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1 Pelt. 242

West v. Cook

Louisiana Court of Appeal

Decided May 20, 1918

Louisiana Court of Appeal · decided 1918-05-20

Decided 1918-05-20

¶1OPINION.

St. Paul Judge.

¶2This Is an action for damages for an alleged assault and battery, and also for detaining under a lessor's claim certain property not liable to seizure for rent.

¶3not The alleged assault and battery are not only proved, but on the ntrary, the plaintiff was the aggressor, and the only aggressor, defendant simply disarming her when she sought to strike him.

¶4Two judges heard the witnesses, the judge a qua and a judge of the criminal oourt, and both reached the conclusion above stated, in which we concur.

¶5But the evidence does nhtw that defendant refused to -surrender some of plaintiff's property, not liable to seizure for rent, inoluding a bed and bedding. This is shown by the testimony of two members of the bar, who made demand for it; and is admitted by- defendant.

¶6Defendant did not refuse to surrender plaintiff's personal olothing, but he did refuse to surrender her other effects, including her bed and bedding; and plaintiff was obliged to resort to a writ of sequestration in order to obtain them.

¶7Plaintiff is therefore entitled to some damages, but these are merely nominal and we fix them at what would be a reasonable attorney's fee for suing out the writ, putting same at the sum of thirty dollars.

¶8We allow nothing for alleged injury to feelings,etc, for it is quite olear from this record that# ulaintlff herself by her own 'improper oonduot, brought about a situation whioh, if it did not justify defendant in detaining her bed and bedding when demamderi by her attorneys, yet made his aot in so doing somewhat excusable under the oiroumstanoeB.

¶9The judgment appealed from is therefore reversed, and it is now ordered that plaintiff Mrs. Hanoy 8. West have judgment against defen 4ant^for the full sum of twenty dollars with legal interest from judioi» demand until paid and oosts of both courts.

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