Kiel v. Reay
Kiel v. Reay
Opinion of the Court
A jury was called to try the issues in the cause; one of which was, whether the plaintiff was the holder and owner of the promissory notes sued upon. At the trial certain special issues were submitted to the jury by consent, with instructions to find a special verdict on these issues. The special issues so submitted did not include the issue made
But the issue as to the plaintiff’s ownership of the notes was not determined by the verdict. This material issue of fact raised by the pleadings has not been decided, and until it has been determined the case is not in a condition for judgment. There has been simply a mistrial, and until the issues of fact are decided no final judgment can be entered. (Chamberlain v. Dempsey, 14 Abb. Pr. R. 241; Griffin v. Cranston, 5 Bosw. 658; Kintz v. McNeal, 1 Denio, 436; Eisemann v. Swan, 6 Bosw. 668; Manning v. Monaghan, 23 N. Y. 539.)
Judgment reversed and cause remanded.
Dissenting Opinion
The case was submitted to the jury upon certain special issues agreed upon by the counsel for the respective parties. The jury, by their verdict, responded to each of the special issues so submitted to them, and the verdict was received and recorded without objection by either party. No motion for a new trial was made upon either side, and afterwards, upon motion of the defendant, judgment was rendered below in his favor. It is not pretended that in view of the issues made by the pleadings, the verdict, as found, would support a judgment in favor of the plaintiff, and no motion for a new trial having been made, or other proceeding taken below to disturb the verdict as found by the jury, it results that the judgment there rendered was correct, and in my opinion it should be affirmed here.
Mr. Justice Rhodes did not express an opinion.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- DAVID KIEL v. J. W. REAY
- Cited By
- 5 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Issues must be Settled befobe Judgment.—If, in an action on a promissory note, the defendant denies that the plaintiff is the owner and holder of the same, and special issues are submitted to a jury which do not constitute a defense if the plaintiff is the owner and holder of the note, and the jury find on the special issues alone, it is error for the court to render judgment until there is a finding on the issue of ownership. Promissory Notes.—If the payor of a note conveys land to the holder, by way of security for its payment, and the holder afterwards sells the notes to a third person, and then conveys the land to another person to secure his own debt, these facts do not constitute a defense, if such third person sues the payor to recover on the notes.