87 Pa. Super. 327 | Pa. Super. Ct. | 1925
Argued October 27, 1925. An automobile was levied upon and sold at a sheriff's sale, and was bought by the defendant. The *328 plaintiff, before the sale, gave notice of ownership to the sheriff, alleging that the automobile about to be sold as the property of the defendant in the execution was held by him under a bailment lease. Afterwards, a writ of replevin was issued by the plaintiff and the case came to trial. There was nothing in the pleadings to indicate that what proved to be the point in the case would be raised. The plaintiff proved the lease and on cross examination it developed that the note which under the provisions of the lease was given by the lessee, was indorsed by the plaintiff and discounted at the bank, and the lease was assigned as collateral; whether orally or in writing does not appear, nor if in writing was the form or contents of the assignment disclosed. As soon as the fact of the assignment appeared, the defendant raised the point that the plaintiff, having parted with his title, could not maintain his action. The learned trial judge entered judgment for the defendant, but afterwards granted a new trial, from which action this appeal is taken. The reasons for granting a new trial are stated by the lower court thus: "The plaintiff went to trial without having at hand important files, and the case proceeded upon an agreement to dispense with them. In consequence some testimony was introduced which otherwise might not have been admissible. In several respects assumptions were made which should have been avoided by proof apparently producible. The plaintiff's attorneys expressed surprise at the turn of the case upon the point herein later discussed, and neither party seemed able to aid the Court with relevant authorities. In the hurry of the trial and under these circumstances we erred in directing a verdict for the defendant, and as some questions of fact, determinable by the jury, were involved we cannot enter judgment for the plaintiff, n.o.v., on this rule. Therefore, and to do justice in the matter, we will grant a new trial." "Under the *329 pleadings and evidence adduced we cannot enter judgment as moved for by the plaintiff, but to correct our error in directing a verdict for the defendant we will grant a new trial, upon which all documentary and other written evidence of essential facts and circumstances involved should be introduced or ground laid for the admission of secondary evidence." To the above may be added the fact that the court states that a certain objection to testimony was erroneously sustained.
Where the trial judge is of the opinion that a new trial is required, in order that justice may be done, we approach the case with a desire to further such purpose, and unless there is a compelling reason to the contrary, we will not interfere. We refrain from the discussion of the law involved, for upon a new trial facts may develop which may change matters so that an entirely different question may be presented. If a fuller presentation of the matters involved will lead. to a riper judgment, and a just conclusion, we see no harm in a re-trial, particularly so because we see that the case was tried in such a manner as to compel the plaintiff to meet an unexpected proposition. In Alianell vs. Schreiner,
The assignments of error are overruled and the order granting a new trial is affirmed.