Hilliker v. Jewel Oil & Gas Co.

On Rehearing. Toy, J. We granted rehearing and requested counsel for briefs on the following question involved, not discussed in our original opinion, namely: Whether on appeal, in a case tried without a jury, where motion for directed verdict had been made by defendant at close of plaintiff’s proofs, this court, as a matter of practice, should pass decision on status of the case as when motion for directed verdict was made, or should we pass decision, as did trial court, on entire testimony and condition of pleadings at close of entire case. If the former, the judgment will stand reversed; if the latter, then we must reverse our former decision and affirm the judgment below. This situation is extant, because, as we indicated in our first opinion {ante, 96), the testimony at the close of plaintiff’s'case did not make out an action of fraud; while the testimony at the close of proofs on both sides and the amendment of plaintiff’s declaration then effected, did make an issue of fraud for determination. 3 Comp. Laws 1929, § 14265, provides (in part): “Actions at law tried by the court without a jury shall be tried and disposed of in the same manner, as near as may be, as are actions tried with a jury. ’ ’ *617 It was the evident purpose of the legislature in its enactment of the foregoing statute, to change in no way the orderly practice then existent and to require “as near as may be” nonjury cases to be “tried” and “disposed of” in the same manner as a jury case. A motion for directed verdict or demurrer to the evidence is and has been a practice in jury trials. By virtue of 3 Comp. Laws 1929, § 14265, such practice becomes applicable to cases tried without jury. But,- argues appellee, there is no jury to direct. True, but strictly speaking*, the motion for directed verdict is in effect a demurrer to the evidence (see 3 Comp. Laws 1929, § 14307). The court in directing a verdict makes a determination of questions of law. In a trial without jury, the trial judge sits in a dual capacity. He occupies the same relation to the facts in the case as would a jury, and his powers and duties as a judge remain the same as before, namely, to make rulings on questions of law and similar judicial acts. 64 C. J. p. 1189. Acting in his judicial capacity then, in the instant case, it became the duty of the trial judge to determine the motion for directed verdict. We think our decision should be based on the status of the proofs and pleadings at the time the motion was made. Snyder v. Johnson, 264 Mich. 286. Therefore, on rehearing, we do not depart from our decision herein formerly made. Costs to defendant. North, C. J., and Fead, Wiest, Butzel, Bushnell and Sharpe, JJ., concurred. Potter, J., did not sit.