Bohart v. Wilton
Bohart v. Wilton
Opinion of the Court
This is an action for damages based on an alleged eviction.
The complaint alleges that, “defendants promised and agreed and executed to plaintiff herein an oral lease, wherein and whereby Apartment 4 of the apartment house located at 2128 South Western Avenue was rented for a month to month tenancy at the rental rate of $19.00 for each month;.” That plaintiff paid the rent and occupied the premises until October 20, 1946, at which time it is alleged that, “during the absence of plaintiff from said premises, and without his consent and against his will, defendants wrongfully entered said apartment and evicted and excluded plaintiff therefrom by
The trial was had with a jury and at the conclusion of plaintiff’s case a motion for a nonsuit was granted. Plaintiff appeals from the judgment that followed.
Quoting from appellant’s brief, “It is the Appellant’s contention that the trial court committed reversal errors of law upon an undisputed record of facts. The issues resolve themselves into certain basic questions:
“1. Does the Appellant, in a cause of action of unlawful eviction, have the legal right to pray for judgment in damages for injuries to his health directly caused by said unlawful eviction?
“2. Does the Appellant, in a cause of action for unlawful eviction have the legal right to compensation for pain and injury as a part of exemplary and punitive damages to be included in a judgment if he prevails in proving an unlawful eviction?
“3. Can the trial court, when the issues of fact are being tried by a jury, invade the province of that jury and decide the issues of fact by way of sustaining a motion for nonsuit?”
Quoting from appellant’s brief, “Respondent Grace B. Wilton had a room for rent at 2128 South Western Avenue, Los Angeles, and told Respondent Marie Mayberry she could rent it for $19.00 per month and Mrs. Mayberry told Mr. Coeply she had a room to rent. Then Mr. Coeply took the Appellant to Mrs. Mayberry and Appellant paid her $19.00
“A. She said she had merely rented a room to me as a personal favor to Mr. Coeply, and I was supposed to be in there only sixty days and I didn’t get out, and so Mr. Cihok had a lease signed by Mrs. Wilton that was made in July, and she had absolutely no right whatever to rent the room to me at all, but she had rented it as a favor to Mr. Coeply and me because she thought I was a nice fellow, but when the sixty days was up and another thirty days they decided, Mr. Cihok wanted the room back, he had a lease on it, he was the legal tenant, and they moved my stuff out while I was gone.”
On cross-examination appellant testified to a conversation with Mrs. Mayberry had between about the middle of August and the middle of September while driving in an automobile in part as follows:
“Q. By Mr. Mindlin : It was some time during the drive, Mr. Bohart, you and Mrs. Mayberry had a conversation about the room? A. Yes.
“Q. And did she tell you during this drive the room belonged to Mr. Cihok who was out of town? A. She referred to it as Gy’s room.
“Q. And did she during this drive ask you if you had looked for another room ? A. No.
“Q. By Mr. Mindlin: Did she tell you when Mr. Cihok was expected back in the city ? A. No.
“Q. How did that subject come up? A. She just said it*843 was Cy’s room and he would be coming back some time; she didn’t say when.
“Q. And was the matter dropped then, or did she say anything further about the room ? A. Dropped.
“Q. You didn’t ask her what would happen to you when Mr. Cihok would come back? A. No.
“Q. You did know you would have to vacate the room when Mr. Cihok came back?
“Me. Rochester : I object to that as calling for a conclusion.
“The Court : The objection is sustained.”
The ruling was error and the evidence improperly excluded. Appellant testified to another conversation had with respondent Mayberry over the telephone as follows:
“Q. Now, after you had mailed her this money order around September 19th and prior to October 20th, during that period did you have any further conversation with Mrs. May-berry about the room ? A. Yes.
“ Q. By Mr. MinPlin : What was said in the course of your telephone conversation? A. I told her I needed clean linen, and she said she wouldn’t give me more clean linen and that was Cy’s room and I would have to get out sooner or later and she wouldn’t give me any clean linen.
“Q. What else was said? A. That was all that was said, and I hung up.”
The cross-examination of appellant was constantly and prejudicially restricted and handicapped by invalid objections and erroneous rulings obviously due to a misunderstanding as to the distinction between proper cross-examination and impeachment, a misunderstanding which, incidentally, is not uncommon among judges and lawyers generally. Nevertheless, it is evident, from a review of the record, that the court’s ruling on defendants’ motion was proper. Without going into further detail, it is sufficient to note the trial court’s determination that no agency existed is supported by the record, which conclusion disposes of appellant’s other contentions.
The judgment is affirmed.
York, P. J., and White, J., concurred.
A petition for a rehearing was denied August 11, 1948, and appellant’s petition for a hearing by the Supreme Court was denied September 13,1948. Carter, J., voted for a hearing.
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