{ "id": 1559032, "name": "WILCOX v. BUTT'S DRUG STORES, Inc.", "name_abbreviation": "Wilcox v. Butt's Drug Stores, Inc.", "decision_date": "1934-07-17", "docket_number": "No. 3932", "first_page": "502", "last_page": "506", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "38 N.M. 502" }, { "type": "parallel", "cite": "35 P.2d 978" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.M.", "id": 8835, "name": "Supreme Court of New Mexico" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 52, "name_long": "New Mexico", "name": "N.M." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "40 A. L. R. 199", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "187 P. 272", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "25 N. M. 632", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 4734515 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/25/0632-01" ] }, { "cite": "72 Or. 422", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Or.", "case_ids": [ 4586557 ], "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "434" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/or/72/0422-01" ] }, { "cite": "63 A. L. R. 237", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "33 N. M. 440", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.M.", "case_ids": [ 1554435 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nm/33/0440-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 516, "char_count": 8669, "ocr_confidence": 0.477, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.3969602209891466e-07, "percentile": 0.6439425619022576 }, "sha256": "25d38266b29467fd62d764f772d43cefeee433bd433df6674888077164511a62", "simhash": "1:7dcdc50cda9720cd", "word_count": 1495 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T22:29:00.087305+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "WATSON, O. J., and SADLER, HUDSPETH, and ZINN, JJ., concur." ], "parties": [ "WILCOX v. BUTT\u2019S DRUG STORES, Inc." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "BICKLEY, Justice.\nAppellee, plaintiff below, was the owner of two high-class blooded dogs of the breed known as \u201cKing Charles spaniels.\u201d One was a male named \u201cBig Boy\u201d and one a female named \u201cSusie.\u201d\nThe appellant, defendant, conducted a pharmacy and dealt in and retailed drugs, medicines, and other merchandise.\nPlaintiff visited the drug store of the defendant and inquired of defendant\u2019s manager in charge for Cascara Laxative Tablets ,to administer to her dogs aforesaid. Big Boy was with her at the time and was exhibited to the defendant\u2019s said manager as one of the dogs to which she intended to administer said tablets. The defendant, by its said manager, after examining its stock, stated that there was not on hand the kind of Cascara Laxative Tablets plaintiff ordered, but filled said order with other tablets or pills having laxative qualities and represented to plaintiff that they were just as good as the kind she desired. The pills supplied contained strychnine in quantities harmless to human beings when administered in proper doses. Defendant did not advise plaintiff of the presence of strychnine in the pills substituted for the kind she had ordered, but represented them to be appropriate for the use she intended to make of them and that they could properly be administered to her dogs in the same dosage she had been accustomed to administer of the Cascara Laxative Tablets.\nPlaintiff administered the pills to the dogs, with the result that Big Boy was seized with convulsions and died of strychnine poisoning.\nPlaintiff sued to recover damages for the loss of her dog due to the alleged negligence of defendant.\nThe case was studiously tried before the trial judge, and complete findings of fact and law were made which were the basis of a judgment for plaintiff in the sum of $150 from which defendant appealed.\nAppellant\u2019s first point is that the evidence was insufficient to justify any judgment in favor of plaintiff. After a careful study of the record, we find that the findings of fact are sustained by substantial evidence.\nAppellant\u2019s second objection to the judgment is that the value .of the plaintiff\u2019s dog Big Boy was not to exceed $10.\nThe court made the following finding as to value: \u201cThat the said dog, \u2018Big Boy,\u2019 was of the species known as King Charles Spaniel, and that the said species of dogs known as King Charles Spaniels are rare in this country ; that said dog, \u2018Big Boy,\u2019 was of the value of at least One Hundred and Fifty Dollars.\u201d The exception to this finding is that it is not supported by a preponderance of the evidence and is contrary to the evidence, and that the evidence shows that said dog had no pecuniary value, and that sentimental damages are not recoverable for loss of property.\nAppellant\u2019s exception is unavailing so far as the supporting evidence is concerned, as we are unable to say that the court placed the value too high. Appellant is correct in asserting that damages for sentimental value are not recoverable, but incorrect in asserting that damages for the wrongful destruction of a dog must be limited to market value or pecuniary value. In Rutherford v. James, 33 N. M. 440, 270 P. 794, 63 A. L. R. 237, we decided: \u201cArticles in actual use in furnishing and equipping a home, and wearing apparel in use, even though they may have some secondhand market value, are not usually governed by the general rule of market value, for the law recognizes that they have a value when so used in the home that is not fairly estimated by their value as secondhand goods on the market. Where subordinate rules for the measure of damages run counter to the paramount rule of fair and just compensation, the former must yield to the principle underlying all such rules. For the loss of such property so situated and used, the measure of damages in case of loss by another\u2019s negligence is the value to the owner under all the circumstances, based on actual damages sustained by being deprived of his property, not including any mere sentimental or fanciful value he may for any reason place upon it.