29 S.W.2d 855 | Tex. App. | 1930
Lead Opinion
"That on or about the 28th day of April, 1928, the plaintiff and defendants entered into a contract whereby defendants employed the plaintiff to do certain labor and services in, and around and about, and in connection with a certain well known as the Ellis Cozby No. 1 in Comanche County, Texas, agreeing to pay him for his said labor and services the sum of $12.00 per day for a portion of said time; and the sum of $6.00 per day for a portion of said time on well known as the H. E. White No. 1 in Comanche County, Texas."
The plaintiff's further allegations proceed in logical order, claiming the sum of $180 for work on the White well, $720 for work on the Cozby well, and acknowledged a credit of $60. The plaintiff also alleged that he was "not aware of whether a partnership existed between the defendants, but if so, he sued in that capacity."
In answer to this petition, Welch and Kelsey jointly filed a general demurrer, and entered a general denial. Later, Welch answered individually by general demurrer, general and special denial, and denied under oath any partnership relation with Kelsey in the drilling of either well. An attachment issued, was levied upon certain properties, and being replevied, the sureties on the bond in that way became parties to this suit.
In due time the cause came on for hearing, and at the conclusion of the trial, which was before the judge without a jury, a judgment was rendered in favor of the plaintiff Myers against the defendant Kelsey and the sureties on his replevy bond for the sum of $165.88 for labor performed on the White well, and it denied Myers any recovery against Welch for work on this well As to plaintiff's claim for $720 for labor performed on the Cozby well, the court rendered judgment in favor of the plaintiff against both defendants, Kelsey and Welch, and their sureties, for the sum of $704.20. From the judgment as a whole the defendants Kelsey and Welch et al. sued out a writ of error to this court.
In an opinion by this court on April 25, 1930, the judgment of the trial court was affirmed. Thereafter, in response to a motion for rehearing by plaintiffs in error, this court concluded that, since the plaintiff Myers alleged a contract with both Kelsey and Welch as to the White well, and succeeded in proving a contract between himself and Kelsey only for labor there performed, he would not, under the law, be entitled to a judgment as against either of the defendants; and in that respect we altered our original opinion and judgment, and for the reasons stated denied the plaintiff a recovery against either Welch or Kelsey for labor on the White well. We were influenced in this holding by some of the expressions in Stewart Company v. Gordon,
The defendant in error, Myers, has now filed a motion for rehearing, and attacks the correctness of our conclusions in disposing of the motion for rehearing by Kelsey et al., plaintiffs in error. This has caused a careful re-examination of the entire record, and we are still earnestly seeking to arrive at a correct conclusion upon the merits of the case in so far as the condition of this record permits.
Upon further consideration of the appeal, we have concluded that, in passing upon plaintiffs in error's motion for a rehearing, we erred in denying Myers a recovery against Kelsey for labor on the White well, and we are now confirmed in the belief that our original disposition of the case in that respect was correct. We therefore withdraw the opinions heretofore written, restate the case more fully, and cite additional authorities compelling the conclusions now entertained.
Plaintiffs in error's first proposition asserts that "allegations by the plaintiff that he entered into a contract with two defendants will not support a judgment on the proof that it was made with only one of them." This proposition is insisted upon most vigorously and it is especially material from the standpoint of Kelsey. As noted, the suit seeks a recovery on two independent contracts. Clearly the plaintiff alleged a contract for labor with both Welch and Kelsey in each instance. We are here particularly considering the judgment for labor on the White well. The evidence undoubtedly *857
establishes the liability of Kelsey for that labor. In that situation we believe the opinion in McDonald v. Cabiness,
"The Court of Civil Appeals [98 S.W. 943] in its legal conclusions erred in finding that the plaintiff, in his first amended original petition, had pleaded a contract made with each of the defendants; whereas, the said pleading shows that the contract alleged to have been made was with the defendants jointly, and not with the defendants separately, nor even that it was a joint and several contract, there being no allegations that the alleged contract of plaintiff's employment was made severally with each of the defendants."
