Evans v. Littell

Decided September 7, 1871

Court of Appeals of Kentucky · decided 1871-09-07

<p>Damages — Injury to Property — Repelling Assault — Vindictive Damages.</p> <p>The jury should have found for the appellant, the value of the horse unless it was hilled by appellees in repelling an assault made on them by him, which could not have been successfully resisted by the use of less force than was resorted to by them. If the appellant willingly engaged in the combat he is not entitled to vindictive damages.</p>

Decided 1871-09-07

¶1Opinion by

Judge Lindsay :

¶2We are of the opinion that the instructions in this case were as favorable to the appellant as he had the right to demand.

¶3Under the same the jury were bound to find for him the value of his horse unless it was killed by the appellees in repelling an assault made upon them by him, which could not have been successfully repelled by the use of less force than was resorted to by them.

¶4Appellant had no right to'vindictive damages in any state of case. The evidence shows clearly that if he did not provoke, he willingly and eagerly engaged in the combat.

¶5The verdict is not so flagrantly against the weight of the evidence as to authorize the interference of this court.

¶6Judgment affirmed.