Mary Meath, suing by her next friend Darby Meath, her father, sought damages of [dollars] 5,000 from Flanders for being run over and injured by a dray driven by his slave. A witness to the incident deposed that the whole side of her [Meath's] face and ear appeared to be loose, and torn from the skull. Another witness deposed that after the injury Mary Meath had become more stupid and self-willed than she had been before. The jury found for Meath and awarded her [dollars] 50; she then moved for a new trial on the grounds that these damages were inadequate and evidence of the jury's caprice. The new trial was granted and Flanders appealed. The Supreme Court reversed the award of the new trial on the basis that the evidence showed that the accident had been entirely Mary Meath's fault.
