J. F. Bloom & Co. v. Lewis
J. F. Bloom & Co. v. Lewis
Opinion of the Court
The petition declares upon a written contract dated November 16, 1920, for the sale by plaintiff to defendant of a monument to be placed over the grave of her husband. The material was to be Balfour pink granite of a design and lettering specified in the contract, and included an engraved marker and initialed corner stones. The price was $650 set in place. The answer admitted the making of the contract, and in addition to a quite dramatic description of the forlorn and helpless situation of the widow, and the wicked intentions of plaintiff’s salesman, presumably inserted as matter of inducement, alleged that her signature to said contract had been obtained by false representations: (a) “That the plaintiff company would furnish such monument to her at two-thirds, or less than two-thirds, of the price charged by the local dealer or by any other persons engaged in selling and erecting monumentsand (b) “that the said plaintiff company was then about to make a large shipment of monuments to Nebraska City, and the one that he proposed to sell defendant would be included.” And it is then alleged that immediately upon discovery that said representations were false she caused the administrator of said estate to rescind said contract. The reply was a general denial. Trial to a jury, verdict for the defendant, motion for new trial overruled, judgment on the verdict, from which plaintiff appeals.
Errors relied upon for reversal are: (1) That the verdict is not sustained by sufficient evidence; (2) error in giving and refusing certain instructions; (8) the reception of incompetent evidence over plaintiff’s objections; and (4) error in permitting leading questions to be put to defendant as to false representations.
The first assignment requires a somewhat detailed examination of the evidence. The defendant was the only witness called to prove the alleged representations, although two other persons, her mother-in-law and sister-in-law,
After stating that one Perry, sales agent of plaintiff, about a month after her husband’s death, came to her 'house, she testified as follows:
“Q. Did he tell you what he came to your place for? Just answer by yes or no. A. Yes, sir. Q. What was it he said his business there was? Just tell the jury in words or substance what he stated at that time. A. He was wanting to sell me a monument and he showed photos of a monument. We looked at the photos and I decided on the one that I wanted. Q. What did he say to you, if anything, about what this monument was worth? Mr. Wilson: Objected to as leading and suggestive. The Court: Overruled. A. That it was worth its price. Q. Do you remember what that price was? A. $650. Q. Now, what, if anything, did he say about whether or not it could be purchased, whether he was offering it to you, for less than you could get it here? Mr. Wilson: Objected to as incompetent, irrelevant, immaterial, leading, and suggestive. The Court: Sustained. Q. What, if anything, did he say about the price as compared .with others? Mr. Wilson: Objected to as incompetent, irrelevant, immaterial, leading, and suggestive. The Court: Overruled. A. One-third less. Q. Did he explain to you how he could make that kind of a price to you ? Mr. Wilson: Objected to as incompetent, irrelevant, immaterial, leading, and- suggestive. The Court: Overruled. A. That he was 'having a large shipment and for that reason he could sell it cheaper. Q. Had you had any experience in buying monuments at that time? A. No, sir. Q. Did you have any knowledge of the value of monuments at that time? A. No, sir. Q. Did you rely on what he said as to the value of this monument? A. Yes, sir. Q. Did you depend upon or believe what he said as to its value? A. Yes, sir.”
The defendant then, in answer to. leading questions, stated that, about two or three weeks later she received information (not stated) leading her to believe that the representation as to the value of the monument was untrue,
The salesman, Perry, denied that he represented the monument would be furnished at two-thirds or less of the price of a local dealer, but admitted that he told her of a few people he had sold monuments to, and that they would be shipped down in the spring and hers would come with the rest of them.
November .19, 1920, defendant, in response to a letter from plaintiff, confirmed the contract, subject to some alterations as to the form of the letters. About December 15, 1920, plaintiff received the following letter:
“J. F. Bloom & Company, Omaha, Nebr.
“Gentlemen: Mrs. Myrtle Lewis showed me what purports to be a contract for a monument to be furnished by your firm for the estate of the late Lewis Lewis, I say to you that I was appointed admstrtr. of this estate, and any contract would have to have my name signed to it to bind the estate, which I refuse to do, I therefore notify you not to proceed with this work, you must not trespass on the Lewis lot in Wyuka Cem, the fact is the estate is not in condition to contract for a monument, you will have to cancel this contract, this is final and I don’t want you or your agent bother either Mrs. Lewis or myself about this matter any further. Yours truly,
“(Signed) Wm. Wardon, Administrator.”
This is the letter which defendant says she instructed the administrator to write. It will be noted that not the slightest suggestion of fraud or misrepresentation is contained in the letter. The emphasis is put upon the assumption that the contract would have to be made with the administrator, and that the estate was not in condition to contract. This letter was written out in pencil by Wardon, and typewritten, at his request, by W. A. Forbes, a monument dealer of Nebraska City, in his office. Forbes subsequently sold defendant a monument for $500. It may be remarked in passing that the contract in suit does not purport to bind the estate, but is a personal one with the de
No question is made but that plaintiff prepared the monument in accordance with the contract and had it in Omaha ready for delivery.
We think the trial judge should not have permitted the leading questions as to the representations, at least until after the witness had stated all the conversation she could remember, when it is allowable to call attention to some particular matter. But passing this, and not ignoring the well-established rule of this court that disputed questions of fact are for the jury, it requires more than a scintilla of evidence to support a verdict, and we are in serious doubt whether even that amount of evidence is here present. Considered in connection with the matters now to be discussed, we think the evidence is absolutely insufficient to support the verdict.
Inasmuch as the evidence is insufficient to support the verdict as to the existence of the alleged representations or as to their falsity, if made, judgment must be reversed.
Reversed and remanded.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- J. F. Bloom & Company v. Myrtle Lewis
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- Published