98 N.J.L. 709 | N.J. | 1923
The opinion of the court was delivered by
This action was instituted by Joseph Reinfeld, or in the alternative, S. L. Distributing Co., a corporation, against the defendant. The action is to recover $5,000 paid as deposit bjr the plaintiff, or one of them, on account of the purchase price of one thousand cases of Blue Grass whiskey. The cause is laid in the alternative under the Practice act. Pamph. L. 1912, p. 378, f 4.
The complaint contains two counts. The first count alleges a fraudulent procuration of the $5,000 from the
The answer is a general denial to each count, also, a separate defence and counter-claim — first, that the plaintiffs , refused to accept a delivery of the balance of the Blue Grass whiskey purchased, claiming damages in the alternative of $25,000; second, plaintiff is unable to accept delivery of the Blue Grass whiskey by reason of a failure to comply with the National Prohibition act and the rules and regulations issued pursuant thereto and promulgated thereunder, claiming damages in the alternative of $25,000 on this count. The trial resulted in a verdict for the plaintiff S. L. Distributing Company and against the defendant for the sum of $5,441.67, and against the plaintiff Joseph Reinfeld. The trial judge limited the jury in considering the plaintiffs’ case to two questions — first, which one of the plaintiffs, if either, is entitled to recover; second, whether or not the plaintiff was induced to part with his money bjr the fraudulent misrepresentations of the defendant. This, also, includes the question, whether or not the defendant was the agent of the owners of the distillery producing Blue Grass whiskey. On the defendant’s counter-claim, the court submitted to the jury the question, whether the defendant was able, willing and ready to deliver the cases of whiskey called for in the purchase, also, whether he was prevented from doing so, because the failure of the plaintiffs to furnish him the permit on form No. 1410 as required by the regulations. On this issue the jury found against the defendant. The defendant appeals and files fourteen grounds of appeal. The first nine, except No. 3, is alleged error in admitting or rejecting evidence. Those referred to in the brief are No. 1, as point 10, in the brief; No. 5 as point 11 in the brief; No. 8 as point 7 in the brief; No. 9 as point 8 in the brief. These
Eos. 3 and 10; error in refusing to nonsuit the plaintiif or direct a verdict in favor of the defendant. Our examination of the record leads us, to the conclusion that it was not error for the trial judge to deny these motions. Questions of fact were involved, which should he submitted to the jury. Bingham v. Fish, 86 N. J. L. 316.
Eos. 12, 13 and 14; error in the charge of the trial court. Eo exception or objection was made to that portion of the trial judge’s- charge, alleged as error in Eo. 13, so that will not he considered. Leiferant v. Progressive Agency, ante, p. 526.
Eos. 12 and 14 were comments upon the testimony. This the trial judge had the right to make so long as he left it to the jury to determine the fads and draw their own conclusions. Manda v. Delaware, &c., Railroad Co., 89 N. J. L. 327; Foley v. Loughran, 60 Id. 464.
Eo. 11; error in refusing to charge the first, second, ninth, eleventh and twelfth request of the defendant.
It is the defendant’s false representations that are made the basis of the action. The contract was an executory one; it will not be presumed that the plaintiff was going to engage in an unlawful act. Requests to charges No.' 1 and Eo. 9 refer to illegal contracts. These are not applicable to tne case as made in the record. The trial judge is not required to charge abstract principles of law not applicable to the facts appearing in evidence, even though they embody accurate statements of legal principles. Ploeser v. Central Railroad Co. of New Jersey, 92 N. J. L. 490. Nos. 2, 11
Finding no error in the record, the judgment of the Essex Circuit Court is affirmed.