Johnston v. Smith

Main, J.

Some time during the month of July, 1914, the defendant Warren Smith hired from the respondent four head of horses to be worked on a combination harvester and thresher during the harvesting season for that year. The compensation for the use of the horses was to be at the rate of seventy-five cents per day for each horse while it was at work. On the 18th day of August, 1914, the plaintiff demanded possession of the horses, and they were returned to him on that day. Thereafter the present action was instituted, the plaintiff claiming that, during the time the horses were in the possession of the defendants, they had been overworked and improperly cared for, and that by reason thereof the plaintiff has been deprived of their use for a number of weeks after they had been returned to him. The cause was tried to the court without a jury, and resulted in a judgment in favor of the plaintiff for the sum of $143.25. From this judgment, the defendants have appealed.

No question appears in the case relative to the earnings of the horses during the time they were in the possession of the appellants. The principal question is whether the horses were overworked and improperly cared for during the period they were under hire. This is a question of fact. The evidence is conflicting. Upon this conflicting evidence the trial court found in favor of the respondent. A review of the evidence leads to the conclusion that the trial court’s finding upon this question should not be disturbed.

It is claimed, however, that the amount of the judgment is too large, in that the respondent was allowed damages at the rate of seventy-five cents per day for each horse during the period of disability, including Sundays. According to the finding of the trial court, one horse was disabled and unfit for work from August 18, 1914, to September 28, 1914; one from August 18, 1914, to October 1, 1914; one from August 18, 1914, to October 27, 1914; and one from August 18, 1914, to September 28, 1914; making a total disability for the four horses of 191 days, including Sundays. Finding the reasonable value of the use of each horse at seventy-five cents per day, the damages amounted to $143.25, and this is the amount for which judgment was entered.

The respondent, on cross-examination, in answer to a question, stated that he did not work his horses on Sundays. If he did not work his horses on Sunday, there appears to be no reason why he should be given damages for the loss of their use on that day. Whether damages could in any event be recovered for the loss of the use of the horses on Sunday, there is no necessity here to inquire, as, under the respondent’s own testimony, he was not entitled to compensation for that day.

The case will be remanded to the superior court with direction to modify the judgment in accordance with the views herein expressed. The costs in this court will be charged to the respondent.

Morris, C. J., Parker, and Holcomb, JJ., concur.