Muñiz v. Cortés
Muñiz v. Cortés
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
The amended complaint m this case alleged that the defendant had agreed to purchase, in accordance with an inventory, the contents of an establishment belonging to the complainant to be delivered to a third person. The pay
The defendant denied in positive terms the evidence of the contract sued upon and gave evidence tending to show that he agreed to be surety* for a part of the' purchase price, provided the mother-in-law of the third person should also be a surety,. and it was said that she declined. ■ The court found a conflict in the proof and decided it in favor of the defendant, especially in the view of the admissions contained in the original co.mplaint.
The original complaint was not sworn to and appellant says it was prepared contrary to his instructions. At the trial the original attorney of the complainant, over objection, was allowed to testify that the complaint was prepared in accordance with instructions.
The admission of this testimony would seem to be error, but it is not made an object of an assignment of error. Ordinarily the communication of the client is privileged and the privilege must be waived by the client.
• The facts of one abandoned complaint, unsworn to, are not to be considered as an admission. On this the appellant insists in discussing the alleged error of the court in rendering judgment for the defendant. Such a pleading is considered to be the work of the attorney and should only be considered an admission under some special circumstances not shown here.
Appellant also draws attention to the fact that the variance between the two complaints was not great. The original complaint sought to enforce a guaranty. The amended complaint showed that the agreement was the execution of a note. A misunderstanding of the exact nature of the undertaking could readily arise, especially when the establishment was to be delivered to a third person.
The court also erred in refusing to admit the inventory. It was sufficiently identified by witnesses for the complainant whether they were to be believed or not. It was a necessary part of the case of complainant and the court after its admission could still have decided the conflict in favor of the defendant. When the said inventory was offered during the progress of complainant’s case the court before admitting it was under no obligation to weigh the truth of statements made by witnesses identifying the said inventory with acts or admissions of the defendant. If this had been the only error, the court not believing the witnesses, there would be no prejudice, as the complainant’s case depended on the truth of his witnesses.
The court placed its decision largely on the conflict between the two complaints. In weighing the evidence improper self-serving statements were considered by it. While the evidence of the complainant was robust by reason of the valid evidence of the defendant, there still remains a conflict in the evidence that should be decided by the lower court.
The judgment must be reversed and the case sent back for a new trial.
Reversed and remanded.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.