Bertalott v. Automobile Securities Co.
Bertalott v. Automobile Securities Co.
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
This is an appeal by defendant from judgment on a verdict for plaintiff in replevin brought to determine the title to and right of possession of an automobile. Defendant filed its counter-bond and retained possession of the car, whereupon it was impounded oh plaintiff’s motion.
In his declaration, plaintiff alleged he purchased the car from the Keystone-Buick Company; that he bordowed $725.40 from the defendant, “and, as security therefor, executed to [defendant] a series of notes maturing monthly, and, in addition thereto, signed an agreement with the said defendant” of which he had no copy. He averred that after paying four of the notes, he declined to pay the rest of them because when he inquired of defendant the amount of his indebtedness, the defendant demanded a sum in excess of what was due. His declaration then continues that when he refused to pay the amount claimed, the defendant demanded possession of his automobile, whereupon he agreed with de
The affidavit of defense alleges very different relations. Defendant denied plaintiff’s purchase from Keystone-Buick Company as well as other material allegations in the declaration, and averred that it purchased the car from the Keystone-Buick Company and leased it to plaintiff by lease dated December 20, 1918, for the term of six months at a total rental of $859.48, payable in five monthly payments of $105 each, payable respectively on the 20th of each month thereafter, and by a sixth payment of $334.48 due on June 20,1919. The conditional delivery of the car to the Auto Sales and Storage Company was denied. Defendant averred that on November 17,1919, plaintiff delivered the car to it pursuant to its demand therefor. The lease granted to plaintiff an option to purchase the car for $1, if not in default at the end of the term. Attached to the affidavit of defense was a copy of the bill of sale under which defendant claimed, and a copy of the lease signed by the parties.
Under section 6 of the Replevin Act of April 19,1901, P. L. 88, “The declaration and affidavit of defense...... shall constitute the issues under which, without other pleadings, the question of the title to, or right of possession of, the goods and chattels as between all the parties shall be determined by a jury.”
The plaintiff not only failed to prove his allegation that he purchased the car from the vendor named in the declaration, but testified that he executed the lease made
It is very clear that his evidence does not support the averments of his declaration; there is no proof whatever of his title or right to possession; on familiar principles, a plaintiff in replevin must prove the title or right declared upon.
The defendant put ip evidence the bill of sale by the Keystone-Buick Company.to it, and the lease from it to plaintiff and offered other evidence supporting its averments. It presented a point for binding instructions, which was refused. Exception was taken to that action and made the basis of a motion for judgment non obstante veredicto, which was also refused. In its charge to the jury, the court said “According to these papers, the defendant is entitled to the machine, and the plaintiff can overcome that only by proving by the weight of the evidence that the lease had been extended to allow him a little more time, or that the lease had been abrogated. There is no pretension that the lease was abrogated, but we leave that question to you, whether or not the lease had been extended, and, if so, how long? If it was extended to beyond the 17th of November, 1918, as claimed by the plaintiff, your verdict should be for the plaintiff. If, on the other hand, the lease was not extended at all, as claimed by the defendant, your verdict will be in favor
The assignments of error raising the point are sustained, and the record is remanded with instructions to reinstate and make absolute defendant’s motion for judgment n. o. v.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.