Meyst v. Frederickson

146 Wis. 85 | Wis. | 1911

Maeshall, J.

There is no. necessity for reciting the evidence respecting the counterclaim. The nature of the controversy is such, it is thought best to speak of the evidence only in respect to its legal effect.

In submitting the cause to the jury in face of respondent’s motion for a directed verdict, the trial court, necessarily, deliberately decided that the evidence would, in some reasonable view, support a finding in appellant’s favor for some substantial amount on the counterclaim. That the jury so viewed the matter, in the light of such judicial determination, is most natural. It was for them to draw the proper inference between the reasonably conflicting inferences.

Thus it will be seen the case is peculiar. Ordinarily, as has often been said, the trial judge’s determination as to ■whether there is reasonable ground in the evidence for a verdict either way, should be supported here unless manifestly wrong. That doctrine was, perhaps, first definitely declared in Powell v. Ashland I. & S. Co. 98 Wis. 35, 73 N. W. 573. It has been many times followed. It is a just and very valuable rule in the administration of justice and is in harmony with the spirit of the Code. But it is necessarily not an arbitrary rule. That is, it applies with more or less strength according to the circumstances of cases. In a situation like the one before us it applies with less force than in some others. Here the trial court decided both ways. If it decided right in setting aside the verdict and granting judgment according to the claim of plaintiff, it committed error in not granting the motion for a directed verdict. If it decided right when first challenged as to the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain an allowance to appellant on the counterclaim, then it committed error when so challenged a second time. However, the decision on the last occasion is not wholly without weight. A trial judge will, naturally, and ougit, probably to, weigh the evidence with rather more care before setting aside a verdict as contrary to the evidence than in denying or granting a motion for a directed verdict.

An examination of the evidence here leads to the conclusion that the decision first made is right and the one last made, condemning the verdict which really followed the first judicial view — to the extent of deciding that there were at least reasonably conflicting inferences from the evidence,— is clearly wrong. Therefore the motion for judgment on the verdict against respondent for six cents and costs should have been granted.

This is not a case of mere nominal damage. Damage to the full amount of respondent’s claim and six cents more was allowed. Counsel for respondent did wrong in making the point that the case was within the rule that a judgment is not reversible for failure to give nominal damages, where such failure does not determine the question of costs, citing Cronemilliar v. Duluth-Superior M. Co. 134 Wis. 248, 114 N. W. 432, and tbe familiar rule there referred to. It is misleading to refer to a rule having no application to the case in hand, in connection with such treatment of matters as might lead to a very erroneous view of the record unless search were made outside of the briefs of counsel.

The printed case plainly violates Supreme Court Rule 6 which requires such to contain only an abridgment of the record, so far as necessary to present the questions for decision, — leaving appellant liable to the penalty prescribed by Rule 44, which prescribes that “No costs shall be taxed for printing any case, supplemental case, or brief, unless these rules shall have been complied with.” .The mischief wrought by such clear violations as the one in question, must be met by such certainty and firmness of administration of the rule for penalizing them, as to minimize danger of recurrence. The useless expense to parties and the public of printing several times what is necessary — making the case by the extra expense rather confusing than helpful, — is very great. Here we have a printed record of 125 pages. All except about eight pages contain evidence substantially only by questions and answers. The material part could have been much better presented in fifteen or twenty pages.

By ihe Cowl. — 'The judgment is reversed, and the cause remanded with directions to render judgment in defendant’s favor for six cents and costs in accordance with the verdict. The appellant will not be allowed costs for printing the case.