Rittle v. Woodward

| N.D. | Jun 14, 1915

Goss, J.

Recovery is sought for a balance of wages claimed under an express contract. Numerous counterclaims are interposed. One is for damages arising from plaintiff’s quitting before expiration of the alleged employment period. Plaintiff claims an employment by the month, and denies prematurely terminating it. Defendant admits a liability for $60, which he tendered before suit, and which was refused. Judgment was asked for $94.95, and the verdict returned was for $86.45. The appeal is from both the judgment and the order denying a new trial.

Error is assigned on the claim that the evidence is insufficient to support recovery in that it preponderates in support of defendant’s case. Appellant’s brief, however, admits that the evidence presented a square conflict upon an issue of fact to the jury, and which found against him by their verdict. The testimony shows the issue to be one of credibility. It is elementary that the verdict with substantial support in the testimony is conclusive on issues of fact presented.

He next urges error in allowing respondent’s attorney to explain how an exhibit, a farm laborer’s lien statement received in evidence on defendant’s offer, contained erroneous dates and a less term of employment than plaintiff’s testimony on trial tended to establish. The evidence objected to tended to show that plaintiff could not read or write English, and that the dates mentioned in the statement were discovered to be erroneous, caused through the mistake of his attorney preparing it, and that defendant was so informed. The evidence was admissible.

Error is assigned upon the court’s refusal to strike certain testimony as to 'plaintiff’s furnishing board to defendant’s hired men, “for the reason that the complaint pleads an agreed contract price and the evidence shows that the price charged is a price fixed by plaintiff and his wife.” The wife testified to telling defendant before furnishing the board that 25 cents a meal would be charged, and that defendant “thought it was high,” but the board was taken thereafter. This is sufficient to establish an express contract. But it also appears that plaintiff’s pleadings do not put this matter in issue. Defendant puts in a counterclaim for the difference between the 16 J cents per meal claimed by him to have been its reasonable worth, instead of 25 cents per meal collected, and attempts to recover that difference on 134-meals, or $11.17. Under the issues under the pleadings the burden is upon him, and not upon the plaintiff, to make said proof. The ruling was correct. What is said under this assignment also disposes of another, based upon refusal to instruct as requested, “that the plaintiff having alleged in his complaint an agreed price for boarding, he is required to prove such contract and cannot recover for 25 cents per meal, as there is no evidence to show the reasonable value of the board so furnished, and plaintiff cannot recover any sum under the evidence for the board he claims to have furnished.” Plaintiff does not seek a recovery for board. The instruction was properly refused.

Another assignment is based upon a correction in the written instructions made by drawing a pen through the following portion theréof: “In this case you must in any event find for the plaintiff. The amount you find cannot exceed $94.95 and cannot be less than $60.” The instruction obliterated would have been proper to have given the jury. They were instructed practically to the same effect elsewhere. One paragraph of defendant’s answer pleads a tender and deposit of $60, and that the deppsit has been kept good, and by reply plaintiff admits it. This prevented allowance of interest had the jury returned a verdict that only $60 was due at the termination of the employment; and in addition the costs of suit would be thrown by operation of law upon the plaintiff had the verdict been but $60. Manifestly there could be no possible error in giving the instruction. Its omission was not error against defendant. Taken as a whole the instructions are clear, accurate, and sufficient. All other errors specified are abandoned by no argument of them in the brief. Judgment is ordered affirmed.