{ "id": 8652643, "name": "JOHNSON v. RAILROAD CO.", "name_abbreviation": "Johnson v. Railroad Co.", "decision_date": "1906-03-20", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "574", "last_page": "581", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "140 N.C. 574" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C.", "id": 9292, "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "94 N. C., 142", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8650576 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/94/0142-01" ] }, { "cite": "96 N. C., 337", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8650173 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/96/0337-01" ] }, { "cite": "115 N. C., 579", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8652485 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/115/0579-01" ] }, { "cite": "95 Me., 318", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Me.", "case_ids": [ 672859 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/me/95/0318-01" ] }, { "cite": "137 Ind., 592", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ind.", "case_ids": [ 1628954 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ind/137/0592-01" ] }, { "cite": "145 Mass., 261", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mass.", "case_ids": [ 770545 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mass/145/0261-01" ] }, { "cite": "80 N. Y., 614", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.Y.", "case_ids": [ 2173248 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ny/80/0614-01" ] }, { "cite": "56 Vt., 158", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Vt.", "case_ids": [ 754032 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/vt/56/0158-01" ] }, { "cite": "54 Wis., 354", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Wis.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "139 N. C., 79", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8652174 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/139/0079-01" ] }, { "cite": "136 N. C., 82", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8658762 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/136/0082-01" ] }, { "cite": "29 N. C., 365", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "73 N. C., 440", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8694145 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/73/0440-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 698, "char_count": 14750, "ocr_confidence": 0.481, "pagerank": { "raw": 4.317864533247603e-07, "percentile": 0.9172646745041892 }, "sha256": "0e1ee0ea77dc34bbc6238d8f4cd96dbddf400ef788c1b4e2ca629b5f2816b2e7", "simhash": "1:dd2ba2d4a6b1cb36", "word_count": 2491 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T20:16:12.663031+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "JOHNSON v. RAILROAD CO." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Connor, J.,\nafter stating the facts. His Honor, we presume, was of the opinion that the anticipated profits to be derived from completing the contract made by plaintiffs with the Fruit Packing Co., for the manufacture and delivery of the crates, were too speculative and conjectural to form the basis of a claim for damages. While this court has uniformly adhered to the rule in Hadley v. Baxendale, prescribing the measure of damages recoverable for breach of contracts, we find no decision controverting the proposition, held by other courts and laid down by many text writers, that in actions founded upon a pure tort a different rule prevails. Mr. Sutherland, after discussing many decided cases, says: \u201cThe correct doctrine, as we conceive, is that if the act or neglect complained of was wrongful, and the injury sustained resulted in the natural order of cause and effect, the person injured thereby is entitled to recover. There need not be in the mind of the individual whose act or omission has wrought the injury the least contemplation of the probable consequences of bis conduct; be is responsible therefor because the result proximately follows bis wrongful act or non-action.\u201d 1 Damages, 16. \u201cA tort feasor is liable for all injuries resulting directly from bis wrongful act, whether they could or could not have been seen by him. * * * The real question in these cases is, did the wrongful conduct produce the injury complained of, and not whether the party committing the act Gould have anticipated the result.\u201d Hale on Damages, 36, 8 Am. & Eng. Enc. (2 Ed.), 625.\nSledge v. Reid, 73 N. C., 440, was an action of trover, for the wrongful taking of plaintiff\u2019s mule. Bynum, J., said: '\u2018'Consequential damages to be recovered in an action of tort must be the proximate consequence of the act complained of, and not the secondary result thereof.\u201d The court, in Welch v. Piercy, 29 N. C., 365, thus states the same doctrine: \u201cEvery man, in law, is presumed to intend any consequence, which naturally flows from an unlawful act, and is answerable to private individuals for any injury so sustained.\u201d Whatever distinctions may be recognized between actions founded upon tort, pure and simple, and those in which the cause of action is tort growing out of a breach of-contractual duty- \u2014 such as actions by passengers for wrongful ejection, shippers for failure to deliver freight, or parties in interest for failure to deliver telegrams, it is well settled that when the cause of action is based upon a wrongful invasion of plaintiff\u2019s rights of person or property, he may recover all such damages, either direct or consequential, as flow naturally and proximately from the trespass. When the action is for breach of contract, the damages recoverable are such as naturally flow from the breach and such special or consequential damages as are reasonably presumed to have been within the contemplation of the parties at the time they made the contract as the probable result of a breach of it. In ascertaining what damages come within the rule it is proper to examine, not only the terms of the contract, the subject matter, etc., but also to inquire whether such circumstances or conditions as produced special damages were communicated to the defendant. We apprehend that the same rule prevails when an action in the nature of tort is brought for the breach of a duty arising out of contract. Williams v. Telegraph Co., 136 N. C., 82; Dayvis v. Telegraph Co., 139 N. C., 79. In Lee v. Railroad, it is said: \u201cIt is immaterial whether we treat the cause of action as for a breach of contract, or for a negligent omission to perform a public duty arising out of contract.