Liberty Sign Co. v. Arendale

433 S.W.2d 23, 1968 Tex. App. LEXIS 2858
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedOctober 11, 1968
DocketNo. 16945
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 433 S.W.2d 23 (Liberty Sign Co. v. Arendale) 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
Liberty Sign Co. v. Arendale, 433 S.W.2d 23, 1968 Tex. App. LEXIS 2858 (Tex. Ct. App. 1968).

Opinion

OPINION

LANGDON, Justice.

T. C. Arendale purchased certain property (Ford agency) from appellee Lewis-ville Enterprises, Inc. Thereafter Liberty Sign Company, appellant, claimed ownership of two neon signs previously installed on the property. Arendale filed suit to prevent Liberty Sign Company from interfering with his ownership of the signs. Appellant counter-claimed for conversion of the signs and joined as joint tort-feasors the third-party defendants (appellees), Bill Howell, Inc., Lewisville Enterprises, Inc., and Lewisville National Bank. Judgment against Arendale was entered in the sum of $2,779.50, found by the jury to be the reasonable cash market value of the signs, plus exemplary damages of $1,000.00 (because of conversion), and Arendale was awarded possession of the signs. The Court entered an order that appellant take nothing from appellees Bill Howell, Inc., Lewisville Enterprises, Inc., and Lewis-ville National Bank. The trial court overruled appellant’s motion for new trial and the appeal is from that order.

We reform and affirm.

Appellant complains of the court’s refusal to submit its requested issues inquir[25]*25ing as to whether Lewisville Enterprises, Inc., Bill Howell, Inc., or the Lewisville National Bank failed to disclose to Arendale that it did not own the signs in question and whether in each instance of a “yes” answer to such issues that such failure caused Arendale to withhold possession pf the signs from Liberty Sign Company.

In answer to special issues submitted the jury found that Bill Howell, Inc., Lewis-ville Enterprises, Inc., and Lewisville National Bank each knew, or in the exercise of reasonable care should have known, that some third party was claiming title to the signs in question and that said appellees did not intend to convey title to said signs to Arendale. The jury further found in answer to issues submitted that said appellees did not interfere with Liberty Sign Company’s attempt to remove the signs and that Arendale knew, or in the exercise of ordinary care should have known, that some third party was claiming title to the signs.

The answers of the jury to the issues which were submitted render immaterial any issues as to whether appellees informed Arendale as to ownership of the signs. Since the jury found that Arendale knew that a third party was claiming title to the signs it necessarily follows that Arendale knew or should have known that none of the appellees were claiming or purporting to convey such signs to him and thus did not cause his conversion thereof.

We find no error on the part of the court in refusing to submit the requested issues and in overruling appellant’s objections to the charge and the issues which were submitted. Further, the trial court did not err in its refusal to submit appellant’s requested instruction in connection with Special Issue No. 14 inquiring as to whether or not the sign was permanently affixed to the realty. Had the jury, in answering this issue, found that the sign was not permanently affixed rather than that it was so affixed the judgment in the case would be the same and thus it was immaterial whether the issue was submitted or not. In our opinion the court submitted the case upon the controlling issues made by the written pleadings and the evidence in conformity with Rule 279, Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.

It is contended that the trial court erred in its refusal to admit into evidence appellant’s Exhibits Nos. 7 and 8, consisting of demonstrative evidence in the form of computation of alleged losses sustained by it. There is no contention nor is there any showing that the court abused its discretion in ruling as it did. The admissibility of such evidence “rests in the discretion of the trial court, and its rulings will not be disturbed on appeal in the absence of a palpable abuse of discretion.” 23 Tex. Jur.2d 578, 579, “Evidence”, § 388. See also McCormick & Ray, Texas Law of Evidence, Second Edition, Vol. 2, page 317, § 1464.

Appellant argues that the uncontrovert-ed and undisputed evidence established as a matter of law that the market value of the signs was $11,500.00 and in support thereof relies upon 24 Tex.Jur.2d 375, § 714, and Cochran v. Wool Growers Central Storage Co., 140 Tex. 184, 166 S.W.2d 904 (Tex.Sup., 1942). In the Cochran case it was said, “It is the general rule that the testimony of an interested witness, such as a party to the suit, though not contradicted, does no more than raise a fact issue to be determined by the jury. But there is an exception to this rule, which is that where the testimony of an interested witness is not contradicted by any other witness, or attendant circumstances, and the same is clear, direct and positive, and free from contradiction, inaccuracies, and circumstances tending to cast suspicion thereon, it is taken as true, as a matter of law. Springfield Fire & Marine Ins. Co. v. Wm. Cameron & Co., Tex.Civ.App., 96 S.W.2d 788, and numerous authorities there cited. * * * ” Also cited are Anchor Casualty Company v. Bowers, 393 S.W.2d 168 (Tex.Sup., 1965); Great American R. Ins. Co. v. San Antonio Pl. Sup. Co., 391 S.W.2d 41, 47 (Tex.Sup., 1965) ; and Jamison v. Sockwell, 405 S.W. [26]*262d 618 (Dallas Civ.App., 1966, ref., n.r.e.), and other authorities to the same effect.

Appellant’s president testified that the market value of the signs was between $11,000 and $12,000, at the time of conversion. The contracts in evidence reflected that Bill Howell, Inc., was to pay approximately $15,000.00 for the signs over a five year period. The appellant paid $11,500.00 to the Bank for money borrowed to finance construction of the signs. There was other evidence in the record bearing upon the value of such signs. The testimony in this regard was not “clear, direct and positive, and free from contradiction, inaccuracies, and circumstances tending to cast suspicion thereon,” or to raise some doubt in the minds of the jury as to the value. As above reflected the President of appellant had a $1,000.00 spread in the values he testified to. His testimony was not clear, direct and positive as to a value of $11,500.00.

We are of the opinion and hold that the general rule applies to the facts of this case rather than the exception to such rule and thus, “The jury in the performance of its duty was privileged to reject all or a part of appellant’s witnesses’ testimony, even if it be regarded as uncontra-dicted. Bowie Sewerage Co. v. Chandler, Tex.Civ.App., 116 S.W.2d 839, n. w. h.; Dallas County v. Barr, Tex.Civ.App., 231 S.W. 453, n. w. h., Buchanan v. Bowles, Tex.Civ.App., 218 S.W. 652, n. w. h.; Houston Belt & Term. R. Co. v. Vogel, Tex.Civ.App., 179 S.W. 268, wr. ref.” Kansas City Fire & Marine Insurance Co. v. Duncan, 330 S.W.2d 469, 471 (Texarkana Civ.App., 1959, no writ hist.).

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433 S.W.2d 23, 1968 Tex. App. LEXIS 2858, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/liberty-sign-co-v-arendale-texapp-1968.