Tarbox v. Gotzian

20 Minn. 139 | Minn. | 1873

By the Court.

Berry, J.

The answer in this case alleged that defendant being a merchant engaged in the sale of boot and shoe packs in St. Paul, plaintiffs in 1871, prior to December 4, in consideration of defendant’s promise hereinafter mentioned, agreed “ to furnish, sell and deliver ” to defendant “.all of the boot and shoe packs which the defendant should require of them in his business, aforesaid, for the ‘ season ’ ensuing next after said agreement, which said ‘ season,’ as all the parties hereto then and there well knew, began in 1871, prior to December, and ended about January 15th, 1872; that they agreed to furnish, sell and deliver such articles, from time to time throughout suche season,’ in such quantities and at such times as the said defendant should require and request,” at certain named prices, which defendant on his part promised to pay ; that plaintiffs, pursuant to agreement, furnished and delivered to defendant a certain quantity of boot and shoe packs,but, although from time to time duly requested, wholly failed and refused to deliver other boot and shoe [packs which he requested and duly required them to sell and [deliver to the amount (at agreed prices) of eight thousand [dollars; that defendant was thereby, damaged (as in the [answer'set forth,) in the sum of eight hundred dollars.

| Defendant sets up this damage as a counter-claim, and the puling of the court below in rejecting defendant’s offer to prove the same is the first error assigned upon this appeal. [But we are of opinion that the ruling was right according to the dóctrine of Bailey et al. vs. Austrian, 19 Minn. 535. There Is the same want of “ absolute mutuality of engagement ” in this instance, as there was in that. The agreement upon the breach of which defendant founds his counter-claim was not a binding and valid contract. Its supposed breach, therefore, did not entitle defendant to damages.

As to the several'errors which defendant alleges that the court committed in instructing and refusing to instruct the jury, the foregoing determination really disposes of them all in favor of respondents, as a little reflection will show.

The court instructed the jury to bring in a general verdict, and special findings upon two questions specifically submitted. The jury retired for consideration, having been directed by the court, with the consent of both parties, if they should agree after the adjournment, to seal up^their verdict and bring it into court nest morning. The jury (having agreed and thereupon separated) accordingly brought in a general verdict under seal for the plaintiffs. The clerk had entered in his minutes said general verdict reduced to form, and had read the same to the jury, but before the jury had been asked if it was their verdict, as required by sec. 216, ch. 66, Gen. Stat., the counsel for the plaintiff called attention to the factj that the jury had not found upon the particular questions submitted as aforesaid, and requested the court to direct them to retire and find upon the same. The court so directed, defendant excepting. Thereupon the jury retired and re-1 turned their general verdict, as before,, together with special findings in answer to the questions aforesaid. Said verdici and findings were received and recorded, defendant objecting. Defendant contends that the court erred in thus “ allowin¡ the jury after they had made up their verdict, sealed it am separated, to retire upon the following morning to find upoj the special issues.” Until the jury had been asked whethei the verdict recorded was their verdict, and had not disagreei thereto, the verdict was not “ complete.” Gen. Stat., ch. 6l sec. 216.' The jury was not, therefore, functus oficio, and it was competent for the court, that is to say, in the power of the court, to direct them to retire to complete their verdict. Nininger vs. Knox, 8 Minn. 149. Our statute expressly provides that if a verdict is “ informal or insufficient, the jury may be again sent out.” Gen. Stat., ch. 66, sec. 215. It would not follow, however, that in all cases of an “ insufficient ” verdict it would be a proper exercise of power for the court to send out a jury a second time to consider further of their verdict, or that the action of a court in so doing would in all cases be sustained. All such v cases call for the exercise of sound judicial discretion. And upon a motion for a new trial in a civil action,.upon the ground that a jury has been sent out a second time to consider further of their verdict after having separated as in this instance, the question for the court is whether injury has in fact ensued, or whether the circumstances are such- that it is likely to have ensued from the fact that the jury were permitted to consider further of, and bring in a verdict after such separation. This is clearly the doctrine of our statutes which provide for the granting of new trials on account of irregularity in the proceedings of the court or jury, or misconduct of the jury, when such irregularity or misconduct materially affects the substantial rights of the patty seeking the new trial. Gen. Stat., ch. 66, sec. 235.

Such also is the prevailing and better view, upon authority, independent of statute. 1 Graham and Waterman’s New Trials, 85-92: Pulaski vs. Ward, 1 Rich. (So. Car.) 119; Barrett vs. Phillips, 1 Gallison, 360, per Story, Justice ; 3 Graham and Waterman’s New Trials, 1398 et seq.

In the case at hand, while the jury should properly have found upon the questions specifically submitted before separating, we see no reason for apprehending that the court below 3rred in the exercise of a sound discretion in sending them out a second time to find answers to such questions, or in refusing to grant a new trial on account of the facts appearing in this behalf. It is to be remembered that to.set aside the action of a jury and order a new trial involves considerable expense and delay to suitors, and unless the court is satisfied, or has good ground for apprehending that an alleged irregularity or impropriety in the conduct of the jury, has occasioned some substantial injury, this expense and delay ought not to be imposed:

We have treated the special findings in this case as in the nature of special verdicts. This would seem to be proper in itself, and in the contemplation of the statute, Gen. Stat., ch. 66, section 218.

On the whole, then, we perceive no error in the action of the court below, and the judgment appealed from is, thérefore, affirmed.