DAMAGE,
torts. The loss caused by one person to another, or to his property,
either with the design of injuring him, with negligence and
carelessness, or by inevitable accident.
2.
He who has caused the damage is bound to repair it and, if he has done
it maliciousiy, he may be. compelled to pay beyond the actual loss. When
damage occurs by accident, without blame to anyone, the loss is borne
by the owner of the thing injured; as, if a horse run away with his
rider, without any fault of the latter, and injure the property of
another person, the injury is the loss of the owner of the thing. When
the damage happens by the act of God, or inevitable accident, as by
tempest, earthquake or other natural cause, the loss must be borne by
the owner. Vide Com. Dig. h. t.; Sayer on Damages.
3.
Pothier defines damage (dommiges et interets) to be the loss which some
one has sustained, and the gain which he has failed of making. Obl. n.
159.
DAMAGE FEASANT,
torts. This is a corruption of the French words faisant dommage, and
signifies doing damage. This term is usually applied to the injury which
animals belonging to one person do upon the land of another, by feeding
there, treading down his grass, corn, or other production of the earth.
3 Bl. Com. 6; Co. Litt.
142, 161; Com. Dig. Pleader, 3 M 26. By the common law, a distress of
animals or things damage feasant is allowed. Cow. Inst. 230; Gilb. on
Distress and Replevin, 21. It was also allowed by the ancient customs
of France.
11 Toull. 402 Repertoire de Jurisprudence, Merlin, au mot Fourriere; 1
Fournel, Traits de Voisinage, au mot Abandon. Vide Animals.
DAMAGED GOODS.
In the language of the customs, are goods subject to duties, which have
received some injury either in the voyage home, or while bonded in
warehouses. See Abatement, merc. law.
DAMAGES,
practice. The indemnity given by law, to be recovered from a wrong doer
by the person who has sustained an injury, either in his person,
property, or relative rights, in consequence of the acts of another.
2. Damages are given either for breaches of contracts, or for tortious acts.
3.
Damages for breach of contract may be given, for example, for the
non-performance of a written or verbal agreement; or of a covenant to do
or not to do a particular thing.
4.
As to the measure of damages the general rule is that the delinquent
shall answer for all the injury which results from the immediate and
direct breach of his agreement, but not from secondary and remote
consequences.
5.
In cases of an eviction, on covenant of seisin and warranty, the rule
seems to be to allow the consideration money, withinterest and costs. 6
Watts & Serg. 527; 2 Dev. R. 30; 3 Brev. R. 458. See 7 Shepl. 260; 4
Dev. 46. But in Massachusetts, on the covenant of warranty, the measure of damages is the value of the land at the time of eviction. 4 Kent's Com. 462, 3, and the cases there cited; 3 Mass. 523; 4 Mass. 108; 1 Bay, 19, 265; 3 Desaus. Eq. R. 247; 4 Penn. St. R. 168.
6.
In estimating the measure of damages sustained in consequence of the
acts of a common carrier, it frequently becomes a question whether the
value of the goods at the place of embarkation or the port of
destination is the rule to establish the damages sustained. It has been
ruled that the value at the port of destination is the proper criterion.
12 S. & R. 186;. 8 John. R. 213; 10 John. R. 1; 14 John. R. 170; 15
John. R. 24. But contrary decisions have taken place. 3 Caines, R. 219 4
Hayw. R. 112; and see 4 Mass. R. 115; 1 T. R. 31; 4 T. R. 582.
7.
Damages for tortious acts are given for acts against the person, as an
assault and battery against the reputation, as libels and slander,
against the property, as trespass, when force is used; or for the
consequential acts of the tort-feasor, as, when a man, in consequence of
building a dam on his own premises, overflows his neighbor's land; or
against the relative rights of the party injured, as for criminal
conversation with his wife.
8.
