Coon v. Brashear

7 La. 265

Opinion

Bullard, J.,

delivered the opinion of the court.

The plaintiff sues to recover his wages as a mechanic, in the employment, of the defendants, for a period of several years, a part of the time at the rate of forty dollars per month, and a part at forty-five. The answer admits, that the plaintiff had been in the habit of working for the defendants, but not at the rates of wages stated by him; compensation, as to a part of the demand, was also pleaded, and prescription. After this answer to the merits, the defendants further pleaded, the want of an amicable demand.

During the trial, the plea of prescription was voluntarily withdrawn, by the defendants, simultaneously with certain concessions made by the other party, as to a disputed point of evidence in the cause. In this court, the appellants have renewed that plea. This is opposed by the appellee who urges that the waiver of the plea in the District Court, is tantamount to a renunciation of prescription, which can validly be done after it is acquired, and that the renunciation cannot be retracted.

The Code has established the principle, that prescription when once acquired, may be validly renounced. The renunciation is either express or tacit: “a tacit renunciation results from a fact, which gives a prescription of the relinquishment of the right acquired by prescription.” Article 3424. As it is only by way of exception or plea, that a party can avail himself of prescription, it seems to us that the voluntary waiver of such exception in tl^e course of a judicial pro ceeding, move especially, when accompanied by a concession on the part of the adversary, is such a fact, as furnishes the strongest presumption of an intention to renounce the right itself. Indeed it is difficult to distinguish between, in this case, a waiver of the exception, and a renunciation of the right, or to understand how the end is to be attained, after a voluntary abandonment of the means. We are therefore of opinion, that the plea cannot bo renewed, in this court, so as to avail the defendants.

The voluntary ■waiver of the plea of prescription by a party m a judicial proceeding, especially when accompanied by a concession on the part of his adversary made in consequence thereof, is the strongest presumption of the renunciation of the right itself. Where a workman sues to recover his wages at a stipulated hire per month, as a bricklayer, and evidence is introduced without objection to prove the usual wages of that class of mechanics, the jury are the judges of the value of the ivork charged as having been done, on the evidence then be- In a suit to recover wages at a stipulated hire per month by a mechanic, it is sufficient for him to prove his contract and the length of time he was in the defendant’s em- Where a witness swears falsely on a material point in a cause, the jury is authorised to disregard his testimony altogether.

A bill of exceptions was taken to the charge of the judge to the jury, which is relied on by the appellant. His counsel moved the court to instruct the jury, that they were not the judges of what was the value of the plaintiff’s services, as brick-layer, per day, but that the plaintiff was bound to prove it to them, by evidence offered before them; but the judge instructed the jury that they were the judges of the value of the work, on the evidence before them. It is true, the plaintiff sued for wages, at a stipulated hire, and the question was, not what his services were really worth, but evidence had gone to the jui-y without exception, to prove the usual wages of that class of mechanics, and we think the judge did not err, in giving such a charge to the jury. He was clearly correct in refusing to give the charge asked by the defendants’ counsel, to wit: that the plaintiff was bound to prove, the value of his services. It was enough for him to prove his contract, and the length of time he was in the defendants’ employment.

On the merits, it has been urged, that the verdict of the jury was contrary to, and without legal evidence. It has been particularly insisted, that the jury was bound to disregard the testimony of one of the principal witnesses, on the ground, that he had stated what was clearly proved to be false, and the counsel relies on the rule of evidence, as stated by Starkie and other writers on that branch of the law, “falsum, in uno, falsum in omnibus.” 1 Starkie, 524.

It is true, that when a witness has wilfully perjured himself, on a point material to the cause, the jury is authorised to disregard his testimony altogether. But the jury is to judge whether the misstatement was wilful or material, and what degree of credit ought to be given to the witness. It is difficult to establish any technical rule on this subject. In the case now under consideration, it may have appeared to the jury, as it does to us, quite immaterial, whether the plaintiff put up two buildings or one, inasmuch as his demand was for services by the month, and not for the price of a particular job. It could not be supposed that the witness would wilfully perjure himself on a point of fact, which was wholly irrelevant to the issue, and could not avail the plaintiff. This court cannot control juries, as to the credit due to the statements of particular witnesses; we can judge only, of the effect of the whole evidence taken together, and whether ver<hcts rendered by them, are manifestly against, or without legal evidence. This is the principle to which we uniformly adhere, and which, in this case, does not authorise us to Clistob the Vel'dict of the .ÍU17-

The jury are the judges whether a misstatement by a witness was wilful or material, and what degree of credit ought to be given to his testimony. The Supreme Court can judge only of the effect of the whole evitaken6 íog'ethei-6 and whether the Jury is manifestiJithof ÍnStleg°aí evidence. _ This uniformly adderUie verdict isJiot of this character, disturbed. or^pfea^tinS1 no amicable demand was made, mustbespecially SlL-ritis the ^lt°excepüon after conteslalio ruis.

The appellee in his answer, alleges that there is error in the judgment to his prejudice, which he prays may be corrected. It appears that after the answer to the merits, and on the eve of the trial, the defendants pleaded the want of amicable demand, and such demand not having been proved, the plaintiff was adjudged to the payment of costs, up to the time the answer was filed. We think the court erred in this . particular. This court has already decided, that such exception should be specially pleaded, and in limine litis. It was to° ^ate to Put hi the exception after the contestatio litis. I La. Reports, 105.

It is, therefore, ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the District Court be reversed, and that the plaintiff and appellee recover of the defendants, the sum of three hundred and sixty-seven dollars, with costs in both courts.