Coleman v. Utley

Humphreys, J. Appellant instituted suit against appellees in the Howard Circuit Court to recover $282.90 for advances alleged to have been made by appellant to appellee John Graham to enable him to produce a crop on lands rentéd to him by appellant. It was alleged that, after the major part of the crop had been planted, appellee John Graham sold the crop to appellee, A. F. Utley, by and with the consent of appellant, the consideration being that A. F. Utley should pay all of Graham’s indebtedness to appellant on account of advances made to make said crop. Appellee A. F. Utley filed an answer, admitting that he purchased the crop by and with the consent of appellant, with the understanding that he would pay Graham’s indebtedness to appellant on account of advances made to plant the crop, upon condition that John Graham would stay on the place and help produce the crop; that, after remaining two or three weeks, said Graham refused to further assist in the cultivation of the crop and moved off the place. The cause was submitted to a jury upon the pleadings and evidence, which resulted in a verdict in favor of appellant for $141.45. Thereupon appellant moved for a judgment for $255.90, notwithstanding the verdict, on the ground that under the undisputed evidence appellant was entitled to recover that amount. Over the objection and exception of appellant, the court overruled the motion and rendered judgment in accordance with the verdict, from which an appeal has been duly prosecuted to this court. The record reflects that appellant rented and was residing upon the farm of Dr. Toland in the year 1920; that he rented a part of the land to appellee John Graham on which to. plant corn and cotton; that after planting all of the corn and a part of the cotton he sold the crop, with appellant’s consent, to appellee A. F. Utley. At the time the sale was made appellant had made advances to appellee Graham in the total amount of $282.90, all of which was used in planting the crop, except $27 furnished to Graham for a wedding suit. The evidence introduced by appellant tended to show that the consideration for the purchase of the crop was the absolute assumption by A. F. Utley of. Graham’s indebtedness to appellant on account of advances made by appellant to plant the crop. The evidence introduced by appellee Utley tended to show that he assumed the indebtedness of Graham for said advances on condition that; Graham would remain upon the place and assist in the cultivation of the crop; that he refused to render this assistance and moved away from the farm. Appellant insists that it was the duty of the court to declare as a matter of law upon the record in the case that he was entitled to recover the sum of $255.90, notwithstanding the verdict of the jury to the effect that he was entitled to recover only $141.45. This insistence of appellant is based upon the fact that the verdict of the jury settled the only controverted question of fact in favor of appellant, which finding necessarily entitled plaintiff to a judgment for the full amount of the advances made and used in planting the crop. The uncontradicted testimony revealed that appellant had advanced Graham, at the time he sold the crop to Utley, $255.90, which was used in planting the crop. The only dispute in the testimony was whether at the time of the purchase Utley assumed the payment of the amount so advanced. absolutely or conditionally. The theory of appellant was that he assumed the payment absolutely, and that of appellee Utley was that he assumed the payment conditionally, and that the condition failed. The cause was submitted to the jury upon each theory, and the finding of the jury in favor of appellant in any sum was necessarily a settlement of the disputed fact in favor of appellant, and against appellee Utley. The finding in favor of appellant in an amount less than the amount advanced was therefore an arbitrary finding. The verdict, as to the amount, was necessarily without any evidence to support it, as the undisputed evidence showed appellant was entitled to the whole amount advanced for the purpose of planting the crop or to nothing. •In this state of the record it was the duty of the court to sustain the motion filed by appellant and render a judgment upon the undisputed facts disclosed by the record for the full amount of the advances made to plant the crop, notwithstanding the verdict of the jury for a less amount. Collier v. Newport Water, &c., Co., 100 Ark. 47; Scharff Distilling Co. v. Dennis, 113 Ark. 221. The judgment is therefore reversed, and judgment directed to be entered here for $255.90 in favor of appellant.