Swafford v. Levine

Holcomb, J. Respondent Swafford was employed, as he alleges, from January 15 to May 15,1916, in performing certain services for appellant Levine. For [364] these services, he alleges, it was agreed that he was to receive $200 a month, and for the failure of appellant to pay such sum, he brought this action on account of balance of wages and expenses due him. Appellant defended in the court below on the ground of payment and release, and in support of that contention, presented the following purported receipt: “Agreement “For and in consideration of $153 to me in hand paid this day by the Carnation Lumber & Shingle Company, L. H. Burnett and Harry Levine, I, the undersigned do hereby release and discharge the said Carnation Lumber and Shingle Company, a corporation, L. H. Burnett and Harry Levine, from any and all claims of any and every kind whatsoever, whether for money or otherwise, which I have or might have against said company and individuals. “Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 6th day of March, 1917. “Witnessed. (Signed) L. B. Swafford.” The case was tried to the court with a jury, and resulted in a verdict for the plaintiff in the sum of $670. ■The gist of the respondent’s claim in the court below was that he was employed to look up mill sites, to cruise lands, and to select machinery for a proposed shingle mill, location of which had not then been determined upon. It is admitted that, after going over various tracts, appellant Levine took an option on a mill and certain timber adjacent, on the recommendation of Swafford, which option was superseded by a lease of the mill by a corporation in which Levine was virtually a half owner. Save for this general outline, the evidence is in direct conflict. As to the receipt above mentioned, Swafford made two assertions, first, that it was fraudulently obtained; and second, that the instrument had [365] been plead in another suit between the same parties, and the amount therein deducted.from the judgment awarded Swafford, and hence could not be properly-used as an offset in this cause. The jury apparently found as to the fact, and, as we have seen, rendered verdict for Swafford with knowledge of this instrument and the diverse evidence regarding same on behalf of the parties. There is nothing before us but disputed facts, and we shall not presume to disturb the findings of a jury which heard and saw the witnesses. The position of this court has been very definitely stated upon the question of reviewing the findings of a jury in a conflict of fact, and we shall not depart from that position in this case. McKenzie v. North Coast Colliery Co., 55 Wash. 495, 104 Pac. 801, 28 L. R. A. (N. S.) 1244; Merrill v. Stevens & Co., 61 Wash. 28, 112 Pac. 353, Ann. Cas. 1912B 1011; Auwarter v. Kroll, 89 Wash. 347, 154 Pac. 438; Willett v. Seattle, 96 Wash. 632, 165 Pac. 876; Gray v. Hickey, 97 Wash. 278, 166 Pac. 625. Judgment on the verdict will be affirmed. Chadwick, C. J., Mount, Fullerton, and Parker, JJ., concur.