Evansville Morris Plan, Inc. v. Howard
Evansville Morris Plan, Inc. v. Howard
Opinion of the Court
The question is priority of liens on a truck. The suit was instituted by the appellant for an order of delivery o-f the truck from the appellee, John Howard, who operates a garage in Livermore and who had obtained its possession under a claim of a garageman’s lien. The possession, however, was not obtained by any legal process. The bank asserted it was the owner \oi the truck. The jury found for the defendant under an instruction so to find if the jury believed that the bank had consented and acquiesced in the truck being brought into Kentucky from Indiana by Ernest M.'Who-brey, the purchaser' under a conditional sale contract. The court thereupon adjudged Howard to have a lien superior to the conditional sales lien or title of the bank to the extent of its claim, '$81.96, and ordered the truck sold to satisfy it. ICRS 376.270 et seq.
In July, 1948, Whobrey had bought the truck in Evansville, Indiana, under a conditional sales contract securing the payment of a balance of $444.00. A few days later that instrument was assigned to the appellant. It appears the Indiana law in respect to such transactions was complied with. After using the truck in Indiana for two or three weeks, Whobrey brought it to Livermore, Kentucky, where it was used principally by his father in general hauling until seized by Howard.' The charges for gasoline and work on the truck were made against Lawrence Whobrey, the father, because he had told Howard it was his truck. He had taken out a city license for its operation in his name.
We recognize that a conditional sale contract made in Indiana, in which the vendor keeps title to an automobile until the installment payments have been made in full, is valid and enforceable and that an
In November, 1948, after Howard had taken the truck into'his possession to- be held until the account of Lawrence Who-brey was paid, Ernest Whobrey went to Evansville and informed Gorman, the bank’s credit manager, that he could not continue his installment payments because Howard had tied up the truck. Thereupon, Gorman talked with Howard on the telephone and insisted that .he-had tied up the wrong car as Ernest Whobrey did not owe him anything. According to Howard, Gorman said, “We know the -boy is- using the truck, but he don’t owe you.” However, Gorman did not say how long he had known the truck was in Kentucky. Both Gorman and Ernest Whobrey testify that until his visit to Evansville, the bank had no knowledge whatever that the truck was in Kentucky. Howard’s version of the conversation is not inconsistent. It does not prove the admission of consent or even of previous knowledge. We are' of opinion, therefore, the evidence did not authorize a submission of the case to the jury on the issue of consent or acquiescence. The court should have directed a verdict for the plaintiff, Evansville Morris Plan Bank. The evidence was not sufficient to show the Bank sustained any damages because of the seizure and retention of the truck by Howard, or any damages claimed by Howard.
The judgment is accordingly reversed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.