No settled rule or line of distinction can be marked out when a
possibility of damages shall be accounted too remote to entitle a party
to claim a recompense: each case must be ruled by its own circumstances.
Ham. N. P. 40; Kames on Eq. 73, 74. Vide 7 Vin. Ab. 247; Yelv. 45, a; Id. 176,
a; Bac. Ab. h. t.; 1 Lilly's Reg. 525; Domat, liv. 3, t. 5, s. 2, n. 4;
Toull. liv. 3, n. 286; 2 Saund. 107, note; 1 Rawle's Rep. 27; Coop.
Just. 606; Com. Dig. 11. t.; Bouv. Inst. Index, h. t. See, Cause;
Remote.
9.
Damages for torts are either compensatory or vindictive. By
compensatory damages is meant such as are given morely to recompense a
party who has sustained a loss in consequence of the acts of the
defendant, and where there are no circumstances to aggravate the act,
for the purpose of compensating the plaintiff for his loss; as, for
example, Where the defendant had caused to be seized, property of A for
the debt of B, when such property was out of A's possession, and there
appeared reason to believe it was B's. Vindictive damages are such as
are given against a defendant, who, in addition to the trespass, has
been guilty of acts of outrage and wrong which cannot well be measured
by a compensation in money; as, for example, where the defendant went to
A's bouse, and with insult and outrage seized upon A's property, for a
debt due by B, and carried it away, leaving A's family in distress.
Sedgw. on Dam. 39; 2 Greenl. Ev. §253; 1 GIllis. 483; 12 Conn. 580; 2 M. & S. 77; 4 S. & R. 19; 5 Watts, 375; 5 Watts & S. 524; 1 P. S. R. 190, 197.
10.
In cases of loss of which have been insured from maritime dangers, when
an adjustment is made, the damages are settled by valuing the property,
not according to prime cost, but at the price at which it may be sold
at the time of settlling the average. Marsh. Inst. B. 1, c. 14, s. 2, p.
621. See Adjustment; Price.
DAMAGES, EXCESSIVE. Such damages as are unreasonably great, and not warranted by law.
2.
The damages are excessive in the following cases: 1. When they are
gre-ater than is demanded by the writ and declaration. 6 Call 85; 7
Wend. 330. 2. When they are greater than is authorized by the rules and
principles of law, as in the case of actions upon contracts, or for
torts done to property, the value of which may be ascertained by
evidence. 4Mass. 14; 5 Mass. 435; 6 Halst. 284.
3.
But in actions for torts to the person or reputation of the plaintiff,
the damages will not be considered excessive unless they are outrageous.
2 A. K. Marsh 365; Hard. 586; 3 Dana, 464; 2 Pick. 113; 7 Pick. 82; 9
John. 45; 10 John. 443; 4 Mass. 1; 9 Pick. 11; 2 Penn. 578.
4. When the damages are excessive, a new trial will be granted on that ground.
DAMAGES INADEQUATE. Such as are unreasonably low, and less than is required by law.
2.
Damages are inadequate, when the plaintiff sues for a breach of
contract, and the damages given are less than the amount proved. 9 Pick.
11.
3. In actions for torts, the smallness of damages cannot be considered by the court. 3 Bibb, 34. See 11 Mass. 150.
4. In a proper case, a new trial will be granted on the ground of inadequate damages.
DAMAGES ON BILLS OF EXCHANGE,
contracts. A penalty affixed by law to the non-payment of a bill of
exchange when it is not paid at maturity, which the parties to it are
obliged to pay to the holder.
2.
The discordant and shifting regulaaions on this subject which have been
enacted in the several states, render it almost impossible to give a
correct view of this subject. The drawer of a bill of exchange may limit
the amount of damages by making a memorandum in the bill, that they
shall be a definite sum; as, for example, "In case of non-acceptance or
non-payment, reexchange and expenses not to exceed ___________ dollars. 1
Bouv. Inst. n. 1133. The following abstract of the laws of several of
the United States, will be acceptable to the commercial lawyer.
