Fawcett v. Wood

"Weight, C. J. The point principally relied upon by appellant is, that the verdict was contrary to and against the evidence, and that a new trial should have been granted for this cause by the court below. The whole testimony is before us. The main feature of* the controversy, on the trial, seems to have been, what was the relative value of the tract of land, from which defendant was evicted, at the time of his pin-chase; or, in other words, — 404 — what was it estimated to be worth in the sale from plaintiff to defendant. Defendant purchased four pieces of land of plaintiff, the whole consideration being twenty-five hundred dollars; five hundred of which was paid in hand, and the notes sued on were given for the balance. As to three parcels, there is no controversy. As to the fourth, it is conceded that the title failed, and that plaintiff was not lawfully seized, nor did she have a legal right to convey the same at the time of the sale to defendant. Did the jury err, under the evidence, in their estimate of the amount which defendant was entitled to have deducted from his notes, for this failure of title, and these breaches of the covenants contained in plaintiff’s deed? is the question now presented for our consideration. In the case of Jourdan v. Reed, 1 Iowa, 135, it was held, that applications for a new trial, for the cause here assigned, “ are peculiarly addressed to the sound discretion of the court trying the cause. Yet that it is a legal discretion, and must be legally and properly exercised. Where the mind is brought inevitably to the conclusion, that the verdict was not the result of a free, sound and unbiassed exercise of judgment, on the testimony submitted, and that manifest injustice will result, if judgment is rendered upon such verdict, it would be the right and duty of th.e court below, to grant a new trial; and where such a case is made clearly apparent to this court, a new trial will be ordered, though refused by the court below. To hold otherwise, would be to take from the judge an essential power in the administration of the law, and make the verdict of a partial and corrupt jury, final and conclusive.” And to the same effect, are the following cases: Freeman v. Rich, 1 Iowa, 504; Stewart v. Ewbank, 3 Ilb., 191; Motts v. Usher & Thayer, 2 Ib., 82. And these cases, we believe, contain the substance of the rule upon this subject, as found in most of the authorities. 3 Grah. & Wat. on New Trials, 1204-5 and note. The only evidence in this case, as to the value of the land, was given by three witnesses introduced by defend — 405 — ant. They appear to testify with candor and intelligence. One of them estimates the value at from $900 to $1050; another one places the value at $1126; and the third considered it worth $1200. They each place an estimate upon the other tracts sold. And on all their estimates, they confine themselves to the value at the time of the sale, and in view of the amount agreed to be paid therefor by defendant. As to the aggregate value, they differ from $100 to $200 — the witness who puts the lowest estimate upon the tract in controversy, placing the highest value on some of the others. No effort was made to contradict or impeach these witnesses, nor was there any attempt to show that they were mistaken, or that the true and proper value was less than that testified to by them. Under such circumstances, we are constrained to believe, that the verdict rendered was not the result of a free and unbiased exercise of judgment on the part of the jury; or, if so, that they have made a manifest mistake, to the prejudice of defendant’s rights. This cannot, with justice, be said to be a case where the verdict is rather against the weight of evidence, but one where it is unsupported by evidence — where it is in no manner warranted by the proof. To our mind, it is a case of clear and palpable error on the part of the jury. If the testimony was contradictory — if any fairly successful effort had been made to impeach the witnesses offered on the part of defendant — or if it appeared that the verdict was in accordance with the justice of the cause — or that a second trial would or should result in a like finding — we might feel disinclined to disturb the verdict. Nothing of this kind appears, however. This case cannot be said, with propriety, to belong to that class of cases where the amount of the plaintiff’s or defendant’s damages, are peculiarly left to be determined by the sound discretion of the jury. In actions sounding-in tort, a wide latitude is appropriately given to juries, and courts will seldom interfere with a verdict, because it is excessive, or because, in the opinion of the judge, it — 406 — may be less than he would have given. Such verdicts have, in some instances, been set aside, but only in the most extreme cases. Here, however, the amount to which defendant was entitled, was susceptible of adjustment and ascertainment by a fair, and not very difficult computation. The figures to form the basis of the calculation, were presented in an intelligent and tangible form. Erom these figures, they could not, with fairness, have allowed defendant much of anything below $900, nor beyond $1200. He was not allowed, however, but about one-half of the lowest estimate placed upon the land. In this finding, they decided palpably and clearly contrary to the evidence submitted. But it is said that these witnesses, in their description of the land — the improvements thereon, and its location— show that their estimates were too high, and that the jury wore, from these considerations, justified in finding as they did. This position, we do not think is supported by the evidence. The witnesses