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188 A.D. 338

Schaupp v. Turner

Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York · decided 1919-06-30

Appeal by the defendant, Jo.hn M. Turner, from a judgment of the County Court of Albany county in favor of the plaintiff, entered in the office of the clerk of the county of Albany on the 21st day of August, 1917, affirming a judgment of the City Court of Albany, and also an appeal is taken from an order entered in said clerk’s office denying defendant’s motion for a new trial made upon the minutes.

Decided 1919-06-30

John M. Kellogg, P. J. (dissenting):

¶1The plaintiff was entitled, under the complaint, the proof and the charge, to such damages only as he had sustained by the loss of his wife’s services and the loss of her society and companionship. Her services as housekeeper had a commercial value which could be proved. No witness can testify as to the money value of the society and comfort of a wife, to a husband. Nevertheless if the plaintiff, by the wrongful act of another, has been deprived of such society and comfort, he is entitled to recover his damages therefor, and the jury, as men of practical -common sense, are to assess the damages upon the facts shown. As a result of the injury the wife had a nervous breakdown, was unable to perform her ordinary domestic services, was in bed for days and was under a nervous excitement and strain for weeks.

¶2Apparently plaintiff’s dog was not licensed, and for that reason no damage was allowed on account of its death. The fact still remains that the dog was under the care of a veterinary for days and the plaintiff incurred a bill of twenty dollars for its treatment and burial. Common humanity required such services and, without regard to the question whether the dog has at law a value, the defendant’s negligence necessarily caused the plaintiff to incur that expense. The verdict is not unreasonable and should be sustained. I favor an affirmance.

¶3Lyon, J., concurred.

¶4Judgment and order reversed and new trial granted, with costs to the appellant to abide the event.

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