\u201d We were then considering the measure of damages for failure to deliver freight. \"When a party commits a trespass, he must be held to contemplate all the damages which may legitimately follow from his illegal act. In Brown v. Chicago, etc., Railroad Co., 54 Wis., 354, it is said: \u201cThe general rule is that the party who commits a trespass or other wrongful act is liable for all the direct injury resulting from such act, although such resulting injury could not have been contemplated as the result of the act done.\u201d\nJudge Christiancy, in Allison v. Chandler, 11 Mich., at page 561, says: \u201cIt is urged by counsel for the defendant that damages for the loss of profits ought not to be allowed, because they could not have been within the contemplation of the defendant. Whether, as a matter of fact, this is likely to have been true, we do not deem it important to inquire. It is wholly immaterial whether the defendant in committing the trespass actually contemplated this, or any other species of damage, to the plaintiff. It is a consideration which is confined entirely to cases of contracts, when the question is, what was the extent of the obligation in this respect, which both parties understood to be created by the contract. But when a party commits a trespass, he must be held to contemplate all the damages which may legitimately flow from his illegal act.\u201d Stevens v. Dudley, 56 Vt., 158.\nWe are thus brought to a consideration of the question whether the proposed testimony was competent to be considered by the jury in ass\u00e9ssing plaintiffs\u2019 damages. \u201cIt was at one time laid down as a general rule that damages could not be recovered for the loss of profits. It was thought that profits were in their nature too uncertain to be considered.\u201d Hale on Dam., 72. \u201cThe rule is subject, however, to the modification that if the profits lost by defendant\u2019s tortious conduct, proximately and naturally flow from his act and ar\u00e9 sufficiently definite and certain, they may be recovered or at least evidence in respect to them may be heard and considered by the jury in fixing such damages as will compensate plaintiff. Profits which would certainly have been realized, but for the defendant\u2019s fault, are recoverable; those which are speculative and contingent are not.\u201d Ibid. Judge Christiancy, in Allison v. Chandler, supra, says: \u201cBut whatever may be the rule in actions upon contract, we think a more liberal rule, in regard to profits lost, should prevail in actions purely of tort (excepting, perhaps, the ac0tion of trover). Not that they should be allowed in all cases without distinction; for there are some cases where they might in their nature be too entirely remote, speculative or contingent to form any reliable basis for a probable opinion. * * * But generally in an action purely of tort, when the amount of profits lost by the injury can be shown with reasonable certainty, we think they are not only admissible in evidence, but that they constitute, thus far, a safe measure of damages.\u201d Sutherland, vol. 1, sec. 70, says: \u201cIf a regular and established business is wrongfully interrupted, the damage thereto can be shown by proving the usual profits for a reasonable time anterior to the wrong complained of. In Schile v. Brokahaus, 80 N. Y., 614; French v. Lumber Co., 145 Mass., 261.\nIn Jackson v. Stanfield, 137 Ind., 592, it is held that evidence is admissible showing anticipated profits, not remote or speculative, not as the measure of damages, but to aid the jury in estimating the extent of the injury Sustained.\u201d Fibre Co. v. Electric Co., 95 Me., 318; Gwaltney v. Timber Co., 115 N. C., 579; Jones v. Call, 96 N. C., 337.\nWillis v. Branch, 94 N. C., 142, was an action for a trespass upon a public hall leased by plaintiff, and removing an oil tank used for lighting. Plaintiff claimed as special damage loss of profits on contracts made with theatrical companies. This court said: \u201cIf plaintiff had existing engagements for theatrical entertainments, that were disappointed by the injury, damages sustained on that account might be embraced \u2014 but not for such as he might probably have had.\u201d Mr. Sutherland quotes with approval the language used by the court in Allison v. Chandler, supra: \u201cWhen from the nature of the case, the amount of damages cannot be estimated, with certainty, or only a part of them can be so estimated, there is no objection to placing before the jury all the facts and circumstances of the case having any tendency to show damages, or their probable amount so as to enable them to make the most intelligible and probable estimate which the nature of the case will permit. This should, of course, be done with such instructons and advice from the court as the circumstances of the case may require, or as may tend to prevent the allowance of such damages as may be merely possible, or too remote and fanciful in their character to be safely considered as the result of an injury.\u201d 4 Sutherland, sec. 1029.