Clough

Plaintiff, with her husband and minor child, was involved in an accident with defendant’s auto mobile, in which she was injured and her son was killed. She recovered judgment for damages from which defendant appeals. No question as to negligence or contributory negligence is raised, the sole question on appeal being one of damages.

By reason of the accident plaintiff received certain lacerations and contusions on her body. These she set out in her complaint, and then alleged that the knowledge of the tragic death of her son “immediately threw her into a state of profound shock” which caused mental and physical disorders for which she sought damages. The court found (par. IY) that plaintiff was physically injured by the accident and (YI) that the knowledge of her son’s death threw plaintiff into a state of profound shock, mental suffering and sickness; that plaintiff’s condition causes her mental and nervous suffering and (YII) that by reason of the injuries set out in paragraphs IY and YI plaintiff has suffered and now suffers shaking, mental and nervous suffering and a palsy and hysterical condition. Thereupon judgment was rendered for plaintiff in the sum of $20,000.

The…