Brewer & Hoffman Brewing Co. v. Boddie

Mr. Justice Baker delivered the opinion of the court: This was a suit brought on a lease for the recovery of rents. The issues formed were submitted to a jury. At the close of the evidence the court instructed the jmy, in writing, “to find the issues for the plaintiff in this case and assess the plaintiff’s damages at $1305.” The jury returned a verdict in conformity with this instruction. The judgment rendered thereon was afterwards affirmed by the Appellate Court. The assignments of error are six in number. The motion that was filed for a new trial specified only the first three of them. The other three—that is, that the verdict should have been for the defendant, that the verdict and judgment rendered thereon were contrary to the law and the evidence, and that the verdict and judgment are excessive—present, if they are well claimed, grounds that would call for the awarding of a new trial. Not having been specified or claimed, however, in the motion for a new trial, they must be regarded as having been waived. Ottawa, Oswego and Fox River Valley Railroad Co. v. McMath, 91 Ill. 104. The first three assignments of error are: That the court permitted improper testimony to go to the jury on the part of the plaintiff; that the court refused to admit proper testimony offered by the defendant; and that the court erred in stating in the presence of the jury, before the arguments were made to them, that he would instruct the jury to find for the plaintiff, etc. Counsel, in their briefs, do not call our attention to any supposed erroneous rulings of the trial court in the admission or exclusion of testimony. We do not know of what particular rulings they complain, and cannot, therefore, say the court erred in that regard. No complaint is made of the written instruction directing the jury to find for the plaintiff, and no exception was taken to the giving of it. It is, consequently, wholly immaterial that the court, immediately before the giving of said instruction, announced orally to counsel, in the presence of the jury, that he would give such an instruction. This assignment of error is therefore not well made. The judgment of the Appellate Court will be affirmed. Judgment affirmed.