Schultz v. Andrews & Co.
Schultz v. Andrews & Co.
Opinion of the Court
Unless the verdict 'is unsupported by the evidence or tainted .with error it supports the judgment. Miranovitz v. Gee, 163 Wis. 246, 157 N. W. 790; Karls v. Drake, 168 Wis. 372, 170 N. W. 248; Swoboda v. Rubin,
It is to be noted, also, that plaintiff did not rescind the contract of purchase until April 6, 1918, more than five months after the contract of purchase was made. It is claimed by the appellant that plaintiff’s letter to it under date of November 13th indicates that he had discovered the falsity of the representations on that date, and that he should promptly have rescinded upon the discovery of the fraudulent representations, and that a rescission on April 6th following was tqo late as a matter of law. Ordinarily this would be true, but we think the following circumstances make the question of whether he acted with reasonable
Appellant makes the further point that the plaintiff failed to prove that the stock was not worth $13.50 on the Chicago market on October 29, 1917. It is true that there is no evidence in the case showing the value of the stock on the Chicago market on that day. The deposition of the defendant’s Milwaukee ■ manager, however, was taken otherwise than as a witness under the provisions of sec. 4096, S'tafs.' and read in evidence. He testified that in October, 1917, he was manager of the defendant’s office at Cleveland; that the market for the Empire Tire & Rubber Company stock was made ‘ through defendant’s sales of it. • The market was running at their asked price in October, 1917, from $7.50 to $8 and that to his knowledge the highest price paid’for this.stock up to October 29, 1917, was $9. In view of this testimony of the manager of the defendant’s Milwaukee office, we think it was unnecessary for plaintiff •to prove the value of the stock on the Chicago market on the day of purchase. It appears from his testimony that the market was what Andrews & Company made it, and that up to the day of the contract of purchase it had not been above $9 anywhere. If the defendant was prejudiced by this testimony it was within its power to show what the value of the stock was on the Chicago market on the day in question. This it failed tó do, and the inference is irresistible that it was neither $13 nor $13.50.
Appellant further asserts that there is no evidence in the case to show that the stock was represented to be of the value of $13 on the Chicago market, and it points out that the evidence of the plaintiff is to the effect that it was represented to be $13.50. The plaintiff did so testify. The allegation of the complaint, however, is to the effect that it was represented to be of the value of $13. In view of this allegation of the complaint the court inserted' the sum of $13 in the first question of the special verdict instead of
As mentioned in the statement of facts, the complaint sets forth two causes of action: one for damages because of the fraudulent representation, and the other for the recovery of the money paid, upon rescission of the contract. At the close of the evidence the defendant moved that the plaintiff be required to elect upon which .issue he would go to the jury. The court denied the motion. This is assigned as error. It is true that' the two causes of action are inconsistent, because one treats the contract as an existing one and the other treats it as having been rescinded and nonexistent. This was urged upon the lower court as ground for a new trial, and the learned trial judge pointed out that the objection should have been raised by demurrer to the complaint and that it was waived by failure to demur. This disposition of the matter is sustained by the plain provisions of the statutes. See secs. 2649, 2654, Stats.
Error is assigned by appellant because of failure to give instructions requested and the giving of instructions excepted to. We fail to find any error in such respect, and it seems unnecessary to treat such assignments in detail. We find no reversible error, from which it results that the judgment should be affirmed.
By the Court. — Judgment affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Schultz v. Andrews & Company
- Status
- Published