After some remarks pertinent to the matter under consideration, our Supreme Court, in its opinion, proceeds as follows:
"If the assignment be sufficiently specific to raise the point, and if it be insisted, that the judgment of the court shows that there was no joint contract, and that therefore there was a variance between the pleading and the proof, the answer is that this does not follow. A plaintiff need not prove all his allegations. It is sufficient if he prove enough of them to make a case. When a plaintiff alleges that two parties to a contract made him a promise, although under the rule at common law as to joint and several contracts, that is a joint promise, yet the allegation necessarily means that each of them promised. Hence we see no good reason why, although he has alleged the promise of the two, he should not recover against one upon proof that he promised, although he may fail to prove the promise of the other. We conclude that there was no error in sustaining under the pleading a judgment against Arch McDonald, which at the same time denied a recovery against his codefendant."
The point decided, as indicated in the excerpt, is substantially, if not identically, the one now considered. Whenever it has arisen in this state, the opinion in the McDonald Case has, since its date, been generally followed. Negociacion, etc., v. Love et al. (Tex.Civ.App.)
From the opinion in the Negociacion Case, above, we take the following:
"The appellant also urges that there was a variance between the contract pleaded and that proven, in that it was alleged that the contract of employment was made between Winter on the one part, and Alfonso Madero and the San Enrique Company on the other part, and it was alleged that services were rendered for such parties, and that such parties became indebted to him therefor, while the contracts in evidence on which recovery was had were the contracts of the San Enrique Company alone, and that the services were rendered for the San Enrique Company alone. Under the rules of common-law pleading there would unquestionably be a variance that would prevent recovery under this state of facts. There is a statement in the case of Stewart v. Gordon,
From the opinion in the Compton Case we quote:
"In his motion for rehearing appellant for the first time urges and presents as fundamental error the proposition that there is a fatal variance between the allegata and probata, in that the petition declares upon an account against Compton and the J. L. Scott Construction Company and the evidence shows an account against the J. L. Scott Construction Company only. Stewart v. Gordon,
The rule in the McDonald Case is plain and unmistakable, and has application to such a state of pleadings and testimony as that before us. And whether the rule rests on the ground (1) that it is just a reasonable modification of the "rigid system of the common-law as to forms of action" (Willis v. Morrison, supra), or (2) on the ground that, "when a plaintiff alleges that two parties to a contract made him a promise, although under the rule at common law as to joint and several contracts, that is a joint promise, yet the allegation necessarily means that eachof them promised" (McDonald v. Cabiness, italics ours), or (3) whether it be considered as one arising strictly out of variance between pleading and proof, the same conclusion is necessarily reached, and the rule leads to correct results.
If the question here under consideration be looked upon as one of variance (as it doubtless is), then the rule is well stated in 49 C.J. p. 810. § 1190, as follows: "Modern authorities hold that no variance between the allegation of the pleading and the proof offered to sustain it shall be deemed material if the adverse party is not surprised or misled to his prejudice in maintaining his action or defense upon the merits."
The text is supported by authorities from various jurisdictions, among them about twenty-five Texas cases, the first of which is McDonald v. Cabiness, supra. Hence, viewed from this angle, and with due regard to the elementary rule that the allegations and proof must correspond, it is also the well-established rule that variance between pleadings and the evidence is not fatal unless it misleads or surprises the adverse party. In addition to the foregoing authorities, see Wilson Hydraulic, etc., v. James (Tex.Civ.App.)
And, as we read this record there is no evidence that Kelsey or either of the other defendants was surprised, misled, or in any way prejudiced by any variance in pleadings and testimony on that phase of the case under consideration. The proposition is overruled.
Further, to present the question of variance as one of law, the evidence should have been objected to on that ground at the time it was offered, or when the variance became apparent, the counsel should have moved to exclude the evidence, or at least in some appropriate way raised the question and given the trial judge an opportunity to pass on it. Dallas Plumbing Co. v. Harrington, supra, and authorities therein cited; 21 R.C.L. p. 606, § 149.
