Stull v. Porter
Stull v. Porter
Opinion of the Court
The plaintiff brought an action in a Justice’s Court against the defendants Porter and Bunch, charging them with the tort of killing her two dogs, laying her damages in the sum of $250. The result of a jury trial there was a verdict and consequent judgment against them for the full amount claimed. Porter alone appealed to the Circuit Court and did not serve Ms notice upon Ms codefendant. Bunch did not appeal. At the trial in the Circuit Court the plaintiff ignored Bunch and proceeded as if Porter were the only defendant entitled to be heard there, obtaining a judgment against Porter alone for the full amount of damages claimed. Both defendants have appealed from the Circuit Court judgment to this court.
Opposing the motion to dismiss, the defendants rely upon Cauthorn v. King, 8 Or. 138. There, Cauthorn sued the defendants in the Justice’s Court in trover and obtained a judgment against Bell alone. The case was decided here on a construction of the record showing that both defendants answered in the Justice’s Court and that they both appeared in the Circuit Court. But how they both appeared is not stated
“We consider it entirely certain that the legislature did not intend to require or authorize the Circuit Court, upon an appeal by one defendant who had been served with the justice’s warrant, to try the case and give judgment against another, who had neither been served with the warrant, nor appeared in the Circuit Court, nor been summoned to do so; and neither this nor any other statute, nor any known practice authorizes that court to issue a summons or other process against a person thus situated.”
The Kentucky statute alluded to provided in substance that one or more of several individuals against whom a judgment is rendered by a justice may appeal, that such appeal by one shall place the cause for trial in a court of appeals, as fully as if taken by all, and that such court shall proceed therein and render “judgment between all those who were parties to the judgment of the justice.” If, under such a statute, relating not only to issues but also to parties, the court will decline to take notice of a party who is not subject to its process, much more must we decline in a case like this before us to entertain the appeal of a party who is not affected by the judgment appealed from and who was not before the court rendering it.
“In an action against several defendants the court may in its discretion render judgment against one or more of them, whenever a several judgment is proper, leaving the action to proceed against the other.”
It did not necessarily follow, therefore, that because the parties were sued jointly the only result would be a joint judgment. There was, however, a joint judgment in the Justice’s Court, from which either party defendant had a right to appeal. Inasmuch as his appeal could not make worse the situation of his codefendant, Porter had a right to pursue his own remedy without compelling his codefendant to participate. Being thus left out of the appeal, if Bunch had wished to gain the benefit of such procedure, he ought to have initiated one on his own behalf and entered the Circuit Court by the statutory door thus provided for him. Since he did not pursue this course, Bunch was not properly before the Circuit Court and that tribunal could not render any
The motion to dismiss the appeal of Bunch is allowed.
Appeal Dismissed as to Appellant Bunch.
Opinion on the Merits
Affirmed April 12, 1921.
On the Merits.
Department 2.
As the owner of a collie dog named Trixie and of a shepherd and collie known as Banger, the plaintiff, on January 9, 1919, commenced an action against the defendants, in the Justice Court, District No. 2, County of Coos, in which she alleged that they did “unlawfully, willfully, and maliciously” kill the dogs, and prayed for judgment for $250. The defendants Porter and Bunch filed an amended joint answer, in which they denied all of the material allegations of the complaint, or that the dogs were of any value. A jury trial was had, at which neither of the
“This is a joint tort, and we claim the rule of law is that anyone who aids or conspires in the commission of an act is responsible. We shall prove that Porter did aid and conspire, and we are proceeding upon the theory that a joint tort was committed.”
At this trial the defendant Bunch testified that he alone shot the dogs, and that the defendant Porter had nothing to do with the killing of them. Among other instructions to the jury, the court gave the following :
“You are instructed that a joint tort is alleged, and if the defendant, Tom F. Porter, aided, commanded, advised, or countenanced the killing of either one or both of these dogs, or if the defendant, Tom F. Porter, approved of it, after it was done, if it was done for Ms benefit, he would be liable in the same manner and to the same extent, as if he had done the actual Mlling with his own hands. But the mere knowledge that a tort is being committed against another, will not be sufficient to establish liability. That is, the meaning of that rule as applied to this case would be, that a mere knowledge on the part of Tom Porter, that a tort had been committed by Rosco Bunch, would not render Porter liable. Nor will the mere presence of a person at the commission of a tort or wrongful act by another, render him liable as a participant. Mere acquiescence in the commission of a tort, after the act, does not make the party acquiescing therein liable therefor, since to be liable, he must not only assent to the wrong, but the act must have been done for his benefit, or have been of a*521 nature to have benefited firm. Ratification would not be established from mere knowledge, approval, or satisfaction. To hold one responsible for a tort not committed by his orders, his adoption of and assent of the same must be clear and explicit and founded on a clear knowledge of the tort which has been committed.
“If you find the defendant, Tom F. Porter, was actively engaged or actually participated in the killing of the dogs, or either of the dogs, then the court instructs you that he would be liable to the plaintiff for whatever damage she has suffered by reason of his acts, or, if you should find that he aided, commanded, advised, or countenanced the killing of one or both of these dogs, or that he approved of it after it was done, if it was done for his benefit, then he will also be liable for whatever damages the plaintiff has suffered by reason of his acts. If, on the other hand, the defendant Porter did not participate in the killing of the dogs, and did not aid, command, advise or countenance the killing of them, or did not approve of the killing after it was done, or that it was done for his benefit, then the defendant Porter would not be liable. In other words, he must have participated in the killing, or aided or abetted or countenanced the killing of the dogs, or one or both of them.”
