Hill v. Wilson
Hill v. Wilson
Opinion of the Court
This action originated in Justice Court in Cass county upon these facts: On June 10, 1898, the defendant, as sheriff of that county, seized certain personal property belonging to the plaintiff, consisting of a hack, team, harness, etc., under an execution issued out of the District Court upon a judgment against one John Keating. The defendant refused to surrender the property to plaintiff pursuant to his demand made the day after the seizure. Neither did he release it promptly when a sheriff's jury returned a finding
Upon both points appellant must fail. The plaintiff sought to recover simply for the use of the property. The only question at issue was what the value was. The complaint sufficiently informed defendant of plaintiff’s demand, and particularly specified the exact period of time for which a recovery was demanded. It does not follow that, because the use of the property was more valuable one day than another, such fact, and the reasons therefor, must be specially pleaded. What the value actually was became an issue of fact to be determined as any other question of fact. It is patent that the value of the use of such property depends upon conditions existing from day to day and week to week; Evidence that On this particular day there was an unusual demand for hacks because it was circus day only goes to show conditions which support the evidence of the witnesses that the value of the use of the property was approximately the amount named by them, which was much in excess of ordinary days. Neither is the evidence of value speculative. It is hot based upon prospective profits which plaintiff might have made by running the hack, but upon the actual value of the use of the property under conditions which were known' to both parties. The judgment of the District Court is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Charles B. Hill v. Charles E. Wilson
- Status
- Published