Conrad v. Dickerson

Mr. JUSTICE THOMAS J. MORAN

delivered the opinion. of the court:

Plaintiffs brought this appeal after a small claims proceeding in which the trial court dismissed their cause. Although defendants have failed to file a brief, we will not reverse pro forma but, instead, look to the merits of the case.

Facts gained from a bystanders’ record indicate that plaintiffs’ son, Douglas, and defendants’ son, Brett, were 14-year-old schoolmates. After playing a game of badminton in gym class, the two boys spoke together and Brett, assertedly without provocation, struck Douglas in the mouth knocking out his…