Mitchell v. Printup

27 Ga. 469 | Ga. | 1859

By the Court.

McDonald J.

delivering the opinion.

There are nineteen grounds in the motion for a new trial. The Court granted a new trial on the first ground taken in the motion, viz: that the verdict of the jury is illegal and void, and cannot be enforced. This was an action on the law side of the Court, and there is no process known to, or used in, a Court of law, by which the verdict, as found by the jury, can be enforced. The suit was instituted for the recovery of a sum claimed to be due to the plaintiff from the defendant in the Court below, for work done, materials furnished, and cash advanced by the plaintiff to the defendant, in and about the business of the defendant. The defendant, amongst other things, pleaded a contract made by the plaintiff with the defendant, by which the plaintiff agreed to do all the work, &c., for half interest in certain property on which the work was to be done, and the plaintiff had done and performed the work himself, under said contract, and not for the defendant; and he pleaded further, a set-off, for cash paid by defendant to the use of plaintiff, &c., &c.

There was no plea of a deed made by defendant to plaintiff, for one half interest in the property, in payment of plaintiff’s demand, under the special contract; nor did the defendant, in his plea, make a tender of a deed, with a proferí i?i curia, but there was evidence of the contract gone into very fully before the jury. We might say, that the verdict is against evidence, for the defendant certainly cannot be discharged by a verdict, until he pays the demand sued some way, or makes proof that the plaintiff is not entitled to recover. We do not perceive that he has done either by his pleadings or proof. If he sets up a special contract, he should plead and show performance, or an offer and readiness to perform on his part. It is sufficient for us to put ourjudg- . ment on the same ground that the Court below awarded a new trial, which we do, and affirm his judgment. My brethren are of opinion that we can order a reversal of the judgment on terms; but the terms upon which the reversal is placed, depend so much upon the option of the parties, that it amounts to nothing more than a reversal by consent, dependent upon their voluntary execution of the verdict. Taking the whole case in all its parts,lam inclined to the opinion, that it is a very proper case for equity jurisdiction.

Judgment affirmed, but it may be reversed conditionally.