Olson v. Moulster

Taylor, C. Plaintiffs sued in replevin to recover possession of an automobile. Defendants alleged that the machine had been sold to them by plaintiffs in payment of commissions due them for the'sale of other machines, and rebonded and retained possession of it. The evidence went into the dealings between the parties quite extensively and at its close the court, assuming that the action was for the conversion of the machine, did not instruct the jury in respect to the form of verdict appropriate in an action of replevin, but directed them to return a verdict in the form appropriate in an action for conversion. Immediately and while the jury were still in the box, plaintiffs called the attention of the court to the fact that the action was in replevin. But instead of permitting a correction of the charge, the parties.forthwith stipulated that the action should be “submitted to the jury as an action in conversion, and that a verdict in the ordinary form of conversion be returned by the jury.” Defendants took an exception to the refusal of the court to give their second request, but took no exception to the charge as ■ given. The jury returned a verdict for plaintiffs for the value of the machine. Defendants thereafter moved for a new trial upon the sole ground that the verdict was for damages for a conversion of the machine, instead of in the form appropriate in an action to replevy it. The motion was denied and they appealed. Defendants admit stipulating that the cause should be submitted to the jury as if the action were in trover instead of in replevin, and that the jury should return its verdict upon that theory. This stipulation made in open court’having been acted upon, and a verdict having been [98] returned in the form prescribed therein, defendants are estopped from now questioning the propriety of the form of the verdict so returned. Defendants’ second request was improper in several respects, and giving it would have been error. It is sufficient to say that the request asked the court to determine disputed questions of fact, which, under the evidence, were questions for the jury. The above are the- only questions presented to this court by the record, and the order appealed from is affirmed.