Opinion
File No. 54206
A girl 13 years of age, passenger in a school bus involved in a collision, suffered nervous shock, scratch on upper lip which left slight, though not disfiguring scar, and abrasion on chin. The shock aggravated an existing condition of the throat which resulted in abscesses in the ears and the rupture of one ear drum. The injuries necessitated confinement in an institution for 21 days, prevented the pursuit of customary activities for one month, and caused pain and discomfort. Hospital and doctors' bills amounted to $219. Total damage was assessed at $750.
MEMORANDUM FILED FEBRUARY 8, 1939.
Franklin Coeller, of New Haven, for the Plaintiff.
David M. Reilly, of New Haven, for the Defendants.
Memorandum of decision in action to recover for injuries sustained in collision of motor vehicles.
The plaintiff, who at the time was 13 years of age, was a passenger in a school bus which collided with another vehicle on January 13, 1937. The collision was concededly due to the sole negligence of the defendants.
As a result of the collision the plaintiff suffered a nervous shock, a scratch upon her upper lip and an abrasion upon her chin. At the time she was suffering from a condition of her throat which by reason of the aforesaid shock developed into a condition which produced abscesses in her ears resulting in a rupture of one ear drum. She was confined to a sanitorium for 21 days and suffered pain and discomfort. She was incapacitated from attending to her usual activities for about a month. At present she has a slight scar upon her upper lip which is not disfiguring. In addition her clothing was injured to some extent, but the evidence as to the amount of the damage on this feature was not definite in character.
As a result of her injuries expenses were incurred for hospital and doctors' services to the reasonable value of two hundred and nineteen ($219.00) dollars.
In view of the foregoing her total damage was assessed at seven hundred and fifty ($750.00) dollars.