Osmundson v. Moore Mercantile Co.

MR. JUSTICE COOPER delivered the opinion of the court. The record shows that P. H. Samuell, the original plaintiff in this action, sold and assigned the cause of action to Hazel [459] Samuell Osmundson before the commencement of the trial, and in this court she was substituted on motion as appellant. It also discloses that the action was dismissed against the sheriff of Fergus county and the Moore Mercantile Company, leaving the Power Mercantile Company as the sole remaining defendant. Six witnesses were sworn and testified orally, and the evidence of P. H. Samuell given upon a former trial was read to the jury in plaintiff’s behalf. Four witnesses testified orally for defendant. At the close of the evidence the court submitted two special findings and a general verdict to the jury. In the findings $400.35 was fixed as plaintiff’s damage, and in the general verdict, $488.29. Defendant moved the court to make the award in the general verdict conform to the special findings. The motion was sustained, and judgment entered for plaintiff in the sum of $400.36 and costs. Plaintiff appeals. In three assignments appellant charges the court with the commission of three errors: (1) Erroneously charging the jury upon the evidence; (2) reducing the damages stated in the general verdict; and (3) rendering judgment for $400.36 fixed in the special findings. No evidence is incorporated in the record; yet appellant’s counsel ask this court to hold that the district court er-“ roneously instructed the jury. The question whether the trial court’s charge misled the jury cannot be decided without reading the evidence in connection with the instructions complained of. This court so held in State v. Gill, 21 Mont. 151, 53 Pac. 184; State v. Phillips, 36 Mont. 112, 92 Pac. 299; Sprinkle v. Anderson, 57 Mont. 219, 187 Pac. 909; and Smith v. Rodriguez, 69 Mont. 319, 221 Pac. 530. Courts of other states have decided the question the same way. (Carpenter v. Ewing, 76 Cal. 487, 18 Pac. 432; Bryant v. Gray, 179 Cal. 679, 178 Pac. 709; Ross v. Kay Copper Co., 20 Ariz. 576, 184 Pac. 978.) With reference to the second and third assignments of error it is sufficient to say that the special finding fixing plaintiff’s damage was wholly inconsistent with the general verdict, [460] and is therefore controlling. (Martin v. City of Butte, 34 Mont. 281, 86 Pac. 264.) The judgment is affirmed. 'Affirmed. Mr. Chief Justice Callaway and Associate Justices Holloway, Galen and Stark concur.