This jury returned a verdict against defendant Porter for the full amount, upon which judgment was entered, from which Porter appeals, assigning as error the giving of the above instructions, contending that in a willful tort there can be no liability unless there was a concert of action and that “the doctrine of ratification of torts does not apply to a willful tort such as the killing of animals,” and that “it was error to instruct on a point not covered by the evidence” or “to give contradictory instructions.” Other assigned errors were waived.
!Ajtirmed.
For respondent there was a brief over the names of Mr. T. T. Bennett and Mr. Ben Swanson, with an oral argument by Mr. Bennett.
Bunch having shot the dogs, it is the theory of the defendant that there is no proof that Porter and Bunch were acting together, and that “there is no evidence of ratification by Porter or that the killing was done for his benefit.” The instructions followed Perkins v. McCullough, 36 Or. 146 (50 Pac. 182), in which, as to the liability of joint tort-feasors, this court held that—
“All persons who aid, command, advise, or countenance the commission of a tort, or approve it, after it has been committed, if for their benefit, are as fully liable as if they had personally committed the objectionable act.”
The question there presented was, whether there was any evidence from which the jury could reasonably find that Matlock and the defendant B. F. McCullough acted in concert with reference to the alleged conversion. The case grew out of a fraudulent sale of cattle, from which Matlock received the proceeds and applied them upon a debt. Upon the facts there, the court says:
“While the sale may have been for Babb’s benefit, so far as the proceeds derived therefrom reduced his indebtedness, it also benefited Matlock to the extent of reducing his demand by the sum so received. He was in possession of the cattle when they were sold, and, the proceeds thereof having been paid to him, the jury might fairly and legitimately infer from the averment of the answer, when considered in connec*523 tion with the other facts and circumstances of the case, that the sale was made for his benefit, and that, by accepting the proceeds thereof, he was cognizant of and approved the conversion, thereby rendering himself liable as a joint trespasser.”
The decision in Perkins v. McCullough is founded upon the case of Judson v. Cook, 11 Barb. (N. Y.) 642. In that case, the president of a bank at whose suit an attachment had been issued and levied upon the property of the defendant therein, when applied to by the constable for directions in regard to selling the property, told him to do his duty and directed the attorney of the bank to examine the question and the facts in relation to a prior lien upon the goods and to act upon his judgment. Whereupon the attorney instructed the constable to sell the goods, and the president of the bank attended the sale and bid off a part of the property. It was there held that—
“This was'sufficient to connect the president with the taking or detaining of the goods, and that he was liable in an action therefor.”
1 Cooley on Torts (3 ed.), page 213, is as follows:
“When several participate, they may do so in different ways, at different times, and in very unequal proportions. One may plan, another may procure the men to execute, others may be the actual instruments in accomplishing the mischief, but the legal blame will rest upon all as joint actors. In some cases one may also become a joint wrongdoer by consenting to and ratifying what has been done by others. But this cannot be done by merely approving a wrong, or by expressing pleasure, or satisfaction at its being accomplished.
“In order to constitute one a wrongdoer by ratification, the original act must have been done in his interest or been intended to further some purpose of his own.”
“All who actively participate in any manner in the commission of a tort, or who command, direct, advise, encourage, aid or abet its commission, are jointly and severally liable therefor. All who aid, advise, command, or countenance the commission of a tort by another, or who approve of it after it is done, are liable, if done for their benefit, in the same manner as if they had done the act with their own hands; and proof that a person is present at the commission of the trespass without disapproving or approving of it, is evidence from which, in connection with other circumstances, it is competent for the jury to infer that he assented thereto, lent to it his countenance, and approved it, and was thereby aiding or abetting the same. One who in any manner indicates his desire that an act be done may be said to request it; and who does anything in furtherance of an act may be said to aid or abet it.”
Applying such law to the facts in the instant case, the plaintiff was the owner of the dogs, and proof of their value is conclusive. At the time of the killing, the defendants were friends and partners engaged in getting out ship-knees on the opposite side of the West Fork of Coos River from the place where the dogs were killed. The defendants testified that about 11:30 a. m:. they started across the river in a rowboat to g’o to Porter’s home for their lunch. Abont midway of the stream, they saw a wild deer, which plaintiff’s dogs were chasing, whereupon, they increased their speed and landed their boat on the side of the river near where the dogs were running the deer. The defendant Bunch testified that after landing he went a short distance to what is known as the “apple-house,” where he got his rifle; that he then went up the hill, and that he fired six or seven shots, killing the dogs. Defendant Porter testified that upon get
“Q. She [meaning Trixie] was a nuisance?
“A. Yes, sir.
“Q. Just the same as Banger?
“A. Yes, sir.
“Q. And you thought it was a perfectly good way of getting rid of her and that it was a good job?
“A. Yes, sir. Whoever killed her.’’
The amount involved is not large, but we have read the testimony in this case with care, and we are con
The judgment is affirmed.
Affirmed. Rehearing Denied.
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