u2019s physical condition hours subsequent to the time of the accident. III. The verdict as to compensatory damages is excessive and the result of passion and prejudice. IV. The verdict as to punitive damages is excessive and was the result of passion and prejudice.\u201d\nWe consider them in the order presented.\nI\nInstruction No. 1 provided: \u201cYou are instructed that the parties, both the plaintiff and the defendant, have agreed that Earl O\u2019Neal is entitled to recover actual damages suffered by him from the defendant, Ted Vogler. You will find for Earl O\u2019Neal in such sum as you find from a preponderance of the evidence, will reasonably compensate him for the injuries he sustained, if any; the pain and suffering he has suffered to date, if any, the pain and suffering he will suffer in the future, if any, the medical expenses he has incurred to date, if any, the medical expenses he will incur in the future, if any; permanent partial disability which he has suffered, if any. Upon these elements of damages, you will fix such sum as in your judgment you find from a preponderance of the evidence will reasonably compensate him for the injuries and damages he sustained, if any.\u201d\nAppellant objected specifically, at the trial, to that part of the above instruction \u201cwhich submits to the jury the recovery by plaintiff of future medical expense and future pain and suffering, if any,\u201d and he argues here that the instruction was \u201cinherently erroneous in that it permitted the jury to assess damages for permanent disability and injury when there was no testimony in the record, nor was there any prayer in the complaint which would have justified this element of damages. \u2019 \u2019 The record reflects that there was a prayer for permanent disability and injury in the complaint. The complaint states: \u201cThereby causing serious, grievous, painful and permanent injuries to the plaintiff.\u201d We do not agree that this instruction was inherently erroneous and hold that it was a correct statement of the law with regard to the measure of damages. We said in Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Arkansas v. Adcox, 189 Ark. 610, 74 S. W. 2d 771 that: \u201cThe measure of damages for a physical injury to the person may be broadly stated to be such sum, so far as it is susceptible of estimate in money, as will compensate plaintiff for all losses, subject to the limitations imposed by the doctrines of natural and proximate consequences, and of certainty, which he has sustained by reason of the injury, including compensation for his pain and suffering, for his loss of time, for medical attendance, and support during the period of his disablement, and for such permanent injury and continuing disability as he has sustained. Plaintiff is not limited in his recovery to specific pecuniary losses as to which there is direct proof, and it is obvious that certain of the results of a personal injury are unsuscepti-ble of pecuniary admeasurement, from which it follows that in this class of cases the amount of the award rests largely within the discretion of the jury, the exercise of which must be governed by the circumstances and be based on the evidence adduced, the controlling principle being that of securing to plaintiff a reasonable compensation for the injury which he has sustained.\u201d After a review of all the evidence, we hold that there was some substantial evidence that appellee has suffered permanent partial disability and will continue in the future to suffer pain and would incur future medical expenses. There was medical testimony supporting this view. Dr. Jones testified that when he reexamined O\u2019Neal on March 28, 1956 he was complaining of injury to his left leg: \u201cQ. And what does this injury to the left leg consist of? A. ... At that time he was complaining of pain just above the outer aspect of the left knee . . . Q. You found it to be constant? A. Yes, sir. Q. Did you find any disability as a result of this knee? A. The disability would be the result of pain and complaint of pain he had. Mechanically there is no disability. From the standpoint of discomfort he experienced, yes. There was some degree of disability . . . Q. Would you estimate the disability? A. Five per cent as related to the leg or that would be the reasonable estimation.\u201d Dr. Hundley testified that be treated O\u2019Neal beginning March 27, 1955, that be bad a fracture of tbe 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th, 9th, 10th and 11th ribs, a fracture of the left scapula, or shoulder blade, that he was suffering great pain. Quoting from appellant\u2019s brief, Dr. Hundley testified: \u201c. . . that his examination revealed some tenderness of the left para-cervical area with extension of the cervical spine or neck being 75% normal, flexion 75% of normal; that side bending to the left was 50% of normal, to the right 75% of normal; that side bending of the cervical spine was accompanied by pain in the left side of the neck and left collar bone area; that rotation to the left was 50% of normal, to the right normal; . . . that flexion of the trunk was normal but bending backward