Fredrickson v. Iron Range Brewing Ass'n

Minnesota Supreme Court
Fredrickson v. Iron Range Brewing Ass'n, 108 Minn. 155 (Minn. 1909)
121 N.W. 632; 1909 Minn. LEXIS 657
Elliott

Fredrickson v. Iron Range Brewing Ass'n

Opinion of the Court

Elliott, J.

This action was commenced in the municipal court of Duluth for the purpose of recovering treble damages for the conversion of certain hay. In the municipal court a verdict was returned in favor of the plaintiff for $120. The defendant moved for judgment notwithstanding the verdict or for a new trial, and the court granted the motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. The plaintiff then appealed to the district court, where the order of the municipal court was reversed, and the case remanded to the municipal court, with leave to that court to entertain the motion for a new trial. In disposing of the case the district court said:

“Upon the evidence in this case as it appears in the record the verdict cannot stand; but the plaintiff is the real party in interest as respects the hay in question, who should be permitted to recover unless the necessary evidence cannot be adduced, or some positive rule of law prevents such recovery. If it seems probable that the deficiencies in the evidence may be supplied on another trial, plaintiff should not be denied the privilege of making an attempt so to- do. It seems to us that such deficiencies may be supplied, and that ordering judgment against the plaintiff may work an injustice. Our view is that the case was one for a new trial. On such new trial, if had, the question of plaintiff’s right originally to cut the hay, through license or otherwise, and a question of a subsequent ratification by the witness Silk of the acts of Nelson, wherein the latter assumed to represent Silk, as well as other matters, may be further developed. They are not left in a satisfactory condition on the record before us. On the other hand, defendant may be able to show that it had a right to remove the hay as *157it did. Although the general rule is that a trespasser, who wrongfully cuts the hay on the land of another and does not reduce the same to his actual possession, cannot recover against a third person who wrongfully converts such hay to his own use, it is still entirely possible on another trial to show a right of recovery in this plaintiff. It should be said that the verdict rendered was, on the evidence, much too large.”

In view of the amount involved and the nature of the order made, we can discover no reason why this case should have been appealed to this court.

The order of the district court is affirmed.

Reference

Full Case Name
JOHN FREDRICKSON v. IRON RANGE BREWING ASSOCIATION
Status
Published