Opinion · Supreme Court of the United States

Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Co. v. Gainey

Chesapeake & Ohio Ry. Co. v. Gainey, 241 U.S. 494 (1916)

Type
Opinion
Court
Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction
Federal
Date
1916-06-05
Topic
general

Mr. Justice Pitney delivered the opinion of the court. This was an action under the Employers’ Liability Act of Congress of April 22, 1908, as amended April 5, *496 1910 (c. 149, 35 Stat. 65; c. 143, 36 Stat. 291). It was brought to recover damages for the death of Richard Dwyer, caused by the negligence of the railroad company, while he was in its employ in interstate commerce. The sole beneficiary was decedent's widow, who originally qualified as administratrix and brought the action, but has died since the allowance of the present writ of error.

Citator

UpLaw has not yet analyzed Chesapeake & Ohio Railway Co. v. Gainey. The absence of a flag is not a finding that it is good law.

Cited by
33 opinions

Headnotes

  1. Constitutional Law — Right to Jury Trial The Seventh Amendment's guarantee of a jury trial does not apply to actions brought in state courts under the Federal Employers' Liability Act. 241 U.S. at 494 (citing Minneapolis & St. Louis R.R. v. Bombolis, 241 U.S. 211)
  2. Remedies — Federal Employers' Liability Act — Present Value of Future Benefits In estimating the amount of damages recoverable under the Federal Employers' Liability Act, the interest-bearing capacity of a present award must be considered, and the whole loss sustained by the beneficiaries over the period the benefits cover cannot be included in the verdict without rebate or discount. 241 U.S. at 494 (citing Chesapeake & Ohio Ry. v. Kelly, 241 U.S. 485)
  3. Remedies — Wrongful Death — Measure of Recovery Where a jury awards a dependent beneficiary a lump sum representing the full future pecuniary loss sustained by reason of a death, the instruction and verdict is erroneous if it includes the entire loss for the period the award covers without any rebate or discount for present payment; the beneficiary's recovery must reflect the present, interest-bearing value of the sum rather than the gross future loss treated as sustained wholly at the time of death. 241 U.S. at 495–496
CHES. OHIO RY.v. GAINEY,241 U.S. 494(1916)
36 S.Ct. 633
CHESAPEAKE OHIO RAILWAY COMPANYv. GAINEY, ADMINISTRATOR OF DWYER.
ERROR TO THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF KENTUCKY.
No. 453.
Submitted April 19, 20, 1916.
Decided June 5, 1916.
Minneapolis St. Louis R.R. v.Bombolis, ante, p. 211, followed to the effect that the Seventh Amendment does not apply to actions brought in the state courts under the Federal Employers' Liability Act.Chesapeake Ohio Ry. v.Kelly, ante, p. 485, followed to the effect that in estimating the amount of damages recoverable under the Employers' Liability Act, the interest bearing capacity of a present award must be considered; and the whole loss sustained by the beneficiaries during the period that the benefits cover cannot be included in the verdict without rebate or discount.162 Ky. 427, reversed.
THE facts, which involve the application of the Seventh
Amendment to cases in the state court under the Employers'
Liability Act, the construction of that act, and the validity of
a judgment thereunder, are stated in the opinion.
Page 495
Mr. E.L. Worthington, Mr. W.D. Cochran, Mr. LeWrightBrowningandMr. P.K. Malinfor plaintiff in error.1Mr. R.S. DinkleandMr. Watt M. Prichardfor defendant in error:

Complaint that certain phraseology used in the measure of damage instruction was misleading is without merit, because it is evident that plaintiff in error was not prejudiced thereby.

Present cash value theory is not correct in principle and has never been sanctioned by the Supreme Court of the United States or lower Federal courts.C. O. Ry. Co. v.Kelly's Admr.,160 Ky. 296.

There was no substantial error in the measure of damage instruction, as a consideration of it as a whole shows clearly that the jury were limited to finding the "pecuniary loss" to the dependent beneficiary.

If errors were in the measure of damage instruction, same were invited by plaintiff in error and were not properly preserved as ground of error either under the state practice or the practice of this court.L. N. Ry. Co. v.Woodford,153 S.W. 722;156 Ky. 398;Pattersonv.Moss, 97 S.W. 397; 30 Ky. L.R. 10;L. N. Ry. Co. v.Wilkin's Guardian, 136 S.W. 1024;L. N. Ry. Co. v.Simrall's Admr.,127 Ky. 55;104 S.W. 1011;Loughridgev.Baugh, 118 S.W. 321;Burdettev.Mullin's Exr., 110 S.W. 855;Ill. Central Ry. v.Skaggs,240 U.S. 66.
MR. JUSTICE PITNEY delivered the opinion of the court.
This was an action under the Employers' Liability Act of Congress of April 22, 1908, as amended April 5,Page 4961910 (c. 149,35 Stat. 65; c. 143,36 Stat. 291). It was brought to recover damages for the death of Richard Dwyer, caused by the negligence of the railroad company, while he was in its employ in interstate commerce. The sole beneficiary was decedent's widow, who originally qualified as administratrix and brought the action, but has died since the allowance of the present writ of error.

Laying aside a contention based upon the Seventh Amendment to the Federal Constitution, which has been disposed of inMinneapolis St. Louis R.R. v.Bombolis, ante, p. 211, the only question raised relates to the method adopted in ascertaining the damages. The jury returned a verdict for $16,000. On appeal to the Kentucky Court of Appeals it was insisted that this amount was grossly excessive, and was the result of erroneous instructions to the jury. It was contended that the verdict of $16,000 if placed at interest would yield an annual income greater than the amount the widow would have received had she lived, and would yet leave her the principal to dispose of at the time of her death. The court overruled this contention, on the authority ofChes. Ohio Ry. v.Kelly'sAdmx.,160 Ky. 296, where the same court held that in such a case the whole loss is sustained at the time of intestate's death, and is to be included in the verdict without rebate or discount. A reading of the opinion of the Court of Appeals in the present case (162 Ky. 427) makes it evident that it was only upon this theory that the court was able to reach a conclusion sustaining the verdict. Since we have held, inChes.Ohio Ry. v.Kelly, Admx., this day decided,ante, p. 485, that the theory is erroneous, it results that the judgment here under review must beReversed and the cause remanded for further proceedings notinconsistent with this opinion.Page 497
  1. Page 495 See note on p. 212,ante. ↩