was 75% of normal accompanied by pain in the chest . . . He again examined Mr. O\u2019Neal on May 21, July 11, October 8, 1955, and on March 27, 1956, giving him medication for relief of pain as well as physical therapy. The last date he saw him was March 27, 1956. At that time he stated there had been no locking in the fingers, but he had had pain in his left ring finger and left thumb and the entire left arm was sore. He stated he had dizzy spells and was extremely nervous and had had headaches since returning to work. He also complained of a pulling sensation in his left leg . . . July 11, 1955, he returned to the office, stating that the left knee felt like something was cutting it and he could hardly walk at times . . . He continued to complain of neck and back pain and headaches . . . On October 8,1955, examination revealed muscle spasm to the lower spine and tenderness . . . He returned to the office on March 27, 1956, stating that sometimes when he sits down, he can hardly get up because of pain in his low back . . . The physical examination revealed tenderness in the lumbar areas . . . As of March 27 he still found tenderness in the lumbosacral area. Flexion was normal but the extension or backward bending was limited about 50% of what it should be. As of the date of his last examination he continued to complain of pain . . . The last date he s\u00e1w him was March 27,1956.\nUnder onr well established rule we must affirm when we find any substantial evidence to support the jury\u2019s verdict and in determining whether the evidence is substantial we must give it the strongest probative force that it will bear, in favor of appellee here. As indicated, we hold that it was sufficient on the evidence presented.\nAppellant next complains that plaintiff\u2019s Instruction No. 3, to which he made only a general objection, is erroneous. That instruction was as follows: \u201cIf you find from a preponderance of this evidence that the defendant\u2019s negligent acts, if any, were committed wantonly or willfully, then you are told, if you find for the plaintiff in compensatory damages, you would then be justified to assess punitive damages in such amount as you may deem sufficient under the evidence, if any; to punish him for his misconduct, if any; and to serve as a proper warning to others.\u201d Appellant says \u201cthat this instruction was erroneous, in that it did not limit the amount of the recovery for punitive damages.\u201d Appellant, as indicated according to the record, was content to make a general objection only to this instruction, which cannot be sustained unless the instruction was inherently wrong, and we hold that it was not inherently erroneous. The record reflects that just before the instructions were given by the court, appellant\u2019s only reference to an instruction on punitive damages was in this language: \u201cWe feel the issues should be confined (1) to the measure of damage and, (2) as to whether or not there is sufficient evidence to justify an award of punitive damages in addition to the compensatory damages.\u201d As indicated, appellant made no specific objection to this instruction. No other instruction on the measure of damages was requested. In the circumstances the rule announced by this court in Kirchoff v. Wilcox, 183 Ark. 460, 36 S. W. 2d 667, is applicable. We there said: \u201cAn instruction was given on the court\u2019s own motion which reads as follows: \u2018If you find for the plaintiff your verdict should be: \u201cWe, the jury, find for the plaintiff,\u201d and assess whatever damages you think he is entitled to under the proof.\u2019 No other instructions on the measure of damages was asked or given, and only a general objection was made to tbe instruction as given . . . Tbe instruction does not contain any erroneous declaration of law and does not announce an improper rule by wbicb to measure tbe damages. Its defect is that it does not furnish a correct guide to tbe jury as to tbe measure of damages, etc. . . . Here our attention is called to tbe fact that no specific objection was made to tbe instruction in tbe court below, and such is tbe state of tbe record . . . It is tbe settled practice in this State that a party cannot avail himself of an omission wbicb be made no effort to have supplied in tbe trial court . . . Here, as in tbe preceding case, tbe remedy of tbe party is to ask additional instructions before tbe jury retires. So where tbe judge has laid down a proposition, wbicb, in tbe abstract is clearly right, but there is something peculiar in tbe situation of tbe parties, or their relations to each other, wbicb would require a modification of it, and wbicb bad escaped tbe attention of tbe judge, it is tbe duty of counsel to call bis attention thereto.