3. - Alabama. 1. When drawn on a person in the United States.
By the Act of January 15, 1828, the damages on a protested bill of
exchange drawn on a person, either in this or any other of the United States,
are ten per cent. By the Act of December 21, 1832, the damages on such
bills drawn on any person in this state, or upon any person payable inNew Orleans, and purchased by the Bank of Alabama or its branches, are five per cent.
4. - 2. Damages on protested bills drawn on on person out of the United States are twenty per cent.
5.
- Arkansus. 1. It is provided by the Act of February 28, 1838, s. 7,
Ark. Rev. Stat. 150, that "every bill of exchange expressed to be for
value received, drawn or negotiated within this state, payable after
date, to order or bearer, which shall be duly presented for acceptance
or payment, and protested for non-acceptance or non-payment, shall be
subject to damages in the following cases: first, if the bill have been
drawn on any person at any place within this state, at the rate of two
per centum on the principal sum specified in the bill; second, if the
bill shall be drawn on any person, and payable in any of the states of
Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois, and Missouri, or any point on the Ohio river, at the rate of
four per centum on the principal sum in such bill specified: third, if
the bill shall have been drawn on auy person, and payable at any place
within the Iimits of the United States, not hereinbefore expressed, at
the rate of five per centum on the principal sum specified in the bill:
fourth, if the bill shall have been drawn on any person, and payable at
any point or place beyond the limits of the United States, at the rate
of ten per centum on the sum specified in the bill.
6.
- 2. And by the 8th section of the same act, if any bill of exchange
expressed to be for value received, and made payable to order or bearer,
shall be drawn on any person at any place within this state, and
accepted and protested for non-payment, there shall be allowed and paid
to the holder, by the acceptor, damages in the following cases: first,
if the bill be drawn by any person at any place within this sate, at the
rate of two per centum on the principal sum therein specified: second,
if the bill be drawn at any place without this state, but within the
limits of the United States, at teh rate of six per centum on the sum
therein specified: third, if the bill be drawn on any person at any
place without the limites of the United Sates, at the rate of ten per
centum on the sum therein specified. And, by sect 9, in addition to the
damages allowed inthe two preceding sections to the holder of any bill
of exchange protested for non-payment or nonacceptance, he shall be
entitled to costs of protest, and interest at the rate of ten per centum
per annum, on the amount specified in the bill, from the date of teh
protest until the amount of the bill shall be paid."
7. - Connecticut. 1. When drawn on another place in the United States. When drawn upon persons in the city of New York,
two per cent. When in other parts of the state of New York, or the New
England states (other than this,) New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware,
maryland, Virginia, or the District of Columbia, three per cent. When on
persons in North or South Carolina, Georgia, or Ohio,
five per cent. On other states, territories or districts, in the United
States, eight per cent, on the principal sum in each case, with
interest on the amount of such sum, with the damage after notice and
demand. Stat. tit. 71, Notes and Bills, 413, 414. When drawn on persons
residing in Connecticut no damages are allowed.
8. - 2. When the bill is drawn on person out of the United States,
twenty per cent is said to be the amount which ought reasonably to be
allowed. Swift's Ev. 336. There is no statutory provision on the
subject.
9. - Delaware.
If any person shall draw or endorse any bill of exchange upon any
person in Europe, or beyond seas, and the same shall be returned back
unpaid, with a legal protest, the drawer there and all others concerned
shall pay and discharge the contents of the said bill, together with
twenty per cent advance f or the damage thereof; and so proportionably
for a greater or less sum, in the sam specie as the same bill was drawn,
or current money of this government equivalent to that which was first
paid to the drawer or endorser.
10. - Georgia. 1. Bills on persons in the United States.
