Larson v. Foss

137 Wis. 304 | Wis. | 1908

Maksiiaul, J.

As will be seen by tbe statement, tbe case was submitted to tbe jury, supposing there was evidence tending to prove appellant’s son, either acting by apparent or mere assumption of authority, made the alleged contract with respondent; that the latter, in reasonable belief of such authority existing, joined in the agreement; that appellant, thereafter, with knowledge of such facts as reasonably charged him with notice of the existence of some new agreement, the' benefit of which he was enjoying, confirmed respondent in his impression as to the son’s authority by not raising any objection to the change, and that he thereby ratified it.

There can be no question but that it was competent for respondent under the pleadings to establish the contract sued on, either by showing actual authority of appellant’s son in the matter, or apparent authority and reasonable reliance thereon, or assumption of such authority and such "reliance and ratification by appellant. It is the opinion of the court that there was sufficient evidence to establish the contract on either of the two theories the ease was submitted on, and that some evidence allowed under objection, to which our attention is called, was competent in that view.

The case is very simple, as regards assignments of error respecting the form of the verdict and rulings on objections to and motions to strike out evidence. They are all covered, in general, by what has been said and are not of sufficient dignity, as appears to us, to require any detailed or extensive treatment.

The court instructed the jury as to the question of how long a period plaintiff was promised by appellant’s son he should receive the increased wages:

“You must find from the evidence . . . and be satisfied what it was, and if there is no evidence to satisfy you as to what it was, you must reconsider carefully the whole evidence and from such evidence conclude if you can as to what the answer to that question should be. ...”

Counsel for appellant argue that the jury ought to have been told that they should be satisfied from the preponderance of the evidence as to what their answer should be, and instructed as to' the burden of proof.

The instruction was not very happily worded, but we are unable to discover any error therein, or that the jury could reasonably hare been misled. They doubtless understood they were required to determine the specific time agreed upon, if any, and if they were unable to find there was such time, they should determine from the whole evidence the proper answer to the question. True, to have spoken accurately, the court should have admonished the jury that they were required to reach a conclusion to a reasonable certainty, or be satisfied, of the truth as to the controversy from the preponderance of all the evidence bearing thereon. But the instruction was correct, so far as it went. It plainly told the jury, in effect, that in answering the question they should be satisfied from all the evidence in the case bearing thereon that their answer was in accordance with the right of the controversy. That was sufficient so long as appellant maintained silence as to desiring more explicit instructions. Curran v. A. H. Stange Co. 98 Wis. 598., 74 N. W. 377. There was no request therefor. If counsel desired such they should have requested the same in writing at the proper time. Hacker v. Heiney, 111 Wis. 313, 87 N. W. 249; Schroeder v. Wis. Cent. R. Co. 117 Wis. 33, 93 N. W. 837; McCummins v. State, 132 Wis. 236, 241, 112 N. W. 25. Under the circumstances on this point appellant has no legal ground for complaint.

The point is made that the verdict does not fully cover the issues on the theory of its submission, for want of a finding that respondent, in contracting with appellant’s son, relied upon his apparent authority in that regard, or any finding that the son was held out by appellant as having the authority he assumed to exercise. True, the verdict was not as skilfully framed, as it might have been. It would have been more orderly and comprehensive to have submitted a question as to holding out by appellant, one on reasonable reliance thereon by respondent; one on what the contract was which resulted; one as to the amount unpaid for the services rendered, and to round out the verdict on assumption of authority and ratification, by appellant’s silence with knowledge of the fact, two questions on those subjects. However, from the question as to assumption of authority, the one as to reasonable ground for belief in the existence of authority in fact, and the one that appellant knew. of the radical change in respondent’s work, with the undisputed evidence as to silence, supporting the answer respecting notice that the change was based on new contract relations, sufficiently covered the case to save the judgment from being disturbed for prejudicial error as to the form of the verdict.

Further objection is made that the verdict failed to inform the court how long respondent worked under the second contract; that the finding that he worked 371 days as foreman is not sufficient. That is hypercritical. The necessary inference from the findings, with the undisputed evidence, that all the work respondent did as foreman was under the second contract, covers the point.

Nothing further need be said. It is not thought best to burden the records with a discussion of the evidence, pointing to features thereof upon which the jury might reasonably have reached the conclusion-which they did. As before indicated, it is the opinion of the court that such features significantly appear.

By the Court. — Judgment affirmed.