Bright v. Coffman

Perkins, J. Bright sued Coffman, on a note of the following tenor: “ $103.94. Madison, March 6, 1854. “ Ninety days after date, I promise to pay 3f. G. Bright, one hundred and three dollars and ninety-four cents, for value received, waiving all valuation and appraisement laws. “ John Coffman.” The defendant answered that the note was given without consideration, in this, that it was given in a settlement of accounts between him and Mr. Bright, and that he forgot to [372] bring into the settlement an account for brick against Bright^ of the exact amount of the note. He answered in another paragraph, claiming a set-off, being an account for brick to the amount of the note. The plaintiff replied to the first paragraph, that defendant did not forget to bring in said account at the settlement; but, on the contrary, did bring it in with all others, and that it was considered, disallowed, and excluded. To the set-off the plaintiff replied, denying it. On the trial, the plaintiff gave in evidence the note, and rested. The defendant then introduced two witnesses, viz.: Messrs. Brmnaman and Bright. Brmnaman swore that in the spring of 1853, Bright told him to get paving brick of Coffman and have them charged to him, and that he did get 17,000, at six dollars a thousand. This evidence, of itself, amounts to nothing in the case, because it shows that the brick were got the year previous to the giving of the note, and hence in no manner tends to rebut the presumption that the account was settled, at the time of executing the note. The remaining witness was Mr. Bright; but he was made a witness by the defendant, and he, of course, can not impeach him; and, as we have seen, must succeed upon his testimony, if at all, as the testimony of Brmnaman avails nothing, considered by itself. See Williams v. Wann, 8 Blackf. 477. Bright swore that the account for these brick was brought in at the settlement, that he denied it as an account against him, averring that he did not owe it, and would not pay it; and that the defendant gave the note, at the time, upon the settlement of all their accounts, this for the brick being ex eluded. How, what is the force and effect of the combined testimony of these two witnesses ? For though they are both the witnesses of the defendant, and conflict in their statements, the evidence of both was for the jury, and they had the right to give credence to the statement of one or the other, as they believed or disbelieved it. From the evidence of Brennaman, the jury might have inferred that Bright was liable to pay for the brick, and might [373] have given weight to his testimony on this point, over that of Mr. Bright; and as Mr. Bright testified that it was not allowed in the settlement, the jury might have concluded that it should be allowed in this suit, as a set-off to the note. .But the evidence of Mr. Bright was clear, that the account was brought in and canvassed and rejected at the settlement, and the note given over it. This evidence was uncontradicted; and the question is, therefore, fairly presented, and the case turns upon it, whether an item of account canvassed and disallowed at a settlement of accounts, upon which a note for a balance is given, can be made the foundation of an action, or set-off, afterward, no fraudulent representation or practices having occurred at the settlement. This is a question of law. It has been decided by this Court that where a party sues on accounts, and the defendant disputes their correctness, and the plaintiff is not prepared with his proof of a given item, he may withdraw it from the suit, and afterward recover on it. See Byrket v. The State, 3 Ind. 248 and note. How, it would seem that the rule could not be more strict than this, upon settlements. Parties meet to settle; bring in their accounts; one item is denied; the party can not there introduce his proof of its correctness, and force its allowance; he yields it and settles such as are undisputed; shall he be precluded from afterward establishing the disputed item ? "We think not. Such was the case here. Mr. Bright testifies that the settlement was upon other accounts, the disputed item being “ excluded,” and that the note was given on settlement of the balance of accounts. The jury may have believed that the evidence of Brennaman, in this case, established the disputed item. The jury, on two successive trials, came to that conclusion ; the Common Pleas affirmed the finding on the second trial, and we think we can not set it aside without departing from the settled practice of this Court. We think the evidence'does not make a case showing that Coffman is estopped to enforce payment of the disputed item, on proof of Mr. Brights liability to pay it. The transaction, at the alleged settlement, is not shown to amount to an accord and satisfaction of the item of account, because nothing was [374] given in discharge of it. There was no compromise of it, because it is not shown that Mr. Bright, to use common parlance, threw off any thing from his demand, on account of its rejection. If it be claimed that the transaction amounted to an agreement or promise by Coffman, to relinquish the demand, no consideration is shown for the promise. See Spahr v. Hollingshead, 8 Blackf. 415; Ind. Dig. 258. If it is claimed that the transaction involved an admission that Mr. Bright was not liable on the account, this admission may be shown to have been made in ignorance or mistake, and thus without force or effect as a bar. M. S. Bright, tor appellant. Jer. Sullivan, for appellee. Per Curiam. The judgment is affirmed, with costs.