First, in the state. No damages are allonved on protested bills of
exchange drawn in the state, on a person in the state, except bank
bills, on which the damages are ten per cent for refusal to pay in
specie. 4 Laws of Geo. 75. Secondly, upon bills drawn or negotiated in
the state on persons out of the state, but within the United States, five per cent, and interest. Act of 1823, Prince's Dig. 454; 4 Laws of Geo. 212.
11. - 2. When drawn upon a person out of the United States,
ten per cent. damages and postage, protest and necessary expenses; also
the premium, if any, on the face of the bill; but if at a discount, the
discount must be deducted. Act of 1827, Prince's Dig. 462; 4 Laws of
Geo. 221.
12. - Indiana. 1. When drawn by a person in the state on another person in Indiana, no damages are allowed.
13. - 2. When drawn on a person in another state, territory, or district, five per cent. 3. When drawn on a person out of the United States, ten percent. Rev. Code, c. 13, Feb. 17, 1838.
14. - Kentucky. 1. When drawn by a person in Kentucky on
a person in the state, or in any other state, territory, or district of
the United Stateg, no damages are allowed. See, Acts, Sessions of 1820,
p. 823.
15.
- 2. When on a person in a foreign country, damages are given at the
rate of ten per cent. per ann. from the date of the bill until paid, but
not more than eighteen months interest to be collected. 2 Litt. 101.
16. - Louisiana.
The rate of damages to be allowed and paid upon the usual protest for
non-acceptance, or for non-payment of bills of exchange, drawn or
negotiated within this state in the following cases, is as follows: on
all bills of exchange drawn on or payable in foreign countries, ten
dollars upon the hundred upon the principal sum specified in such bills;
on all bills of exchange, drawn on and payable in other states in the
United States, five dollars upon the hundred upon the principal sum
specified in such bill. Act of March 7, 1838, s. 1.
17.
By the second section of the same act it is provided that such damages
shall be in lieu of interest, charge of protest, and all other charges,
incurred previous to the time of giving notice of non-acceptance or
non-payment; but the principal and damages shall bear interest
thereafter.
18.
By section 3, it is enacted, that if the contents of such bill be
expressed in the money of account of the United States, the amount of
the principal and of the damages herein allowed for the non-acceptance
or non-payment shall be ascertained and determined, without any
reference to the rate of exchange existing between this state and the
place on which such bill shall have been drawn, at the time of the
payment, on notice of non-acceptance or non- payment.
19. - Maine. 1. When drawn payable in the United States.
The damages in addition to the interest are as follows: if for one
hundred dollars or more, and drawn, accepted, or endorsed in the state,
at a place, seventy-five miles distant from the place where drawn, one
per cent.; if, for any sum drawn, accepted, and endorsed in this state,
and payable in New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, or New
York, three per cent; if payable in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware,
Maryland, Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, or the District of
Columbia, six per cent.; if payable in any other state, nine per cent.
Rev. St. tit. 10 c. 115, §§110, 111.
20. - 2. Out of the United States,
no statutory provision. It is the usage to allow the holder of the bill
the money for which it was drawn, reduced to the currency of the state,
at par, and also the charges of protest with American interest upon
those sums from the time when the bill should have been paid and the
further sum of one-tenth of the money for which the bill was drawn, with
interest upon it from the time payment of the dishonored bill was
demanded of the drawer. But nothing has been allowed for re-exchange,
whether it is below or above par. Per Parsons, Ch. J. 6 Mass. 157, 161
see 6 Mass. 162.
21. Maryland. 1. No damages are allowed when the bill is drawn in the state on another person in Maryland.
22. - 2. When it is drawn on any "person, company, or society, or corporation in any other of the United States,"
eight per cent. damages on the amount of the bill are allowed, and an
amount to purchase another bill, at the current exchange, and interest
and losses of protest.
24.
- 3. If the bill be drawn on a "foreign country," fifteen per cent.
damages are allowed, and the expense of purchasing a new bill as above,
besides interest and costs of protest. See Act of 1785, c. 88.
