{ "id": 8616637, "name": "WALTER HURT, By His Next Friend, S. A. HURT, v. WESTERN CAROLINA POWER COMPANY and SOUTHERN POWER COMPANY", "name_abbreviation": "Hurt ex rel. Hurt v. Western Carolina Power Co.", "decision_date": "1927-12-14", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "696", "last_page": "698", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "194 N.C. 696" } ], "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": "128 S. E., 485", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "190 N. C., 24", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8595302 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/nc/190/0024-01" ] }, { "cite": "28 S. E., 367", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "121 N. C., 512", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8653469 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/121/0512-01" ] }, { "cite": "83 S. E., 12", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "167 N. C., 55", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11271321 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/167/0055-01" ] }, { "cite": "53 S. E., 847", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "141 N. C., 195", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11252529 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/141/0195-01" ] }, { "cite": "137 S. E., 153", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "193 N. C., 346", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2217704 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/193/0346-01" ] }, { "cite": "135 S. E., 339", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "192 N. C., 475", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8623768 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/192/0475-01" ] }, { "cite": "97 S. E., 388", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "176 N. C., 488", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8656432 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/176/0488-01" ] }, { "cite": "50 S. E., 448", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "138 N. C., 39", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "47 S. E., 421", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "135 N. C., 204", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8658815 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/135/0204-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 474, "char_count": 7167, "ocr_confidence": 0.468, "pagerank": { "raw": 2.319486623661327e-07, "percentile": 0.7898201787053994 }, "sha256": "838d8a8400750a9570fbc9a855d9454c601219fab4e22b37966164c397af26ca", "simhash": "1:d95069c2d79932d1", "word_count": 1225 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:26:29.544042+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "WALTER HURT, By His Next Friend, S. A. HURT, v. WESTERN CAROLINA POWER COMPANY and SOUTHERN POWER COMPANY." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Stacy, C. J.\nThe validity of the trial is called in question by numerous exceptions and assignments of error, but we shall not consider them seriatim, as it is necessary to award a new trial for errors in tbe charge on tbe issues of negligence and damages.\nWith respect to the liability of the defendants for plaintiff\u2019s injuries, the following excerpt from the court\u2019s charge to the jury, constitutes one of defendants\u2019 exceptive assignments of error:\n\u201cNow, if you find, gentlemen of the jury, by the greater weight of the evidence, that they (the defendants) did create malaria-bearing mosquitoes by reason of the impounding of the water in this way that breeded and was capable of breeding and did breed malaria-bearing mosquitoes, why, then, if you find that by the greater weight of the evidence, they (the defendants) would be guilty of negligence.\u201d\nThe vice of this instruction lies in the fact that it makes no reference to proximate cause. One may be ever so negligent, but unless such negligence proximately produces injury to another, no action for damages may be maintained therefor. Drum v. Miller, 135 N. C., 204, 47 S. E., 421. In other words, to constitute actionable negligence, there must be both negligence, or a breach of some legal duty, and injury proximately resulting therefrom.\nSpeaking to the question in Ramsbottom v. R. R., 138 N. C., 39, 50 S. E., 448, Solee, J., delivering the opinion of the Court, said: \u201cTo establish actionable negligence, the question of contributory negligence being out of the case, the plaintiff is required to show by the greater weight of the testimony, first, that there has been a failure to exercise proper care in the performance of some legal duty which the defendant owed the plaintiffs under the circumstances in which they were placed, proper care being that degree of care which a prudent man should use under like circumstances and charged with like duty; and, second, that such negligent breach of duty was the proximate cause of the injury\u2014 a cause that produced the result in continuous sequence and without which it would not have occurred, and one from which any man of ordinary prudence could have foreseen that such result was probable under all the facts as they existed.