\u201d\nIn the case at bar, the dog was of a breed rare in this country, was a well-bred and intelligent animal, and had been a prize winner at a dog show. We are unable to say that it is established that there exists in this state a market value of such animals. Appellee testified that one cannot be purchased for $399 and that she placed a value upon the dog in question of $500. She testified as to her knowledge of dogs, and traits and breeds, and as to other qualities of the dogs in question. The Supreme Court of Oregon, in McCallister v. Sappingfield, 72 Or. 422, 144 P. 432, 434. said that the principles of law to be applied in actions to recover for the destruction of personal property not having a market value, applied to an action to recover for the destruction of a dog, and observed: \u201cThe true rule being that the owner of a dog wrongfully killed is not circumscribed in his proof to its market value, for, if it has no market value, he may prove its special value to him by showing its qualities, chai\u2019acteristics, and pedigree, and may offer the opinions of witnesses who are familiar with such qualities.\u201d There is much in this well-written and interesting opinion which we find applicable to the evidence in the case at bar. The Oregon court applied the principles we announced in Rutherford v. James, supra, and we think the trial court was guided by wisdom and principle in considering the evidence offered as to value in this case, in making his finding heretofore quoted.\nAppellant\u2019s third point is that the defendant corporation was not responsible for the alleged negligence. The argument is that the appellant is not responsible for the acts of its employee, the manager of its drug store. Appellant cites Archuleta v. Floersheim M. Co., 25 N. M. 632, 187 P. 272, 40 A. L. R. 199, presumably to the proposition that the master is not liable for the torts of his agent where the agent is not acting in the execution of his master\u2019s authority and within the course of his employment. That is the correct rule, but inapplicable to the facts in the case at bar. The plaintiff had been accustomed to purchase at defendant\u2019s drug stores Cascara Laxative Tablets and had administered them satisfactorily to her dogs. She asked defendant\u2019s servant, the drug store manager, for that kind of tablets, and the manager not finding them in stock, substituted another kind containing strychnine, as being \u201cjust as good\u201d for the purpose to which plaintiff explained she desired to put them. Plaintiff employed the medicine thus furnished in the manner directed by the druggist with disastrous lesults, heretofore stated. In 19 Corpus Juris, Druggists, \u00a7 49, it is said: \u201cA druggist who negligently delivers a deleterious drug when a harmless one is called for is responsible to the customer for the consequences, as being guilty of a breach of the duty which the law imposes on him to avoid acts in their nature dangerous to the lives of others.\u201d And again in section 55 of the same text, it is declared: \u201cWhere a customer asks for a drug for a particular specified purpose, the druggist impliedly represents that the drug which he sells is suitable for that purpose. The purchaser in such ease is warranted in using the solution furnished without further inquiry, and if he exercises reasonable care in using it for such purpose, and injury results therefrom, the druggist is liable in damages.\u201d We do not doubt that the principles announced in the foregoing quoted texts are controlling in the case at bar. Plaintiff asked for a drug efficient and harmless for a declared specific use, and was given something else which was deleterious and when employed caused an injury to plaintiff\u2019s damage. So we find appellant\u2019s third point to be without merit.\nThe appellant\u2019s claim that plaintiff was concurrently negligent by failing to use medicines specifically prepared and designed as remedies for ailments of dogs, and in going to a druggist to buy home femedies and relying upon the druggist\u2019s advice, instead of procuring for her dog the professional services of a veterinarian or other doctor of medicine, we find to be without merit.\nHaving considered all the points presented and argued, and finding no error in the record, the judgment will he affirmed and the cause remanded, and it is so ordered.\nWATSON, O. J., and SADLER, HUDSPETH, and ZINN, JJ., concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "BICKLEY, Justice." } ], "attorneys": [ "George O. Taylor, of Albuquerque, for appellant.'", "George S. Kloek, of Albuquerque, for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "35 P.(2d) 978\nWILCOX v. BUTT\u2019S DRUG STORES, Inc.\nNo. 3932.\nSupreme Court of New Mexico.\nJuly 17, 1934.\nRehearing Denied Oct. 1, 1934.\nGeorge O. Taylor, of Albuquerque, for appellant.'\nGeorge S. Kloek, of Albuquerque, for appellee." }, "file_name": "0502-01", "first_page_order": 538, "last_page_order": 542 }