Campbell v. Germania Fire Insurance

158 N.W. 63, 163 Wis. 329, 1916 Wisc. LEXIS 270
CourtWisconsin Supreme Court
DecidedMay 23, 1916
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 158 N.W. 63 (Campbell v. Germania Fire Insurance) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wisconsin Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Campbell v. Germania Fire Insurance, 158 N.W. 63, 163 Wis. 329, 1916 Wisc. LEXIS 270 (Wis. 1916).

Opinion

Maeshall, J. ’

No time need be spent on whether any of the findings of fact are contrary to the evidence. We are relieved therefrom because, as indicated in the statement, there was a conflict of evidence on all material issues, requiring them to be submitted to the jury, and because counsel for appellant concede in their brief, as they did on the oral argument, that such is the case. The most claimed is that there are findings, vital to the judgment, which are against the great preponderance of the evidence. If that were so, it [336]*336would not warrant setting aside the decision by tbe jury, confirmed, as it was, by the trial judge.

No rule is more firmly established than that findings by a jury, approved by the trial court, are proof against attack here, if supported by any believable evidence, in any reasonable view of it. An appearance, by the history of the trial, that such findings are against the preponderance, or the great preponderance of the evidence, is unimportant, unless such preponderance so conclusively proves the contrary of such findings as to leave no jury question in respect to the matter.

In view of the foregoing, it must be held that the findings here are to be regarded as verities. On the question of whether there is any believable evidence to sustain a verdict, this court has said there is not when it is contrary to all reasonable probabilities, Meyer v. Home Ins. Co. 127 Wis. 293, 106 N. W. 1087; but so long as there is a state of evidence requiring conflicting probabilities to be considered, a jury determination either way cannot be said to be against all reasonable probabilities, even though the evidence of one witness,- — • unimpeached by matters of common knowledge, or conceded facts, or established physical situations, — stands opposed by the evidence of several witnesses. That is the effect of Badger v. Janesville C. Mills, 95 Wis. 599, 70 N. W. 681; Roth v. S. E. Barrett Mfg. Co. 96 Wis. 615, 71 N. W. 1034; Flaherty v. Harrison, 98 Wis. 559, 14 N. W. 360; Wunderlich v. Palatine F. Ins. Co. 104 Wis. 382, 80 N. W. 467; Samulski v. Menasha P. Co. 147 Wis. 285, 133 N. W. 142.

In the last case cited, the rule that evidence on one side of a controversy will warrant setting aside, on appeal, of a jury finding in favor of the other, was confined to instances where the finding is contrary to unquestionable physical situations or common knowledge, or conceded facts. Mere weight of probabilities or inferences against the findings is not sufficient. It is needless to add that the situation here does not satisfy that test, and that the judgment must be regarded as [337]*337right unless some error was committed on the trial which may probably have influenced the jury unfavorably to appellant.

Mr. Bein, who testified to having discovered the place of origin of the second fire and put it out, said that'when he reached such place,. Alfred Campbell was near by and he had a conversation with him. Evidence had already been introduced respecting some suspicious circumstances indicating that the fire was of incendiary origin and that Campbell and his wife might be the guilty parties. In that situation, Bein was twice asked, “Did you have a conversation with him at that time ?” and the witness answered in the affirmative. He was then asked, “What was that conversation?” The court finally sustained an objection to the question for want of sufficient foundation therefor, indicating that the evidence might be admissible further on by saying, “You may, however, reserve the right to recall the witness later.” That right was not exercised. It is contended that prejudicial error was committed at this point.

The inquiry and objection mentioned presented a question of competency. The court did not exclude the proffered evidence, except temporarily. As counsel did not return to the subject, though the basis therefor was much strengthened and the door was carefully left open therefor, it must be held that the matter was waived. Moreover, the nature of the question was such that, in the most favorable light for appellant, prejudicial error does not affirmatively appear. The question did not necessarily suggest that the conversation was in respect to any circumstance of a criminating nature. There was no suggestion in it, or aside, to indicate the materiality of the conversation. This court will not reverse a judgment because of the rejection of evidence, unless its materiality clearly appears and it likewise appears that the exclusion might have affected the result unfavorably to the party complaining. ■

It is further contended that error was committed because [338]*338Mrs. Campbell was permitted to testify to tbe amount of the loss she sustained, using a copy of the list of articles claimed to have been destroyed which she and appellant’s agent made shortly after the fire. She testified, as indicated in the statement, in effect, that she knew the original list was correct when made and that the paper she used to testify from was a correct copy thereof, and satisfactory proof was made as to absence of such original. Under those circumstances it was proper to allow her to use the copy to refresh her memory, or to read from it, or to allow it to be introduced as part of her evidence. Bourda v. Jones, 110 Wis. 52, 58, 85 N. W. 671; Manning v. School Dist. 124 Wis. 84, 102 N. W. 356; Jones, Ev. §§ 877 to 881, inclusive.

Several instructions requested which the court refused to give, were worded appropriately for submission of the case for a general verdict. They were in form that, if the jury believed from the evidence specified things “the plaintiff is-not entitled to recover in this action,” or “your verdict should be for the defendant.” The form of the requests warranted, their rejection. Johnson v. St. Paul & W. C. Co. 126 Wis. 492, 105 N. W. 1048; Howard v. Beldenville L. Co. 129 Wis. 98, 108 N. W. 48; Odegard v. North Wis. L. Co. 130 Wis. 659, 110 N. W. 809. The trial court gave instructions applicable to each of the special questions and no additional instructions of that character were requested which were not sufficiently covered by those which were given.

Complaint is made because the court, in instructing the jury on the question relating to the amount of loss, said: “You will recall the evidence that a great many articles of personal property were totally destroyed and that some articles were not destroyed but were damaged.” It is said that such language involved the suggestion that none of the articles of personalty were saved. It does not seem so. The instruction was in exact accord with the evidence. If counsel for appellant supposed that any explanatory instruction was [339]*339necessary to guard against tbe jury being misled, they should have requested such. It does not appear that there was any such danger.

The jury were instructed that the alleged admissions of Campbell were not entitled to weight unless the jury were satisfied that such admissions were freely made and not under such compulsion, threats, intimidation, promises of immunity, or persuasion, as to prevent him from being a free agent in the matter. Complaint ’ is made of that, solely, upon the ground that there was no evidence warranting it. The admissions claimed, as indicated in the statement, amounted to a confession by Campbell to a public official that he and his wife were guilty of the crime of arson in respect to the de-i struction of the property.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Kreklow v. Miller
154 N.W.2d 243 (Wisconsin Supreme Court, 1967)
Trachte v. Estate of Utting
26 N.W.2d 254 (Wisconsin Supreme Court, 1947)
Teel v. May Department Stores Co.
176 S.W.2d 440 (Supreme Court of Missouri, 1943)
Estate of Wallschlaeger
205 N.W. 402 (Wisconsin Supreme Court, 1925)
Ott v. Cream City Sand Co.
164 N.W. 1005 (Wisconsin Supreme Court, 1917)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
158 N.W. 63, 163 Wis. 329, 1916 Wisc. LEXIS 270, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/campbell-v-germania-fire-insurance-wis-1916.