\nIn the light of the principles announced in the forqgoing authorities, we are of the opinion that the testimony in regard to the contract with the Eruit Packing Co. was competent to be heard by the jury upon the question of damages sustained by plaintiffs, A. E. Johnson & Son. It is by no means certain that the jury should fibs the damages in that respect at th\u00e9 profits which plaintiff would have made on the manufacture and delivery of the crates, but they may take into consideration the terms of the contract, the position of plaintiffs in regard to its completion, the solvency of the Packing Company and all other competent and relevant testimony casting light upon the value of the contract to plaintiffs at the time, of the fire. While in all human affairs there is of necessity an element of uncertainty, the law, which seeks to deal as far as practicable with conditions in a practical way, and as near as may be give compensation for injuries sustained, only demands, as the basis of the claim, reasonable certainty. If plaintiffs had been considering a proposition to sell their factory with its outstanding contracts, it would have been entirely practicable to measure with reasonable' certainty its enhanced value by reason of the existence of the contract with the Packing Company. In doing so the cost of the material on hand, the cost of manufacturing and delivering, the contingencies usually attendant upon and incident to the business, the solvency of the Packing Company, etc., would have been considered. The jury having found that plaintiffs\u2019 factory was destroyed by the negligence of defendant, they are entitled to recover all such' damages as naturally and proximately flow from the trespass \u2014 the value of the contract in the light of the facts proposed to be shown by the question asked the witness should be considered as coming within the rule. This, of course, excludes any evidence in regard to profits not covered by contracts. They would be speculative. There might be no demand for crates, prices might decline, a short crop of berries might decrease the demand or a large crop enhance it. These, and many other, contingencies not remote, would enter into the problem, which would render any conclusion unreliable and unsatisfactory. For the rejection of the proposed testimony there must be a new trial. In several of the eases cited in this opinion, the term \u201cinjury\u201d is used. The term as used must be understood as synonymous with \u201cdamages.\u201d The authors are discussing the character of damages for which a party guilty of negligence, resulting in injury, is liable, and not the question of proximate cause. It is only in this view that the word \u201cinjury\u201d is to be understood. The jury have, under instructions to which there are no exceptions, found that defendant is guilty of actionable negligence. The exception is pointed only to the exclusion of evidence in regard to damages. The costs should be divided equally between the parties.\nNew Trial.", "type": "majority", "author": "Connor, J.," } ], "attorneys": [ "Grady & Graham for the plaintiffs.", "Junius Davis and Stevens, Beasley & Weeks for the defendant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "JOHNSON v. RAILROAD CO.\n(Filed March 20, 1906).\nRailroads \u2014Negligence \u2014Fires \u2014Damages Recoverable \u2014 Profits \u2014 Evidence.\n1. In an action for damages for the negligent burning of plaintiffs\u2019 factory, evidence that plaintiffs had a contract to deliver a certain number of crates at a fixed profit; that they had on hand the material to complete this contract at the date of the fire, and that it was impossible to replace this material, was competent to be heard by the jury upon the issue of damages;\n2. When the cause of action is based upon a wrongful invasion of plaintiff\u2019s rights of person or property, he may recover all such damages, either direct or consequential, as flow naturally and proximately from the trespass, whether they could or could not have been anticipated.\n3. Where the profits lost by defendant\u2019s tortious conduct, proximately and naturally flow from his act and are reasonably definite and certain, they are recoverable; those which are speculative and contingent, are not.\nActioN by A. E. Johnson and R. E. Johnson, trading under the firm name of A. E. Johnson & Son, against Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Co., heard by Judge W. R. Allen and a jury, at the October Term, 1905, of the Superior Court of SAMPSON.\nThis was a civil action for the recovery of damages for the alleged negligent burning by defendant corporation of a building used by plaintiffs, A. E. Johnson & Son, for the manufacture of crates, baskets, etc. Plaintiffs set forth in their complaint that \u201cthey had accumulated upon said premises valuable forms, tools, fixtures, office supplies, furniture, etc., also large quantities of crates, baskets, etc., already manufactured; large quantities of crates, baskets, etc., in course of manufacture, and large quantities of raw material for the manufacture and completion of other crates and baskets. And plaintiffs further allege that, at said time, they had contracted and agreed to furnish to various persons, firms and corporations, an output of 75,000 completed crates from their said factory, upon which they would have realized a reasonable profit of $3,500, but for the loss and destruction of the aforesaid property by fire,\u201d etc. Defendant not-having sufficient knowledge or information to form a belief, denied this allegation. The plaintiffs upon the issue in regard to damages offered to show that they had a contract with the East Carolina Eruit Packing Co., to deliver 75,000 berry crates at a fixed profit of $3,500; that they \u2018had accumulated the material to complete this contract, and had the same on hand on November 29, 1904, when they were burned out; that it was impossible to replace this material in any of the markets of the country, and they lost the year\u2019s work; their laborers and servants were, for a long time, idle upon their hands, at heavy expense. This testimony was, upon defendant\u2019s objection, excluded. Plaintiffs excepted and assigned as error, upon the issue in regard to damages, the rejection of. the proposed testimony, and appealed.\nGrady & Graham for the plaintiffs.\nJunius Davis and Stevens, Beasley & Weeks for the defendant." }, "file_name": "0574-01", "first_page_order": 610, "last_page_order": 617 }