Goben v. Phillips
Goben v. Phillips
Opinion of the Court
The appellee recovered judgment against the
The court did not err in submitting the cause to a jury. The issues were proper ones to be submitted to a jury for trial.
It is next urged that the facts found in the special verdict are insufficient to sustain a judgment for appellee. This objection seems to be well taken. Under the facts found by the jury it appears that the appellant was the agent of the appellee, with power to sell certain property belonging to her and from the proceeds pay certain obligations. After the payment of these obligations appellant was to pay over the balance, if any remained in his hands, to the appellee.
The jury failed to find that the appellee made a demand upon appellant either for the balance held by him or for a settlement. Neither do the jury find that appellant failed or refused to account to appellee. Appellant was not in default until he refused to account to appellee for the balance remaining in his hands.
Again the jury find that the incumbrances which appellant was to pay amounted to $507.89, namely, "by a mortgage of two hundred dollars ($200), executed May 28, 1883, in favor of S. H. and O. M. Gregg, and taxes amounting to $307.89,” and that he sold the property for $400 cash. Whether the sale was made subject-to these incumbrances or not is not found. Neither is it
It appears from the facts found, that the jury intended to find such a state of facts as would show a balance due appellee; and having failed to make their finding clear, we think that in order to protect the rights of the appellee the cause should be reversed, with instructions to grant appellee a new trial if asked for within ninety days, otherwise that the court enter judgment on the verdict in favor of appellant.
Judgment reversed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.