City of Chicago v. Kelly

Citations

• 69 Ill. 475

Syllabus

<p>1. Damages—vindictive—as against municipal corporation. Municipal corporations are not liable to vindictive or exemplary damages for personal injuries growing out of mere neglect to keep a sidewalk in a safe condition. In order to justify such damages, the negligence of the authorities must be so gross as to be wilful.</p> <p>2. Same—excessive—personal injury. Where the plaintiff received a fall from a defect in the sidewalk of a city, inflicting an injury in her foot., but- not so serious but that she was able to walk the next day but one after, and a miscarriage also resulted shortly afterwards from the effect of the fall, but it did not appear that she received any permanent injury to her person or health, it was held, that a verdict giving her §4050 was so excessive that a new trial should have been awarded.</p>