25. - Michigan. 1. When a bill is drawn in the state on a person in the state, no damages are allowed.
26.
- 2. When drawn or endorsed within the state and payable out of it,
within the United States, the rule is as follows: in addition to the
contents of the bill, with interest and costs, if payable within the
states of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and New York, three per
cent. on the contents of the bill if payable within the states of
Missouri, Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode
Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland,
Virginia, or the District of Columbia, five per centum; if payable
elsewhere in the United States, out of Michigan, ten per cent. Rev. St. 156, S. 10.
27. - 3. When the bill is drawn within this state, and payable out of the United States,
the party liable must pay the same at the current rate of exchange at
the time of demand of payment, and damages at the rate of five per cent.
on the contents thereof, together with interest on the said contents,
which must be computed, from the date of the protest, and are in full of
all damages and charges and expenses. Rev. Stat. 156, s. 9.
28. - Mississippi.
1. When drawn on a person in the state, five per cent. damages are
allowed. How. & Hutch. 376, ch. 35, s. 20, L. 1827; How. Rep. 3.
195.
29. - 2. When drawn on a person in another state or territory, no damages are given. Id. 3. When drawn on a person out of the United States,
ten per cent. damages are given, and all charges incideutal thereto,
with lawful interest. How. & Hutch. 376, ch. 35, s. 19, L. 1837.
30. - Missouri.
1. When drawn on a person within the state, four per cent. damages on
the sum specified in the bill are given. Rev. Code, 1835, §8, cl. 1, p.
120.
31.
- 2. When on another state or territory, ten per cent. Rev. Code, 1835,
§8, cl. 2, p. 120. 3. When on a person out of the Unted States, twenty
per cent. Rev. Code, 1835, §8, cl. 3, p. 120.
32. - New York.
By the Revised Statutes, Laws of N. Y. sess. 42, ch. 34, it is provided
that upon bills drawn or negotiated within the state upon any person,
at any place within the six states east of New York, or in New Jersey,
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, or the District of
Columbia, the damages to be allowed and paid upon the usual protest for
non-acceptance or non-payment, to the holder of the bill, as purchase
thereof, or of some interest therin, for a valuable consideration, shall
be three per cent. upon the principal sum specified in the bill; and
upon any person at any place within the states of North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, and Tennessee, five percent; and upon any
person in any other state or territory of the United States, or at any
other place on, or adjacent to, this continent, and north of the
equator, or in any British or foreign possessions in the West Indies, or
elsewhere in the Western Atlantic Ocean, or in Europe, ten per cent.
The damages are to be in lieu of interest, charges of protest, and all
other charges incurred previous to, and at the time of, giving notice of
non-acceptance or non-payment. But the holder will be entitled to
demand and recover interest upon the aggregate amount of the principal
sum specified in the bill, and the damages from time of notice of the
protest for non-acceptance, or notice of a demand and protest for
non-payment. If the contents of the bill be expressed in the money of
account of the United States, the amount due thereon, and the damages
allowed for the non-payment, are to be ascertained and determined,
without reference to the rate of exchange existing between New York and
the place on which the bill is drawn. But if the contents of the bills
be expressed in the money of account or currency of any foreign.
country, then the amount due, exclusive of the damages, is to be
ascertained and determined by the rate of exchange, or the value of such
foreign currency, at the time of the demand of payment.
33. - Pennsylvania.
