Robinson v. Town of Washburn

| Wis. | Feb 23, 1892

PiNNey, J.

If the court had received and recorded the verdict, although there was no finding of damages in favor of the plaintiff, a question for consideration and decision would have been presented, — ■ whether the answers returned did not amount to a general verdict for the defendant. The court, by its action, in effect suppressed the findings of the jury, and discharged them, and subsequently entered an order on the motion denying the defendant all benefit of the findings, and refused to give judgment thereon in its favor.

A question has been made whether this order is appeal-able. If the findings of the jury are equivalent to a verdict for the defendant, and in that aspect are not inconsistent, then, unless set aside and a new trial is granted, the defendant will be entitled to a judgment thereon in its favor; and the case of Lemke v. C., M. & St. P. R. Co. 39 Wis. 449" court="Wis." date_filed="1876-01-15" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/lemke-v-chicago-milwaukee--st-paul-railway-co-6602002?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="6602002">39 Wis. 449, sustains the view that such an order is appealable.

The verdict found (1) that the plaintiff did not suffer any injuries as alleged in her complaint by reason of the alleged negligence of the defendant; (2) that- the defendant did not have any notice, either actual or constructive, of the alleged defect in its highway before the accident happened. Any answer to the fifth question by its terms became unnecessary, in consequence of the finding last mentioned. The accident occurred on the night of the 19th of July, 1888, as appears from both the complaint and answer, and it is found that the defect occurred between sunset and 10:50 p. m. ■ By these findings the defendant is clearly acquitted of all fault on its part. The inconsistency between the seventh finding, to the effect that the plaintiff was injured by reason of the alleged defect in the defendant’s highway, and the eighth finding, that the plaintiff sustained no damages therefrom, becomes utterly immaterial. The injury is found to be one for which the defendant is in no way answerable. Upon this verdict it is plain that the defendant is entitled to judgment, unless it shall be set aside and a new trial granted for some reason recognized by law.

The order of tbe circuit court, we think, is appealable on the ground that under the circumstances of this case it involves the merits of the action. It prevents the entry of a judgment on a finding in favor of • the defendant, to which it is clearly entitled. In ordinary cases, an order denying judgment to the defendant on a verdict results in giving judgment thereon to the plaintiff, from which either party may appeal; but where, as in this case, the refusal of the court to enter the verdict of record, and to give the defendant judgment on it must necessarily, if acquiesced in, deprive it of a verdict in its favor on the merits, and expose it to the expense and hazard of another trial to reach the same result, and may possibly result in a verdict against it, we think the case is brought within subd. 4, sec. 3069, E. S., and that the order is one affecting the merits, and is therefore appealable; and that, under the special circumstances of this case, it is distinguishable from Treat v. Hiles, 75 Wis. 274, and other similar cases cited in Murray v. Scrwner, 70 Wis. 228" court="Wis." date_filed="1887-11-22" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/murray-v-scribner-6605885?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="6605885">70 Wis. 228. The statute provides for a comprehensive system of appeals from orders, and it would be strange, indeed, if, with a provision for an appeal from an order affecting the merits, such an order as the one in question should not be held appealable.

When the merits of an action have been determined by special answers to questions submitted, the verdict should not be held defective and rejected by reason of the failure to answer other questions, or any inconsistency in the answers given which do not and cannot in any way qualify or limit the answers upon which the right of either of the parties to a judgment in his favor is made clear. Correct practice requires in such cases that the verdict be received and filed, so that any action of the court based on it may be reviewed on appeal. It is not admissible for the circuit court to determine the questions arising upon such findings finally and in a summary way by refusing to receive and make them a matter of record. We do not hold or intimate, however, that where a verdict, either general or special, is so obviously imperfect that no fair contention can be made that either party will be -entitled to judgment on it, it should .b'e received and entered of record. It is the duty of the court to receive and record the findings of the jury in this case and proceed in respect thereto according to law.

By the Court. — The order of the circuit court, appealed from, is reversed, and the cause is remanded for further proceedings according to law.