Birkett v. Hird
Birkett v. Hird
Opinion of the Court
This is an action to surcharge a partnership account, and to recover from the defendant $500, which, it is alleged, was improperly alloweff him on the settlement of the partnership transactions. The case involves a simple question of fact. The learned counsel for the defendant, in his able argument, relies upon the well settled rule of law that a full and final settlement of mutual accounts, which has been fairly and deliberately made, is held conclusive, and will not be set aside except upon clear and satisfactory evidence of mistake or fraud therein. The contention is about a $500 check, which, it is claimed on the part of the plaintiffs, was improperly allowed the defendant on the settlement, when it should have been treated as the individual money of James Birlcett. Consequently, on the settlement of the partnership matters, the defendant was credited with that sum as advanced by him. The parties agreed as to the delivery of this $500 check by James Birlcett to the defendant, and they also
It is quite obvious that the jury and court below, who saw and heard the witnesses testify on the trial, had a great advantage over the members of this court in determining the question of their credibility. They might have been aided in arriving, at their conclusion by some explanation of the confused partnership accounts which does not appear in the record. However this may be, it seems both the jury and court found that the whole check of $500, which the defendant distinctly admits he received, was omitted from or was not properly credited in the settlement made. We cannot say that this conclusion was unwarranted by the evidence.
The court also found that the plaintiffs were the joint owners of the $500 in dispute, which is contrary to our understanding of the matter, if that sum was really due from the defendant to any one. But even if the court was in error in its finding on that point, it would not prejudice the defendant, providing he was bound to account for that sum. He took no objection in his answer that there was a misjoin-der of parties plaintiff. He relied solely on a settlement. So, upon the whole case, we think the judgment of the circuit court must be affirmed.
By the Court.— Judgment affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.