Arman v. Structiform Engineering Co.

24 N.W.2d 723, 147 Neb. 658, 1946 Neb. LEXIS 108
CourtNebraska Supreme Court
DecidedOctober 25, 1946
DocketNo. 32085
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 24 N.W.2d 723 (Arman v. Structiform Engineering Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nebraska Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Arman v. Structiform Engineering Co., 24 N.W.2d 723, 147 Neb. 658, 1946 Neb. LEXIS 108 (Neb. 1946).

Opinion

Wenke, J.

Joseph F. Arman, as plaintiff, brought this action in the district court for Dodge County against Structiform Engineering Company, Inc., a corporation, as defendant.

The nature of the action is to recover the balance due on two separate contracts of employment, one being written and the other oral. The issues in dispute arise with reference to the claimed oral agreement, the written contract being admitted.

The jury found for the plaintiff and from the judgment [660]*660entered thereon, after its motion for new trial had been overruled, the defendant appeals.

The record presents a case where the evidence is very-conflicting. In fact, the appellee’s testimony- with reference to his claim of a separate oral contract of employment is completely denied by appellant. Under these circumstances “It is the province of the jury to harmonize the testimony in so far as that is possible, and in case of conflict to decide as to the weight to be given the testimony of the various witnesses. Wahlgren v. Loup River Public Power District, 139 Neb. 489, 297 N. W. 833.” Langdon v. Loup River Public Power District, 144 Neb. 325, 13 N. W. 2d 168. And “Where questions of fact have been properly submitted, and have been determined by the jury, which has seen and heard and observed the demeanor of the witnesses, we will not, ordinarily, disturb the verdict.” Dougherty v. Omaha & C. B,. Street Ry. Co., 113 Neb. 356, 203 N. W. 538. “ * * * when the evidence is conflicting the verdict of the jury will not be set aside, unless it is shown to be clearly wrong.” Grimm v. Elkhorn Valley Drainage District, 98 Neb. 260, 152 N. W. 374.

Therefore, we will not discuss the facts other than where it is necessary to do so in connection with propositions upon which the appellant relies for reversal.

It is the appellant’s contention that appellee is conclusively bound by every statement against his interest which he has made in his pleadings and will not be allowed to ■question the correctness thereof. This is stated in appellant’s assignment of error as follows: “The court erred in permitting the defendant to plead and prove a set of facts in direct conflict with two sworn petitions previously filed in the same action.”

This contention arises out of the fact that the appellee, in his original petition filed on March 22, 1944, alleged, with reference to the oral agreement, which is here in dispute, as follows: “That shortly after the 26th day of Octo-ber, 1942, the plaintiff entered into an oral agreement with [661]*661the defendant corporation whereby the plaintiff agreed to act as expeditor and to assist in obtaining materials and priorities for the construction of housing units * * * .”

It should be here stated that October 26, 1942, is the date" of the written agreement entered into between the parties hereto wherein the appellee agreed to become the general manager of the appellant corporation and which contract is not disputed by either party.

After appellant had filed its motion asking that appellee be required to make his petition more specific and certain by setting out the date that he claims the oral agreement was made, appellee filed his amended petition on July 29, 1944, alleging with reference thereto as follows: “That shortly after the execution of said written agreement Exhibit ‘A’, and on or about November 16, 1942, said agreement, at the special instance and request of the defendant, was enlarged, modified, and amended by an oral agreement between plaintiff and the defendant whereby the plaintiff agreed to act as expediter and coordinator for the defendant company for the purpose, * * * .”

Appellant, by its demurrer and answer to this amended petition, raised the failure of the appellee to allege the approval of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue to an increase of salary after October 3, 1942, in accordance with the provisions of the Wage Stabilization Act passed by Congress on October 2, 1942, and the executive orders of the President issued pursuant thereto.

Thereafter, on December 9, 1944, the appellee filed his second amended petition wherein he alleged with reference to the oral agreement as follows: “That on or about May 25, 1942, by reason of disagreement between said Robert B. Cook and the officers of the defendant corporation, the said Robert B. Cook was relieved of his duties and discharged from his employment as expeditor and coordinator by the defendant corporation, and plaintiff at the instance and request of the defendant, through its officers and directors then acting, orally agreed that in addition to his duties as [662]*662general manager, he would also act as expeditor and coordinator for defendant corporation and assume the duties theretofore undertaken by Robert B. Cook, * * * .”

Appellant’s counsel cross-examined the appellee at considerable length as to the allegations in these prior pleadings and the appellee sought to explain the possible reason for the inconsistency. These prior pleadings, verified by appellee’s counsel, were offered and received in evidence. The rule with reference thereto has been previously stated by this court in Miller v. Nicodemus, 58 Neb. 352, 78 N. W. 618, as follows:

“When a litigant files an amended pleading, the averments of which are inconsistent with the averments of his original pleading, the original is evidence in the case as an admission of the litigant contrary to his claim in the amended pleading.

“Such original pleading is not conclusive evidence, but competent, and to be given such weight as the trier of fact deems it entitled.”

This same rule has been more recently stated by this court in In re Estate of McCleneghan, 145 Neb. 707, 17 N. W. 2d 923, as follows :“'*** the rule is well established that a pleading which has been superseded by an amended pleading is only evidence of the facts therein alleged, and must be introduced as any other evidence in order to be considered. Shipley v. Reasoner, 87 Ia. 555. The reason for this is evident: A party may, through inadvertence, mistake, or misinformation, make admissions of facts which have no existence, or are inconsistent with the statements of his amended pleading. If the original pleading is before the court for its consideration, without being offered in evidence, the party making such admissions has no opportunity to explain the circumstances under which they were made, and is thus faced with an admission which might, perhaps, be easily explained and its force wholly avoided.’ ” See Robert v. Hefner, 81 Neb. 460, 116 N. W. 36.

The procedure in the trial court was in accordance with [663]*663this rule and the contention of the appellant is therefore without merit.

Appellant contends that the trial court erred in overruling its objection and permitting the appellee to testify as to the oral agreement which he claims he had with the appellant for the reason that such ruling violates the parol evidence rule which is a rule of substantive law.

As stated in Theno v. National Assurance Corporation, 133 Neb. 618, 276 N. W. 375: “The parol evidence rule is not merely one of evidence, but is a rule of substantive law, which declares that certain kinds of facts are legally ineffective, and forbids such facts to be proved at all.” See Restatement of the Law, Contracts, § 237, comment (a), p. 332.

The record discloses that appellant was incorporated in the State of Illinois on April 2, 1942, and that Charles C. Kirk, P. H.

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Bluebook (online)
24 N.W.2d 723, 147 Neb. 658, 1946 Neb. LEXIS 108, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/arman-v-structiform-engineering-co-neb-1946.