give a somewhat full description of the tract of land; state- that most of it is under fence and in cultivation, and was at the time of the sale; and that it had upon it a dwelling house, a good well, and was upon the main road leading from Iowa City to the city of Dubuque — that road running through it, and being fenced on each side. The land was entered in 1843, and had some improvements upon it before that time. And, indeed, we may say, that there was no one circumstance detailed by the witnesses, from which the jury could reasonably or justly infer, that they had erred in their estimates. It is true that they differed in their opinions as to its value, but the lowest estimate exceeds two-fold the amount allowed by the jury. Had the jury more nearly approximated even the lowest sum stated, the defendant would have less ground for complaint. But under the circumstances detailed by the witnesses, aside from their opinion of the relative value of the land, there was nothing to justify the jury in finding so far below the minimum value so fixed. But a farther argument is made upon these circumstan — 407 — ces. It seems that W. H. Woods, the son of defendant, purchased the land of one Jewett, who purchased from the United States; and it was to this paramount title of the son, that the defendant was compelled to, or did yield. Plaintiff claims that between the father and son there was collusion ; that the son bought' for the father; that he gave but three hundred dollars; and that this being all that was paid to purchase in the outstanding adverse title, defendant could only claim that amount as the measure of his damages. This is the substance of plaintiff’s argument, not stated, perhaps, in the manner presented by counsel; but, in effect, this" is the position. Did the testimony sustain this view, there would be no doubt as to the rule which should be applied. If the defendant, by himself, or through another, for his benefit, extinguished the paramount title by purchase, his damages would be limited to, or be measured by, not the value of the land, but the amount reasonably paid for that purpose, provided it did not exceed the purchase money; and the proof that it was reasonable must come from him. Brandt v. Foster, ante 287 and the authorities there cited. The testimony, however, in no manner tends to support this position. It is true that the deed from Jewett to W. II. "Woods, shows that the consideration was three hundred dollars, but there is no testimony in the remotest degree, connecting defendant with shell purchase. The son was introduced as a witness, and swears unequivocally that he paid for the land with his own money; that he bought it for himself; that defendant knew nothing of it; furnished no part of the money; áhd that he instituted proceedings against defendant, under the title he so acquired. Tin’s was the only testimony upon this subject. If the jury concluded that there was a fraudulent combination and collusion between the witness and defendant, such conclusion was unwarranted, having no semblance of testimony to support it. Whatever the truth may be in the premises, it is certain that under the proof made, there was no ground for — 408 — believing that defendant, either by himself or through another, had acquired the outstanding title. The defendant further assigns for error, the giving of the following instruction: “That if W. EL Woods purchased the paramount title, after the conveyance by plaintiff to defendant, by collusion with the defendant, and with the intention, on the part of the defendant, thereby to defraud the plaintiff, then defendant was not entitled to a deduction, on account of the failure of the title, from the amount sought to be recovered by the plaintiff in this action.” It is manifest that, if there was error in this instruction, it did not prejudice defendant, for the jury did allow him a portion of the amount claimed, and could not have gone upon the ground that the fraud and collusion were proved. It is proper to say, however, (as the case must be remanded for a second trial,) that the instruction should not have been given. The defendant had a right to protect himself, by buying in the outstanding title. This purchase ho might make through his son, or any other person. And, though it may have been arranged between them, that the son should purchase, and compel the father to yield to his superior title, so as to avail him, (the defendant,) on the trial of this case, still, he would be entitled to deduct from the notes, the amount reasonably paid for such purchase, to the extent before stated. If such paramount outstanding title had not been purchased, then the measure of defendant’s damages would have been the value of the land, as shown by the consideration money and interest; and plaintiff could not complain, if, by collusion or fraud between the father Ind son, this title was obtained, and a less amount than such value should, as a consequence, be deducted. It was not correct, therefore, to instruct the jury, that, under the* circumstances supposed in such instruction, defendant would be entitled to no deduction from the amount of the notes. Of course, it is understood, that the son must have acquired the paramount title, and the title to which defendant surrendered was actually superior to that of his grantor. By his surrender, — 409 — of course, he assumes the whole burden of proof, and if he fails in this, it is immaterial what was paid for such supposed better title, or by whom it was paid. We conclude that the verdict was contrary to, and against, the evidence, and that the court below erred in refusing a new trial. The judgment will be reversed, and a trial de novo awarded.