Hopkins v. Smathers

104 S.E. 30, 114 S.C. 488

• Court: Supreme Court of South Carolina
• Decided: July 6, 1918
• Docket: 10428
• Status: Published

Opinion

The opinion of the Court was delivered by

Mr. Justice Watts.

This case was tried before County Judge Whaley, and a jury, and resulted in a verdict for the plaintiff for $355. After entry of judgment defendant appealed. Exceptions 1 and 2 allege error on the part of his Honor in not continuing the case on account of defendant’s counsel being a witness and interested in the Court of General Sessions.

From the affidavit presented to his Honor and what took place when motion was made, we are decidedly of the opinion that his Honor was in error in not continuing the case as moved for, and erroneously exercised his discretion.

1 The County Court is an inferior Court to the Circuit Court. The terms of Circuit Court are fixed by law; that of the County Court is not. When an attorney is engaged to represent parties in both Courts, ánd there is a conflict of the terms of the two Courts, the inferior Court must yield and be subordinate to that of the superior Court. The attorney must appear and represent his clients in the superior Court. Under the facts in the case the exceptions must be sustained. The other exceptions complain of error on the part of his Honor in the admission of evidence, not granting the motion of defendant for a nonsuit, or directed verdict, in the exclusion of evidence offered by defendant, and in his charge to the jury, and refusal to charge jury requests of the defendant.

2 Agency is a question of fact for the jury. So is ratification of agency. If there is any competent evidence in the case as to these issues, his Honor was right in submitting it to the jury. So we- will have to look at the evidence and see if such inference can be drawn.

Was there any evidence in the case to hold the defendant as principal and Rhodes as agent? The possession by Rhodes of Smathers’ car is explained. It was left with Rhodes to be washed. This is done every day. Hopkins admits that he did not know Smathers was in the transaction until he failed to get the car from Rhodes. He did not know anything about the car; had never seen it before. Plaintiff gave check to Rhodes, and Rhodes got it washed.' Smathers’ name did not appear in the check transaction. Check was not made payable to him or to Rhodes as his agent. Smathers never saw the check of received any part of it. The first time Smathers was called upon was when-he was in Charleston, when plaintiff talked with him over long distance telephone. Such conversations are unsatisfactory, and mistakes naturally arise as to what did take place. There is no competent evidence to fix liability on defendant that Rhodes was his agent.

3 It will not prove agency by the mere declaration of a party that he is agent of another. A person must go further and furnish evidence either of facts, circumstances, or ratification. There is no evidence in the case that Rhodes had authority to act for Smathers, or any facts or circumstances in the case whereby it could be inferred, or that he ratified the acts of Rhodes. There is nothing in the evidence to mislead the plaintiff to his injury, on the part of Smathers. The plaintiff bought from Rhodes the property of Smathers, at his peril, and without proper inquiry.

4 Possession, under the facts developed, did not raise presumption of agency in Rhodes for another.

5 Plaintiff’s transactions show he dealt with Rhodes as if he were owner, and not agent of another, and, when he did not get the car, then attempted to make Rhodes agent for Smathers. Under the evidence, facts, 'and circumstances, this he has failed to do. Neither does the evidence show ratification. The motion for nonsuit or directed verdict should have been granted.

The judgment is reversed, and complaint dismissed.

Reversed.