Ballard v. Byerly

Mr. Presiding Justice Barry delivered the opinion of the court. Appellee purchased an Essex car from appellant for $1,100.00 and in payment therefor gave his Studebaker car at $475.00 and his. note for $625.00 secured by chattel mortgage. A few days later he returned the Essex car to appellant claiming that it had been represented to him as a 1923 Model which had been but little used in demonstrating, whereas it was in fact a secondhand 1922 Model which had been greatly used and was much worn. The evidence is undisputed that Mr. Buchanan bought the car at the factory in Detroit, Michigan, in July, 1922, and had driven it eight or nine thousand miles before he traded it to appellant in August, 1923. There is also evidence tending to show that it was represented to appellee as a 1923 Model and had never been pwned or driven by anyone but appellant and that he had only used it for demonstrating purposes. Appellee recovered a verdict and judgment for $1,100.00. In view of the evidence the court did not err in refusing to direct a verdict for appellant. It is argued that appellee failed to prove that the car was a 1922 Model; that there was as much or more evidence tending to show that it was a 1923 Model. Even so it was a question of fact for the jury. But even if that fact was not proven there were enough of the averments of the declaration proven to make out a cause of action. Appellee was led to believe that he was getting a car that was practically new and had never been used by anyone except appellant and he had only used it in demonstrating. In actions ex delicto, if plaintiff proves enough of the material allegations of his declaration to make out a cause of action, he is entitled to recover, although there are other averments which the evidence does not sustain. Postal Telegraph-Cable Co. v. Likes, 225 Ill. 249. It is argued that the court erred in admitting in evidence the application of Mr. Buchanan for a license for the car in question for the year 1923. We are inclined to agree with that contention but are of the opinion it was not reversible error. Mr. Buchanan testified to the same facts disclosed by the application. It is also argued that the court erred in giving appellee’s second instruction. While it is not as accurate as it should have been, yet in view of the other instructions and the evidence in the case, we are of the opinion that the jury was not misled thereby. In the present state of the record we cannot say that appellee has sustained or will sustain damages to a greater extent than $475.00. He has never paid any part of the $625.00 note. The verdict and judgment for $1,100.00 can only be justified on the theory that he will have to pay that note. If he had proven that he is solvent and that the note had passed into the hands of a bona fide holder, or that it is such a note as could pass to such a holder we would not hesitate to affirm the judgment under Hoffman v. Toft, 70 Ore. 488, 142 Pac. 365, 52 L. R. A. (N. S.) 944, and similar cases. But the undisputed evidence is that the note was secured by chattel mortgage. The statute provides that all notes secured by such mortgages shall state upon their faces that they are so secured and when assigned by the payee shall be subject to all defenses existing between the payee and payor the same as if they were held by the payee, and that any chattel mortgage securing notes which do not state upon their face the fact of such security shall be absolutely void. Cahill’s Ill. St. 1921, ch. 95, ¶ 27. Presumably the statute was complied with and the note contains a recital that it is secured by chattel mortgage. If so, and we affirm the judgment, appellee may successfully defend when sued on the note and in that event he will have profited $625.00 by the transaction instead of simply being made whole as the law contemplates. For that reason we cannot affirm the judgment for $1,100.00. If the parties desire to close the matter without further litigation appellee may file a remittitur of $625.00 within ten days from the date of the filing of this opinion and appellant, within the same time, may file with the clerk of this court the $625.00 note executed by appellee to be delivered to him in case he files the remittitur aforesaid and when those things are done the judgment will be affirmed for $475.00, each party to pay one-half of the costs in both courts. If either party fails to comply with the above suggestions the judgment is reversed and the cause remanded. Affirmed for $475.00 upon filing remittitur, etc., otherwise reversed cmd remanded.