We seriously doubt that any question of variance was raised, but have chosen to consider the point on its merits.
Plaintiffs in error's proposition under the second assignment is to the effect that it was error for the trial court to hold defendants Kelsey and Welch liable on a contract as partners when the contract was denied under oath and there was an absence of proof of a community of interest as among the alleged partners in the losses, profits, or the capital of the business.
Construing this proposition to be a challenge of the sufficiency of the testimony to support the recovery (in respect to the Cozby well) on the contract alleged as indicated in the excerpt from the pleadings made in the beginning of this opinion, we believe it should be overruled. As to the White well, no recovery was allowed against the defendant Welch, but as to the Cozby well, although the defendant Welch was on the stand in his behalf and testified as to the White well, "I had no relation to it whatever," yet he gave no such testimony as to the Cozby well. On that phase he apparently refrained from committing himself. The trial was before the court without a jury, and the court became the exclusive judge of the facts proved, the credibility of the witnesses, and the weight to be given to the testimony, and since, after a consideration of the statement of facts, we are of the opinion that the judgment is reasonably supported by the testimony, we would not be authorized to set it aside on the contention here made. Where a cause is tried by the judge, the judgment will not be disturbed unless clearly unsupported by or contrary to the evidence. Numerous authorities to this effect are cited under article 2176, Vernon's Annotated Civil Statutes 1925.
By proposition under the third assignment of error the plaintiffs in error complain that the court, in rendering a judgment, allowed a credit of $40 only, whereas the plaintiff, defendant in error, admitted in his petition that the amount sought to be recovered was entitled to a credit of $60. We have studied the assignment, the proposition, and the statements in the respective briefs, and, taking into consideration the fact that the court did give some character of credit upon each item of the judgment, and that interest was likewise allowed and figured, we are unable to ascertain from the plaintiffs in error's brief, and the record before us, that the court committed any material error in the respect mentioned. In other words, the brief, by means of which the proposition is presented, *859
does not manifest any error in the respect complained of. As said in Scheiner v. Proband,
By a proposition under the fourth assignment of error complaint is made that the trial court erred in refusing to grant plaintiffs in error a new trial in order that they might avail themselves of newly discovered testimony. We have carefully considered the defendant's first amended original motion for a new trial setting up the newly discovered testimony. It is claimed that such testimony was discovered after the trial; in fact, on the afternoon of the day on which the judgment was rendered against plaintiffs in error. It is set out in the motion that it was discovered at said time that one A. C. Polnac knew and could give certain material testimony tending to establish their defense. It is alleged that this information was gained after the trial through one James Keyser, who had been a workman on the Cozby well. In an affidavit by Louis J. Phelps, marked "Exhibit C," and made a part of the motion relied upon by plaintiffs in error, it is testified by said Phelps: "That he informed T. E. Welch that he had seen James Keyser in Gorman, Texas, and that the reason he did so (inform him) was because T. E. Welch had informed him that he had been in a lawsuit that day, and that a Judgment had been rendered against him, T. E. Welch, because he had been unable to locate witnesses who could testify about agreements made and entered into between A. Kelsey and E. J. Myers and R. L. Looker, and that T. E. Welch had told this affiant that if he could have known where James Keyser, R. L. Lewis and Austin Guest were, that he could have placed them on the stand and produced testimony that would have been beneficial to his defense and that this affiant then notified him that he had seen James Keyser in Gorman, Texas." From this it is apparent that Welch announced ready for trial and tried the case without making any effort to postpone the trial or gain a continuance, notwithstanding he knew that James Keyser, R. L. Lewis, and Austin Guest were material witnesses. He certainly had a right to apply for a continuance for the purpose of procuring their attendance upon the trial or for the purpose of obtaining their depositions in the event their attendance could not be had. The court would doubtless have given him a reasonable opportunity to locate the witnesses and obtain the testimony. With such opportunity he would have at once learned from Keyser, who was apparently at a nearby town, the information that Polnac, who resided in the county of the trial, would also make a material witness. Instead of exercising this degree of diligence and caution, the plaintiff's in error appear to have gone to trial under circumstances that very clearly indicate a lack of diligence. The circumstances mentioned, together with others shown by the record, and which it is unnecessary to discuss, are of such nature that we are unable to say that the learned trial court abused his discretion when he overruled the motion for a new trial upon the ground of newly discovered evidence. Such motions for a new trial for newly discovered evidence are addressed to the sound discretion of the trial judge and, where denied, the appellate court will not reverse, except for a clear abuse of discretion.
