International & Great Northern Railroad v. Telephone & Telegraph Co.

Citations

• 69 Tex. 277
• 5 S.W. 517
• 1887 Tex. LEXIS 818

Syllabus

<p>1. Exemplary Damages. — A malicious and oppressive trespass upon the rights of a corporation may entitle it to exemplary or punitory damage, when the result of such a trespass is to impair its credit and subject it to the expense of litigation; sense of wrong and insult, consequent on the trespass, which, as between natural persons, entitles one to redress by way of exemplary damages, has no application in a suit by a corporation.</p> <p>2. Evidence. — In a suit against a corporation to recover exemplary damages for the perpetration of a willful trespass, the declarations of an employe of the defendant which indicate his own reckless indifference' • to consequences regarding the trespass, are not admissible.</p> <p>8. Exemplary Damages. — When a verdict was rendered for two hundred dollars actual damages, and ten thousand dollars exemplary damages,, the disproportion was so great as to manifest that character of passion,, prejudice or partiality in the jury which required a reversal of the judgment.</p>