\u201d\nII\nWe bold that no error was committed by tbe trial court in permitting witnesses Brown, Laird and Singleton to testify as to certain statements made to them by Vogler (defendant) \u2014 many hours after tbe mishap \u2014 as to Vogler\u2019s physical condition at tbe time tbe collision occurred. Witness Allison Brown was permitted to testify on behalf of appellee, that on tbe morning following tbe collision be was at appellant\u2019s home and appellant told him be did not remember any of tbe details of tbe mishap because be was intoxicated. Two other witnesses, Officers Singleton and Laird, over appellant\u2019s objection, were permitted to testify not only that appellant was intoxicated when they arrived at tbe scene of tbe collision but both witnesses were permitted to detail to tbe court appellant\u2019s condition after be bad been confined in tbe Little Rock Municipal Jail and as to statements by tbe defendant made to them at that time. Officer Singleton further testified that appellant, Vogler, told him that as he was leaving Walnut Ridge on his way to Little Rock he purchased two half-pints of whiskey and that he consumed these two half-pints. The testimony of these two witnesses was clearly admissible, we hold, since the statements were made to them by the defendant and, in effect, were against his own interest. \u201cThe acts and declarations of a party to a suit, when they afford any presumption against him may be proven by the opposing party. It is a well recognized rule of evidence that any statements which may have been made by a party to a suit against his interest, touching material facts, are competent as original testimony,\u201d Collins v. Mack, 31 Ark. 684. Also see Covington v. Little Fay Oil Co., 178 Ark. 1046, 13 S. W. 2d 306.\nIll\nWe have concluded that the verdict for $10,739.45 \u2014 as compensatory damages \u2014 was not excessive in the circumstance. The evidence shows that appellee was in the hospital for 4 days, and was confined to his home over 2 months and had to sleep in a chair 31 nights. His doctor\u2019s bills amounted to $634.50, hospital $101.95 and ambulance $10 \u2014 a total of.$746.45. He suffered great pain and will continue to suffer some pain and partial permanent disability. We cannot say that the jury\u2019s allowance of $10,739.45 as compensatory damages, while liberal, is excessive.\nIV\nWe hold, however, that $10,000 allowed by the jury for exemplary damages was excessive and that this amount should be reduced to $5,000. From the testimony presented, the jury had this situation before it: Vogler bought two half-pints of whiskey in Walnut Ridge, drank them before he got to Little Rock, was traveling 60 miles per hour across the Main Street Bridge from North Little Rock to Little Rock; drove his car from the extreme west of the bridge across to the extreme east of the bridge and struck appellee; was so drunk he didn\u2019t recall any of the details of the accident; was so indifferent to O\u2019Neal\u2019s injuries that he didn\u2019t bother to see Mr. O\u2019Neal after the accident until the day of the trial. In these circumstances, the jury was warranted in assessing in effect, Yogler\u2019s conduct as willful, and that he was exhibiting a wanton disregard for other people\u2019s rights.\nIn approving punitive damages, in a similar situation to that here presented, we announced the following principal of law in Miller v. Blanton, 213 Ark. 246, 210 S. W. 2d 293, 3 A. L. R. 2d 203, in which is cited with approval, the case of Ross v. Clark, 35 Ariz. 60, 274 P. 639, wherein the court said: \u201c \u2018Punitive damages\u2019 are not intended to remunerate the injured party for the damages he may have sustained. They are not to compensate ; they are the penalty the law inflicts for gross, wanton, and culpable negligence, and are allowed as a warning or as an example to defendants and others. Because they are an example as to what the law will do for such conduct when it results in injury to the person or property of others, they are sometimes called exemplary damages.\u201d \u201cThere is no fixed standard for the measurement of exemplary or punitive damages; the amount of the award is largely within the discretion of the jury or of the Court sitting without a jury, on the consideration of the attendant circumstance.\u201d 20 C. J. S. 126.\nWe can well understand that the jury here was justifiably outraged at the reckless and wanton conduct of this drunken appellant, and that it felt warranted in fixing his penalty high, as a warning to intoxicated operators of automobiles, however we have concluded, as indicated, that such penalty should not be greater than $5,000.\nAccordingly the judgment for $10,739.45 compensatory damages is affirmed. The judgment for $10,000 punitive damages will be reduced to $5,000 and affirmed for this amount ($5,000) provided appellee, shall within 15 days from the date of this opinion enter a remittitur in the amount of $5,000 as indicated. Otherwise this judgment as to punitive damages will he reversed and remanded.\nJustice Millwee not participating.", "type": "majority", "author": "J. SeabobN Holt, Associate Justice." } ], "attorneys": [ "Barber, Henry & Thurman, for appellant.", "Talley & Owen and Dale, Price, for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "Vogler v. O\u2019Neal.\n5-1078\n295 S. W. 2d 629\nOpinion delivered November 26, 1956.\nBarber, Henry & Thurman, for appellant.\nTalley & Owen and Dale, Price, for appellee." }, "file_name": "1007-01", "first_page_order": 1031, "last_page_order": 1040 }