Klein v. Fox

329 Mass. 623 | Mass. | 1953

Lummus, J.

This is an action of contract to recover for the services of the plaintiff as an accountant in preparing for the defendant his Federal income tax returns for 1947, 1948, and 1949. The declaration is in two counts, both for the same cause of action, and alleges that $2,643 is due. The plaintiff had a verdict for $1,202.35 and the defendant alleged exceptions.

The plaintiff testified that the defendant promised to pay him $10 an hour for his work, and that he was owed a balance of $2,613. The defendant denied that there was any agreement to pay $10 an hour, and testified that the agreed rate of pay was $1.97 an hour. On cross-examination the plaintiff admitted that he had previously worked for the defendant for $1,92 an hour and for $4 an hour. The plaintiff also testified that one Quint, an accountant, had paid him $3.50 an hour for earlier work. Quint was called as a witness by the defendant, who offered to show by him that the plaintiff had presented a bill to Quint showing that the plaintiff received from Quint payment at a smaller rate than $3.50 an hour. That evidence was excluded by the judge, subject to the exception of the defendant, which raises the only question before us. The evidence which was excluded was offered solely as a statement inconsistent with the plaintiff’s testimony.

The defendant did not offer this evidence of Quint as bearing on the fair value of the plaintiff’s services. The rule is that a party offering evidence on one ground may not in this court urge that it was admissible on another. Wheeler v. Rice, 8 Cush. 205, 208. Brown v. Leach, 107 Mass. 364, 368. Atherton v. Atkins, 139 Mass. 61, 63. Hathaway v. Tinkham, 148 Mass. 85, 87. McKay v. Polep, 311 Mass. 567, 571.

Dealing with that evidence on the ground on which it was offered, we think that it related to an immaterial issue. What Quint paid the plaintiff, at a different time and under a different contract, was not material to the issue as to what the defendant was to pay him. In Graves v. Jacobs, 8 Allen, 141, 143, the plaintiff claimed payment for the labor of his intestate for the six years preceding March 1, 1859. The defendant introduced evidence tending to show that the intestate could perform little labor and by agreement was paid by board, clothing and trifling gifts. The plaintiff then called a witness for whom fhe intestate worked before 1852, and offered to show the value of his labor then. The judge excluded the offered evidence, and the plaintiff excepted. This court sustained the ruling, saying, "it is manifest that no aid in its determination can be afforded by inquiries in relation to the value of services rendered at an earlier period and for a different person. They are independent transactions, in respect to which the rights of the parties are to be considered in view of the evidence applicable to each of them. Proof in reference to the one has no tendency to show what justice requires in the other case.” See also Shepard v. Ashley, 10 Allen, 542.

There was no error in excluding evidence immaterial bo the issue being tried. Silver v. New York Central Railroad, ante, 14, 20-21. Besides, Quint was allowed to testify that he had the plaintiff’s own time sheets showing that the plaintiff was not paid by Quint at the rate testified to by the plaintiff. Furthermore, Quint was allowed to state his opinion of the fair value of the plaintiff’s services. There was also testimony by other witnesses as to the nature of the work to be performed and as to the plaintiff’s ability to perform it. The defendant has not made it appear that he was harmed by the exclusion of the offered evidence.

Exceptions overruled.