Seddon v. Western Union Telegraph Co.
Supreme Court of Iowa
Appeal from Wapello District Court. — Hon. C. W. Vermillion, Judge. Action for damages for mental pain and suffering for failure to deliver to plaintiff as .sendee a death message. There was a verdict for plaintiff, and judgment thereon. Defendant appeals.
1Opinion of the CourtEvans, J.
On February 5, 1907, one George Seddon delivered to the defendant at Mystic, Iowa, the following prepaid telegram: “2-5-1907. Mystic, Iowa. To Ralph Seddon, Eutledge, Iowa. Ralph Sims is dead. Funeral here tomorrow. Tell James Seddon. (Signed) George Seddon.” This message was received by the defendant’s operator at Eutledge at 1:50 p. m. on that day. Eutledge is a small station in the immediate vicinity of a coal mining camp, and its only business is such as is incidental to sucb camp. Plaintiff was a coal miner, but had been confined to his borne with sickness for some weeks, and was so…
2Cases cited2 opinions
- Ulbrecht v. City of KeokukSupreme Court of Iowa · 1904
- Potter v. Western Union Telegraph Co.Supreme Court of Iowa · 1908
3Cited by4 opinions
- Western Union Tel. Co. v. HankinsSupreme Court of Oklahoma · 1924
- Smith v. City of DavenportSupreme Court of Iowa · 1924
- Brockelsby v. Western Union Telegraph Co.Supreme Court of Iowa · 1910
- Western Union Tel. Co. v. SlifeSupreme Court of Oklahoma · 1926