We would not be authorized to convict the trial court of such an abuse in this case. See Sherrill v. Union Lbr. Co. (Tex.Civ.App.)
It does not appear that the alleged newly discovered evidence could not have been discovered before the trial by the exercise of ordinary care and diligence. Peters v. Williams (Tex.Civ.App.)
There is another proposition that the trial court erred in refusing a new trial since the damages assessed were manifestly excessive. The damages allowed had support in the testimony, and for the reasons hereinbefore stated we would not be authorized to disturb the judgment of the trial court.
Other parties advanced propositions similar to those hereinbefore discussed, but what has been said is equally applicable to these, and all propositions are overruled.
The defendant in error's motion for rehearing is granted.
For the reasons assigned, the Judgment of this court pursuant to the opinion rendered by it in response to plaintiffs in error's motion for a rehearing is set aside, and the judgment of the trial court is in all things affirmed.
Concurrence Opinion
The writer concurs in the disposition of the appeal solely upon the authority of McDonald v. Cabiness,
In my opinion, if there is any principle of law so elementary and certain that it ought to be regarded forever beyond question, that principle is that one who brings suit to recover upon a contract cannot recover upon proof of another and materially different contract than the one alleged. A note or other contract, when suit is brought to enforce the rights of the plaintiff therein, is not merely the evidence to prove the existence of a cause of action, but it is the cause of action itself, or if not the whole of it, at least a material part thereof. Such is the necessary import of certain decisions, as, for instance, those holding that where a note is given for a preexisting indebtedness the right of action on the original indebtedness is thereby suspended until default in payment of the note, when arises the right of election to sue upon the note or upon the original indebtedness. Otto v. Halff Bros.,
If there be any possible basis of distinction, it seems to me that it is so artificial, so incapable of the application to it of a definite principle, as that the inevitable consequence of an attempt to apply it is necessarily an ever-increasing uncertainty and confusion.
The writer recognizes that the propriety and wisdom of his policy of calling attention from time to time to apparently conflicting lines of decision may be debatable. The likelihood, if not the certainty, that his motives will be misunderstood and misconstrued, is fully appreciated. Maybe just a word in attempted justification or excuse will be pardoned. Whether right or wrong, I am singularly out of accord with the general hue and cry for judicial reform. Some of the most needed reforms, I think, call for no constitutional amendments or legislative enactment. Some of the most important reforms, not only in matters of procedure, but in the administration of substantive law, can best be brought about, I think, by the courts giving more attention to the elementary principles of law which are permanent and unchanging, and less attention to the ascertainment and following of what has been held in particular cases. Time after time it is found in the investigation of questions that some expression, mere dicta, perhaps, in a case, has been the beginning of a parallel line of decisions which are in principle in direct conflict with another line of decisions and always resulting in uncertainty which, in turn, becomes the source of increasing litigation. I have an idea that the intermediate appellate courts can perform a most important service to the judiciary by calling attention, as occasion arises, to these matters, to the end that our court of last resort may have the same in mind for whatever, if anything, they may be worth in the solution of its problems. Unless badly self-deceived, the writer has no other motive, in thus giving free and independent expression of his views, than thus to contribute his "mite" to the improvement of our judiciary. The idea may be a mistaken one, and as to that I am entirely open-minded. If and when I may be convinced that such is the case, the policy will be discontinued.