The Act of March 30, 1821, entitled an act concerning bills of
exchange, enacts, that, §1, "whenever any bill of exchange hereafter be
drawn and endorsed within this commonwealth, upon any person or persons,
or body corporate, of, or in any other state, territory, or place,
shall be returned unpaid with a legal protest, the person or persons to
whom the same shall or may be payable, shall be entitled to recover and
receive of and from the drawer or drawers, or the endorser or endorsers
of such bill of exchange, the damages hereinafter specified, over and
above the principal sum for which such bill of exchange shall have been
drawn, and the charges of protest, together with lawful interest on the
amount of such principal sum, damages and charges of protest, from the
time at which notice of said protest shall have been given, and the
payment of said principal sum and damages, and charges of protest
demanded; that is to say, if such bill shall have been drawn upon any
person or persons, or body corporate, of, or in any of the United States
or territories thereof, excepting the state of Louisiana, five per
cent. upon such principal sum; if upon any person or persons, or body
corporate, of, or in Louisiana, or of, or in any other state or place in
North America, or the islands thereof, excepting the northwest coast of
America and Mexico, or of, or in any of the West India or Bahama
Islands, ten per cent. upon such principal sum; if upon any person or
persons, or body corporate, of, or in the island of Madeira, the
Canaries, the Azores, the Cape de Verde Islands, the Spanish Main, or
Mexico, fifteen per cent. upon such principal sum; if upon any person or
persons, or body corporate, of, or in any state or place in Europe, or
any of the island's thereof, twenty per cent. upon such principal sum;
if upon any person or persons, or body corporate, of, or in any other
part of the world, twenty-five per cent. upon such principal sum.
34.
- §2. "The damages, which, by this act, are to be recovered upon any
bill of exchange, shall be in lieu of interest and all other charges,
except the charges of protest, to the time when notice of the protest
and demand of psyment shall have been given and made, aforesaid; and the
amount of such bill and of the damages payable thereon, as specified in
this act, shall be ascertained and determined by the rate, of exchange,
or value of the money or currency mentioned in such bill, at the time
of notice of protest and demand of payment as before mentioned."
35. - Tennessee.
1. On a bill drawn or endorsed within the state upon any person or
persons, or body corporate, of, or in, any other state, territory, or
place, which shall be returned unpaid, with a legal protest, the holder
shall be entitled to the damages hereinafter specified, over and above
the principal sum for which such bill of exchange shall have been drawn,
and the charge of protest, together with lawful interest on the amount
of such principal sum, damages, and charges of protest, from the time at
which notice of such protest shall have been given, and the payment of
said principal sum, damages, and charges of protest demanded; that is to
say, if such bill shall have been drawn on any person or persons, or
body corporate, of, or in any of these United States, or the territories
thereof, three per cent. upon such principal sum: if upon any other
person or persons, or body corporate, of, or in, any other state or
place in North America, bordering upon the Gulf of Mexico, or of, or in,
any of the West India Islands, fifteen per cent. upon such principal
sum; if upon any person or persons, or body corporate, of, or in, any
other part of the world, twenty per ceut. upon such principal sum.
36.
- 2. The damages which, by this act, are to be recovered upon any bill
of exchange, shall be in lieu of interest and all other charges, except
charges of protest, to the time when notice of the protest and demand of
payment shall have been given and made as aforresaid. Carr. & Nich.
Comp. 125; Act of 1827, c. 14.
DAMAGES, DOUBLE or TREBLE,
practice. In cases where a statute gives a party double or treble
damages, the jury are to find single damages, and the court to enhance
them, according to the statute Bro. Ab. Damages, pl. 70; 2 Inst. 416; 1
Wils. 126; 1 Mass. 155.
In Sayer on Damages, p. 244, it is said, the jury may assess the
statute damages and it would seem from some of the modern cases, that
either the jury or the court may assess. Say. R. 214; 1 Gallis. 29.
DAMAGES, GENERAL,
torts. General damages are such as the law implies to have accrued from
the act of a tort-feasor. To call a man a thief, or commit an assault
and battery upon his person, are examples of this kind. In the first
case the law presumes that calling a man a thief must be injurious to
him, with showing that it is so. Sir W. Jones, 196; 1 Saund. 243, b. n.
5; and in the latter case, the law imples that his person has been more
or less deteriorated, and that the injured party is not required to
specify what inury he has sustained, nor to prove it. Ham. N. P. 40; 1
Chit. Pl. 386; 2 L.R. 76; 4 Bouv. Inst. n. 3584.
