Lowe v. Lowe

40 Iowa 220
CourtSupreme Court of Iowa
DecidedMarch 18, 1875
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 40 Iowa 220 (Lowe v. Lowe) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lowe v. Lowe, 40 Iowa 220 (iowa 1875).

Opinion

Beck, J.

I. Upon a former trial a verdict for plaintiff was set aside on the ground of incorrect instructions to the i. practice: Instructions new trial. jury. Under the issues in the case the question u was betore the jury whether the court rendering the judgment, had acquired jurisdiction of the defendant’s person by the service of process, and there was evidence sub[221]*221mitted by the respective parties upon this point. There was also evidence tending to prove that the defendant had appeared in the cause by attorneys, who, before judgment, had withdrawn their appearance. The court directed the jury that if defendant employed attorneys who appeared for him jurisdiction was acquired. Upon the motion for a new trial the court held this instruction to be erroneous, and ruled that the withdrawal of the appearance of defendant’s attorneys would defeat the jurisdiction acquired by virtue of that appearance. Upon the second trial, the issues remaining unchanged, the court, it is insisted, gave substantially the same instruction held, upon the motion to set aside the first verdict, to be erroneous. It is insisted plaintiff was prejudiced upon the second trial by these conflicting rulings, inasmuch as he was thereby misled in the preparation of the cause for trial. ITe failed to produce evidence of the employment of the attorneys because he regarded the law settled by the court in the first trial, to the effect that their withdrawal from the case, (which it appears he could not controvert,) defeated the jurisdiction of the court. He claims, also, that by the second trial defendant had the opportunity given him to strengthen his evidence upon divers points of the case.

"We need but intimate that we cannot now correct any errors that may have been committed by the court in setting aside the first verdict. When that order was made the parties were left free to prepare the case for a new trial, in accord with their views of the law. If the court ruled correctly at the second trial it cannot be considered as a ground for surprise to either party. The record affords conclusive evidence that plaintiff was not surprised at the alleged change in the ruling upon the instruction, and that he still adhered to the view of the law as announced in the instruction at the first trial. The instructions at the second trial as to the effect of the appearance were given upon the request of the plaintiff. Entertaining this view of the law, he must have prepared his case accordingly. The fact that defendant had an opportunity, by the second trial to strengthen his evidence, is not a ground upon which plaintiff can claim prej udice. He liad the oppor[222]*222tunity to do tbe same thing. Common prudence and diligence would require it, if it could be done properly, of both parties.

II. The court held at the trial that the defendant had the 2.__ wiio fms'tiie affirmative. affirmative of the issues and was entitled, in the introduction of evidence and argument of the case, ^o £[ie 0penjUg ai3ff closing. This ruling is the ground of the next objection made by plaintiff.

The answer of defendant which formed the final issues upon which the case was tried, admitted the record upon which the action was brought, but, in avoidance, alleged that the court had no jurisdiction because no process was served on defendant, and he did not appear nor authorize any one to appear for him. In this state of the pleading it is very plain defendant held the affirmative of the issues. If no evidence at all had been offered, plaintiff would have been entitled to judgment upon the pleading. The burden of proof was, therefore, upon defendant, and he was required to first produce his evidence, and he also held the affirmative in the argument. Code, § 2779.

III. Objections are made to certain rulings excluding evidence offered by plaintiff. They may be briefly disposed of:

1. The plaintiff, in response to a question in regard to defendant’s employment of attorneys, stated that certain attorneys had informed him that they were retained in the case by defendant. This is but hearsay evidence, and was rightly excluded.

2. The evidence of plaintiff to the effect that an attorney did appear in the case, and a statement in a deposition of the attorney of the same fact, were excluded. We see no objection to this evidence. But we are well satisfied that no prejudice resulted from its exclusion. The attorney’s deposition • was permitted to be read to the jury, and clearly states his appearance. The record upon which the aetion was brought states the same fact. In our judgment the fact was established beyond question by the evidence before the jury.

3. Certain questions put to defendant were objected to [223]*223because they were leading in character. The objections were 3. evidence: t?onsUS ques overruled. We do not think the discretion of the court was abused in permitting the party to respond to the questions. While leading in form, they were justified by the consideration that they were thus necessarily framed to direct the attention of the witness to the subject upon which he was required to testify.

4. Certain interrogatories, upon the cross-examination of defendant, lie was not permitted to answer, on the ground that no foundation was found for the evidence sought in the testimony elicited by the examination in chief. There was no error in this ruling.

5. A statement as to the place of residence of defendant when the action was commenced was stricken from the deposition of a witness. Iiis cross-examination revealed that he had no personal knowledge of the fact, and his statement was based upon information derived from others. The evidence ■was properly excluded.

IY. The record upon which the action was founded contained the process issued in the case, and a sufficient return 4. juiiispic-meirt Vendor-state. showing service thereof in accordance with the laws of the state of Indiana. The plaintiff, at the trial, maintained that this record could not be impeached or contradicted by evidence showing that, in fact, no service was ever made upon defendant. The question was raised upon the offer of evidence to contradict the record, and upon instructions asked by the parties. The court held against plaintiff, and admitted such evidence, and directed the jury to determine the question whether service of the process was in fact made as set out in the record. We are required to determine the question of law thus raised, which may be stated as follows: In an action upon the judgment of a sister state may want of j nrisdiction in the court rendering it, be shown by evidence contradicting the record recital of service of process?

It is now the prevailing rule that in actions upon the judgments of a sister state, want of jurisdiction may be shown in the court by proof contradicting the recitals or adjudications [224]*224set out in the record. This court lias held that in an action upon a Missouri judgment, which recited an adjudication that due service of process had been made, it was competent for the defendant to contradict the record by proof, showing want of service. Pollard v. Baldwin, 22 Iowa, 328. Surely, if the adjudication of the court to the effect that service was had upon the defendant may be contradicted, the return of the officer, which appears in the record, may be, in the same manner, assailed.

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Bluebook (online)
40 Iowa 220, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lowe-v-lowe-iowa-1875.