Gammage v. Weinberg

355 S.W.2d 788, 95 A.L.R. 2d 1086, 1962 Tex. App. LEXIS 2319
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedFebruary 15, 1962
Docket13894
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 355 S.W.2d 788 (Gammage v. Weinberg) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Gammage v. Weinberg, 355 S.W.2d 788, 95 A.L.R. 2d 1086, 1962 Tex. App. LEXIS 2319 (Tex. Ct. App. 1962).

Opinions

WERLEIN, Justice.

This is an appeal by J. M. Gammage from a judgment in favor of Abe Weinberg, in the sum of $11,110.00 as indemnity representing part of the amount paid by him on a final judgment recovered against both parties in solido in a suit brought by one Allstock in the United States District Court, Western District of Louisiana, for damages resulting from personal injuries sustained in a collision in the State of Louisiana.

It is appellant’s contention that the findings of fact by the trial court in the instant case are repugnant to the issues of fact upon which the Louisiana judgment was based, and that the court erred in concluding (1) that appellee was not liable to the Louisiana tort claimant since the Louisiana judgment is against both appellant and ap-pellee in solido, and (2) that the Louisiana judgment is not res judicata as to appellee’s claim and does not estop appellee from claiming indemnity.

Appellee pleaded in substance that the plaintiff in the Louisiana case recovered a judgment for $18,900.00, said judgment being against American Employer’s Insurance Company, Huey P. Tyler, J. M. Gam-mage and Abe Weinberg, in solido, in the sum of $5,000.00; against Huey P. Tyler, J. M. Gammage and Abe Weinberg in soli-do in the sum of $2780.00; and against Abe Weinberg and J. M. Gammage in solido in the sum of $11,120.00. He also alleged that “Said final judgment of the Court was based upon the finding by the jury that said Huey P. Tyler [the truck driver], at the time of said collision, was acting as the servant and employee in the course of such employment for the said J. M. Gammage and the said Abe Weinberg.”

Appellee further pleaded that the judgment in the Louisiana case resulted from the acts of negligence of Tyler who was acting in the course and scope of his employment for Gammage and was not acting as the agent, servant or employee of Weinberg; that as a favor and accommodation to appellant, appellee had permitted appellant to transfer to appellee the record title to the truck-tractor, but in fact appellant was the owner and operator thereof, and appellee had no interest whatever therein; that $5,000.00 on the judgment had been paid by American Employer’s Insurance Company, and that appellee in order to obtain a release from such judgment had paid $12,500.00, and appellant had paid $1,000.00 to obtain a release; that appellee was required to pay attorney’s fees and costs in the Louisiana suit in the sum of $5,000.00; and that appellee was entitled to indemnity in the amounts paid by him, and, in the alternative, to contribution.

The trial court found that Tyler was the employee of appellant and not of appellee, and was not engaged in any mission or duties in behalf of appellee; that appellant was the owner of the truck and trailer al[790]*790though the certificate of title and registration indicated appellee was the owner thereof; that prior to the collision appellee had executed to appellant powers of attorney authorizing appellant to sign appellee’s name to all title papers necessary to transfer said truck and trailer to appellant; that appellant had the pipe transported on said truck weighed on public scales and directed that the weight ticket indicate that the pipe was consigned or sold to appellee, but ap-pellee had not authorized such action and had no knowledge thereof and had no interest in or ownership of the pipe being transported; that no cross-action or counter-claim or prayer for affirmative relief as between appellant and appellee was filed by any of the defendants in the Louisiana case, either for contribution or indemnity; that appellee paid $12,500.00 for a release of the judgment as against him, and that appellant paid plaintiff $1,000.00 to obtain his release; that as between appellant and appellee, appellee was not in any manner liable to Allstock or responsible for any negligence resulting in said collision.

The court concluded that liability adjudged against appellant and appellee in solido was the sole liability of appellant and that appellee was entitled to recovery in the sum of $11,110.00 indemnity, representing $12,500.00 paid by appellee, less one-half of the amount of $2,780.00 adjudged against appellant, appellee and Tyler in solido; that appellee was not entitled to recover any attorney’s fees, although the court had found that appellee had paid his attorneys $6500.00 and such amount was reasonable and necessary in connection with the trial in Louisiana; that as between appellant and appellee there had been no adjudication of their rights and liabilities inter se made in the cause against them in the United States District Court of Louisiana, and that such judgment as between appellant and appellee was not res judicata as to the present cause of action and that ap-pellee was not estopped by such Louisiana judgment to bring this suit and recover indemnity.

The question as to whether appel-lee is entitled to indemnity under the pleadings and the court’s findings in the instant case must be determined under the law of the State of Louisiana since the right to contribution or indemnity is a substantive right governed by the law of the state where the collision and injury occur, and the right, if any, to contribution or indemnity arises as an incident to the tortious transaction and the relation thus brought about between the parties. Charnock v. Taylor, 1943, 223 N.C. 360, 26 S.E.2d 911, 148 A.L.R. 1126; Linkenhoger v. Owens, 5th Cir.1950, 181 F.2d 97; 11 A.L.R.2d 236. The substantive law of Louisiana was applied by Texas courts in Grandstaff v. Mercer, Tex.Civ.App., 214 S.W.2d 133, writ ref., n. r. e.; and in Jones v. Louisiana Western Ry. Co., Tex.Com.App.1922, 243 S.W. 976, in causes of action for personal injuries and death but not involving indemnity or contribution.

In his brief appellant concedes that a claim for contribution would not be barred' by the Louisiana judgment. He also concedes that a claim for indemnity would not be barred if it were on some accepted basis such as a breach of duty by appellant to ap-pellee causing the injury, or if the parties were not in pari delicto, or if the action had been brought by appellee as principal against appellant as an agent whose negligence caused the injury. He strenuously contends, however, that since the Louisiana judgment is against both appellant and ap-pellee in solido, as employers of Tyler, it establishes that they are equally liable and neither is entitled to indemnity.

The pleadings and judgment in the Louisiana case are not included in the transcript and no statement of facts has been filed in this Court. The law is well settled that in the absence of a statement of facts, every presumption must he indulged in favor of the trial court’s findings and judgment. Commercial Credit Corporation v. Smith, 1945, 143 Tex. 612, 187 S.W.2d 363, and authorities cited.

[791]*791We are of the opinion that appellee is entitled to recover indemnity from appellant, if, assuming the facts to he as found by the trial court as hereinabove recited, he would be entitled to indemnity under the laws of Louisiana, provided the judgment in the United States District Court of Louisiana is not res judicata as to‘ appel-lee’s claim and does not estop him from asserting it.

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Gammage v. Weinberg
355 S.W.2d 788 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1962)

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Bluebook (online)
355 S.W.2d 788, 95 A.L.R. 2d 1086, 1962 Tex. App. LEXIS 2319, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gammage-v-weinberg-texapp-1962.