\u201d This is still the law with the modification contained in Drum v. Miller, supra, and many other cases \u201cthat it is not required that the particular injury should be foreseen, and it is sufficient if it could reasonably be contemplated that injury or harm might follow the wrongful act.\u201d Hudson v. R. R., 176 N. C., 488, 97 S. E., 388; Gore v. Wilmington, ante, 450.\nAgain, on the issue of damages, the jury was instructed as follows:\n\u201cIn this class of eases the plaintiff is entitled to recover as damages one compensation for all injuries, past and prospective, in consequence of the defendant\u2019s wrongful or negligent acts. These are understood to embrace indemnity for actual loss of time, nursing and medical expenses, or loss from inability to perform ordinary labor, or capacity to earn money. Plaintiff is to have a reasonable satisfaction, if he be entitled to recover, for loss of both bodily and mental powers or for actual suffering, both of body and mind, which are the immediate and necessary consequences of the injury and this is for the jury to say under all the circumstances what is a fair compensation, what is a fair, reasonable sum which defendant ought to pay to the plaintiff by way of compensation for the injury he has sustained; the age and occupation of the plaintiff or injured party, nature and extent of his business, the value of his services, the amount he was earning from his business or realized from fixed wages at the time of the injury, whether he was employed at all or not, whether he was employed at a fixed salary or a professional man, are matters properly to be considered.\u201d\nA similar instruction, in almost identical language, was held for error in Shipp v. Stage Lines, 192 N. C., 475, 135 S. E., 339, where the plaintiff, as he is here, was an unemancipated minor, living with his parents. There, it was said: \u201cThe charge is defective in that it fails to limit the plaintiff\u2019s recovery to the present worth of a fair and reasonable compensation for his mental and physical pain and suffering, if any, and for his permanent injuries, if any, resulting in the impairment of his power or ability to earn money after reaching his majority.\u201d\nIt seems to be the universal holding that an unemaneipated infant cannot recover, as an element of damages in an action for personal injuries, for loss of time or diminished earning capacity during his minority. Gillis v. Transit Corp., 193 N. C., 346, 137 S. E., 153; Hayes v. R. R., 141 N. C., 195, 53 S. E., 847. The father is entitled to the services and earnings of his minor child so long as the latter is legally in his custody or under his control and not manumitted. Floyd v. R. R., 167 N. C., 55, 83 S. E., 12; Williams v. R. R., 121 N. C., 512, 28 S. E., 367.\nFor the errors, as indicated, there must be a new trial, and it is so ordered.\nNew trial.", "type": "majority", "author": "Stacy, C. J." } ], "attorneys": [ "Morgan & Ragland for plaintiff.", "Hudgins, Watson & Washburn, Pless, Winborne, Pless & Proctor, W. S. O\u2019B. Robinson, Jr., and J. H. Marion for defendants." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "WALTER HURT, By His Next Friend, S. A. HURT, v. WESTERN CAROLINA POWER COMPANY and SOUTHERN POWER COMPANY.\n(Filed 14 December, 1927.)\n1. Negligence \u2014 Proximate Canse \u2014 Ponding Waters \u2014 Health\u2014Instructions \u2014Appeal and Error.\nIn an action to recover damages for the consequent sickness or ill health of the plaintiff resulting from the alleged negligence of the defendant power company in damming a stream and constructing its plant, the question of proximate cause is a vital element in order for him to recover, and an omission so to charge upon the evidence in the case is reversible error.\n3. Damages \u2014 Parent and Child \u2014 Infants\u2014Negligence.\nAn unemancipated infant can recover only such permanent damages for an injury as may result to him after his majority.\nAppeal by defendants from Moore, J., at July Term, 1927, of McDowell.\nCivil action (companion suit to Godfrey v. Poiuer Go., 190 N. C., 24, 128 S. E., 485) to recover damages for an alleged negligent injury to plaintiff, a minor 17 years of age, resulting in sickness, loss of time, diminished earning capacity, expenses, etc., caused by the negligent manner, so plaintiff alleges, in which the defendants have constructed their dams, waterworks and hydro-electric power plant along the Catawba River near the vicinity of plaintiff\u2019s home, diverting and pond-ing the waters of said river and leaving them in such negligent condition as to cause the breeding of anopheles mosquitoes and the spread of malaria and sickness to the inhabitants, including the plaintiff, throughout the surrounding territory.\nUpon denial of liability, and issues joined, the jury returned the following verdict:\n\u201c1. Was plaintiff injured by the negligent conduct of the defendant as alleged in the complaint? A. Yes.\n\u201c2. What damage, if any, is plaintiff entitled to recover ? A. $1,000.\u201d\nFrom a judgment on the verdict in favor of plaintiff, the defendants appeal, assigning errors.\nMorgan & Ragland for plaintiff.\nHudgins, Watson & Washburn, Pless, Winborne, Pless & Proctor, W. S. O\u2019B. Robinson, Jr., and J. H. Marion for defendants." }, "file_name": "0696-01", "first_page_order": 764, "last_page_order": 766 }