DAMAGES, LAYING,
pleading. In personal and mixed actions, (but not in penal actions, for
obvious reason,) the declaration must allege, in conclusion, that the
injury is to the damage of the plaintiff; and must specify the amount of
damages. Com. Dig. Pleader, C 84; 10 Rep. 116, b.
2.
In personal actions there is a distinction between actions that sound
in damages, and those that do not; but in either of these cases, it is
equally the practice to lay damages. There is, however, this difference:
that, in the former case, damages are the main object of the suit, and
are, therefore, always laid high enough to cover the whole demand; but
in the latter, the liquidated debt, or the chattel demanded, being the
main object, damages are claimed in respect of the detention only, of
such debt or chattel; and are, therefore, usually laid at a small sum.
The plaintiff cannot recover greater damages than he has laid in
theconclusion of his declaration. Com. Dig.Pleader, C 84; 10 Rep. 117,
a, b; Vin. Ab. Damages, R.
3.
In real actions, no damages are to be laid, because, in these, the
demand is specially for the land withheld, and damages are in no degree
the object of the suit. Steph. Pl. 426; 1 Chit. Pl. 397 to 400.
DAMAGES, LIQUIDATED,
contracts. When the parties to a contract stipulate for the payment of a
certain su, as a satisfaction fixed and agreed upon by them, for the
not doing of certain things particularly mentioned in the agreement, the
sum so fixed upon is called liquidated damages. (q.v.) It differ from a
penalty, becasue the latter is a forfeiture from which the defaulting
party can be relieved. An agreement for liquidated damages can only be
when there is an engagement for the performance of certain acts, the not
doing of which would be an injury to one of the parties; or to guard
against the performance of acts which, if done, would also be injurious.
In such cases an estimate of the damages may be made by a jury, or by a
previous agreement between the parties, who may foresee the
consequences of a breach of the engagement, and stipulate accordingly. 1
H. Bl. 232; and vide 2 Bos. & Pul. 335, 350-355; 2 Bro. P. C. 431; 4
Burr, 2225; 2 T. R. 32. The civil law appears to agree with these
principles. lnst. 3, 16, 7; Toull. liv. 3, n. 809; Civil Code of Louis.
art. 1928, n. 5; Code Civil, 1152, 1153.
2.
It is to be observed, that the sum fixed upon will be considered as
liquidated damages, or a penalty, according to the intent of the
parties, and the more use of the words - "penalty," &c "forfeiture,"
or "liquidated damages," will not be regarded is at all decisive of the
question, if the instrument discloses, upon the whole, a different
intent. 2 Story, Eq. §1318; 6 B.& C. 224; 6 Bing. 141; 6 Iredell,
186; 3 Shepl. 273; 2 Ala. 425; 8 Misso. 467.
3.
Rules have been adopted to ascertain whether such sum so agreed upon
shall be considered a penalty or liquidated damages, which will be here
enumerated by considering, first, those cases where it has been
considered as a penalty - and, secondly, where it has been considered as
liquidated damages.
4.
- 1. It has been treated as penalty, 1st. where the parties in the
agreement have expressly declared the sum intended as a forfeiture or a
penalty, and no other intent can be collected from the instrument. 2 B.
& P, 340, 350, 630; 1 McMullan, 106; 2 Ala. 425;
5 Metc. 61; 1 H. Bl. 227; 1 Campb. 78; 7 Wheat. 14; 1 Pick. 451; 4
Pick. 179; 3 Johns. Cas. 297. 2d. Where it is doubtful whether it was
intended as a penalty or not, and a certain debt or damages, less than
the penalty, is made payable on the face of the instrument. 3 C. &
P. 240; 6 Humph. 186. 3d. Where the agreement was made, evidently, for
the attainment of another objeet, to which the sum specified is wholly
collateral. 11 Mass. 76; 15Mass. 488;
1 Bro. C. C. 418. 4th. Where the agreement contains several matters, of
different degrees of importance, and yet the sum named is payable for
the breach of any, even the least. 6 Bing. 141; 5 Bing. N. C. 390; 7
Scott, 364; sed vide, 7 John. 72; 15 John. 200. 5th. Where the contract
is not under seal, and the damages are capable of being certainly known
and estimated. 2 B. & Al. 704; 6 B. & C. 216; 1 M. & Malk.
