Kirl v. Zinner

264 N.W. 391, 274 Mich. 331, 1936 Mich. LEXIS 762

• Court: Michigan Supreme Court
• Decided: January 7, 1936
• Docket: Docket No. 88, Calendar No. 38,485.
• Status: Published

Opinions

Wiest, J.

I do not join in the opinion of Mr. Justice Potter, nor in the criticism of Dr. Norton, for I think the opinion relative to the release erroneous, and the criticism unwarranted.

Plaintiff was indigent, and the hospital was not a public institution, nor was the doctor in the em ploy of the public. The one opened its doors to the injured man, and the other rendered him medical and surgical services. Both were justly concerned about their pay for the services, and plaintiff evidently wanted them paid. It is true that when he entered the hospital he was then, and for a time, obstreperous, but such was not by reason of his fractured leg.

The physician, attending plaintiff at the hospital, testified:

“During the night he got out of bed on his splint and was so obstreperous we had to put him in a restraining sheet, and of course he had to have some medicine to help quiet him. * * * We had to keep him in a restraining sheet for about a week, kept his hands tied so he would not tear the bandages off and get out of bed.

“ Q. Was there anything else the matter with him besides the broken leg and this cut, doctor?

“A. Well, just that he was poisoned with bad liquor.

“Q. What makes you say that, doctor?

“A. Well, he had — he was just plain drunk, crazy drunk, in a way that good liquor would not make him, and he had an upset stomach, and he was vomiting, and his kidneys showed a marked irritation. There were, if I remember, rightly, three-plus albuminuria present, which it took about two weeks to clear up perfectly eventually. So I am satisfied it was some poison that he had been taking which brought it about. * * * In the ordinary case of broken leg the patient is not out of his head. This patient was more or less out of his head for a time after he came to the hospital there.

“Q. As far as you can remember, about how long would you say that was?

“A. Well, it was — well, he was very obstreperous and noncooperative for a week afterwards. He was perhaps — you couldn’t call him unconscious for more than, I think, 36 or 48 hours.”

At the time of the settlement, about five weeks' after the accident, plaintiff was up and about on crutches. It is also true that the release was not read to him, but the reason was that it was handed to him and he read it, and stated that he also wanted an automobile. He disposes of the settlement and release by saying that he has no memory on the subject.

If that disposes of the matter a safe retreat is open to parties to a settlement, for it shows an easy way to avoid a release.

At the time of signing the release plaintiff’s mental faculties were functioning, for he requested an automobile in addition to the payment of the doctor and hospital. This he did not deny and, of course, could not deny under his claim of no memory on the subject.

I cannot take the uncontradicted testimony relative to the release and, upon plaintiff’s claim of lack of memory on the subject, find evidence of fraud, mistake, duress, or unconscionable advantage taken.

Of course, the doctor wanted his pay, as did the hospital,, and it is no unkindness to plaintiff to find that he wanted to see them paid and accepted the only method open to him to accomplish that purpose.

A compromise and release is not to be confused with the law of contract, in which equivalents are exchanged, for the very essence of a release is to avoid litigation, even at the expense of strict right.

Here was no confession of liability but an un-liquidated claim for an alleged tort, asserted by one party and denied by the other.

The case at bar is not an instance of an insurance adjuster rushing to the hospital and inducing a sufferer in agony to release a tortfeasor. The adjuster was requested to visit the hospital by the doctor attending plaintiff.

It is a general and salutary rule that one repudiating or seeking to avoid a compromise settlement or release, and thereby revert to the original right of action, must place the other party in statu quo, otherwise the very fact of payment, in consideration of the compromise or release, will likely operate as a confession of liability.

When it appeared that plaintiff signed the release and indorsed the checks for the stipulated amount thereof, and his only reply thereto was that he had no memory of doing so, there was no impeachment of the release, and it was effective, and judgment should have been directed for defendant.

“Where a party to a compromise desires to set aside or avoid the same and to be remitted to his original rights, he must place the other party m statu quo by returning or tendering the return of whatever has been received by him under such compromise, in case it is of any value, and so far as possible any right lost by the other party because thereof. This rule obtains even though the contract was induced by the fraud or false representations of the other party, or was obtained under duress, or was made under a mistake of fact or as to the law; and until this is done £he settlement will constitute a good defense. By electing to retain the property, a party must be held to be bound by the settlement. The rule applies to actions ex contractu as well as ex delicto.” 12 C. J. p. 355, § 57.

“A settlement being once shown every presumption is indulged in favor of its fairness and correct ness; and the burden of proving mistake, fraud, duress, or other facts relied on in avoidance of a compromise and settlement is on the party seeking to avoid the settlement.” 12 C. J. p. 365, § 79.

By bringing suit plaintiff forced defendant to plead the release and then, if successful, disposed of it by saying he had no memory on the subject.

The circuit judge may have given a wrong reason for a right result, but the right reason was also presented, and if the result is right it must prevail.

The judgment is affirmed, with costs to defendant.

North, C. J., and Fead, Butzel, and Edward M. Sharpe, JJ., concurred with "Wiest, J.