41; 4 Dall. 150; 5 Cowen, 144.
5.
- 2. The sum agreed upon has been considered as liquidated damages,
1st. Where the damages are uncertain, and are not capable of being
ascertained by any satisfactory and known rule. 2 T. R. 32; 1 Alc. &
Nap. 389; 2 Burr, 2225; 10 Ves. 429; 3 M. & W. 545; 8 Mass. 223;
3 C. & P. 240; 7 Cowen 307; 4 Wend. 468. 2d. Where, from the tenor
of the agreement, or from the nature of the case, it appears that the
parties have ascertained the amount of damages by fair calculation and
adjustment. 2 Story, Eq. Juris. §1318; 10Mass. 459; 7 John. 72; 15 John. 200; 1 Bing. 302; 7 Conn. 291;
13 Wend. 507; 2 Greenl. Ev. §259; 11 N. H. Rep. 234; 6 Blackf. 206; 26
Wend. 630; 17 Wend. 447; 22 Wend. 201; 7 Metc. 583; 2 Ala. 425;
2 Shepl. 250. Vide, generally, 7 Vin. Ab. 247; 16 Vin. Ab. 58; 2 W. Bl.
Rep. 1190;. Coop. Just. 606; 1 Chit. Pr. 872; 2 Atk. 194; Finch. 117;
Prec. in Ch.102; 2 Bro. P. C. 436; Fonbl. 151, 2, note; Chit. Contr. 836; 11 N. Hamp. Rep. 234.
DAMAGES, SPECIAL,
torts. Special damages are such as are in fact sustained, and are not
implied by law; these are either superadded to general damages, arising
from an act injurious in itself, as when some particular loss arises.
from the uttering of slanderous words, actionable in themselves, or are
such as arise from an act indifferent and not actionable in itself, but
injurious only in its consequences, as when the words become actionable
only by reason of special damage ensuing. To constitute special damage
the legal and natural consequence must arise from the tort, and not be a
mere wrongful act of a third person, or a remote consequence. 1 Camp.
58; Ham. N. P. 40; 1 Chit. Pl. 385, 6.
DAMAGES, SPECIAL,
pleading. As distinguished from the gist of the action, signify that
special damage which is stated to result from the gist; as, if a
plaintiff in an action of trespass for breaking his close, entering his
house, and tossing his goods about, were to state that by means of the
damage done to his house, he was obliged to seek lodging elsewhere.
2.
Sometimes the special damage is said to constitute the gist of the
action itself; for example, in an action wherein the plaintiff declares
for slanderous words, which of themselves are not a sufficient ground or
foundation for the suit, if any particular damage result to the
plaintiff from the speaking of them, that damage is properly said to be
the gist of the action.
3.
But whether special damage be the gist of the action, or only
collatercal to it, it must be particularly stated in the declaration, as
the plaintiff will not otherwise be permitted to go into evidence of it
at the trial, because the defendant cannot also be prepared to answer
it. Willes, 23. See Gist.
DAMAGES, UNLIQUIDATED.
The unascertained amount which is due to a person by another for an
injury to the person, property, or relative rights of the party injured.
These damages, being unknown, cannot be set off against the claim which
the tort feasor has against the party injured. 2 Dall. 237; S. C. 1
Yeates, 571; 10 Serg. & Rawle 14; 5 Serg. & Rawle 122.
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