Meridian Life & Trust Co. v. Eaton

81 N.E. 667, 41 Ind. App. 118, 1907 Ind. App. LEXIS 142
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedJune 18, 1907
DocketNo. 5,855
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 81 N.E. 667 (Meridian Life & Trust Co. v. Eaton) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Meridian Life & Trust Co. v. Eaton, 81 N.E. 667, 41 Ind. App. 118, 1907 Ind. App. LEXIS 142 (Ind. Ct. App. 1907).

Opinions

Myers. J.

Action by appellee to recover money averred to have been advanced by appellee to appellant.

[120]*120The first paragraph of the complaint was for money had and received. The second paragraph avers that appellant borrowed $3,000 from appellee, and orally promised to repay the same “as soon as the business of the company would permit;” that appellant has certain assets specified, and that appellee, being informed by appellant, and having knowledge of the fact, that it was in' position to pay such claim, demanded payment, which was refused. Appellant answered by general denial and six paragraphs of affirmative answer. Appellant also filed a counterclaim in two paragraphs, and an answer of set-off in two paragraphs. Appellee replied by general denial and a plea of non est factum. Trial by the court, and, at the request of the parties, special findings were made. Conclusions of law were stated thereon in favor of appellee. Appellant’s motions to amend and modify the findings and to find additional facts, and for a new trial, were overruled, and judgment rendered against appellant for $3,785.

The special findings are, in substance, as follows: Appellant is incorporated under the laws of this State, and has at all times since its incorporation 'been authorized to conduct a life insurance business. On December 23, 1898, appellant received from appellee, by and through its directors, officers and agents, the sum of $3,000, which sum was paid by appellee to appellant on that date at the special instance and request of appellant, by and through its directors, officers and agents, by his check drawn upon his account at a certain bank, which cheek was made payable to appellant and was indorsed and cashed by appellant. The money received on the check was deposited by appellant to its account in the same bank, on which the cheek was drawn. The money so received was used by appellant for the payment of its then outstanding debts and obligations, matured and maturing. This $3,000 was payable on or after appellant had made its annual report to the Auditor of State for the year ending December 31, 1898. Before bringing this action appellee on [121]*121September 27, 1900, demanded of appellant payment of said sum, which was-refused, and all liability for the same denied. The interest on such sum from the date of the demand is $785, and no part of such principal sum and interest thereon has been paid. Appellee at the time he paid appellant the $3,000 was not, “nor is he now, nor has he been, indebted to appellant in any sum whatever, either by his promissory note or on account or otherwise.” Appellee was not a promoter of appellant company. Neither the whole nor any part of said $3,000 was ever paid by appellee to appellant for the promotion of the company, nor was said sum or any part of it received and paid out by appellant for that purpose, but said money was received and expended by appellant company in the payment of its own debts and liabilities which it had incurred after the company had been fully organized. The note mentioned and set forth in the counterclaim and set-off pleaded by appellant was never executed by appellee. “The counterclaim and set-off pleaded by defendant is not sustained by the evidence. ’ ’

1. Error is assigned on the refusal of the court to amend and correct the special findings. This ruling of the court was correct. There is no provision in our code of procedure authorizing parties “to file, as part of the proceedings in a causo, a motion to modify,” amend or add to the special findings. Jones v. Mayne (1900), 154 Ind. 400; Allen v. Hollingshead (1900), 155 Ind. 178, 180, and cases cited.

2. Considering the other questions discussed by counsel for appellant, it appears from the first paragraph of the complaint that the money was advanced to appellant June 8, 1899. The findings show that it was received December 23, 1898, at the special instance and request of appellant, by and through its directors, officers and agents; that it was received by check, which was indorsed and cashed by appellant. The findings also state that this money was payable on or after December 31, 1898. Even if [122]*122there is no evidence to supporUJtafeulast finding, there is evidence that appellee demandedUlfeimolney in September, 1900, and that appellant refused to payi'it, and denied any and all liability to appellee for the -salía. tí The exact date when the money was payable by appellant is a material fact only so far as it fixes a time when interest should commence. That date is fixed by the date of the demand and refusal, and interest is computed from that time in the finding.

3. There was a written contract executed on June 8,' 1899, by appellee and others, who were directors of appellant company; but appellee was not contracting with the company, and in their contract no one was representing appellant, and there never was a ratification or an adoption of the contract by appellant. It might be that, under the contract between appellee and the other directors, appellee placed himself in the position of a promoter of appellant company, and, if so, it was under contracts to which appellant was not a party, and was in nowise bound. The court finds as a fact, and there is evidence to sustain the finding, that the money was received and used by appellant for the payment of its then outstanding debts and obligations matured and maturing. Neither paragraph of the complaint proceeds upon the theory that appellant is liable upon any written contract. It is argued that appellee paid the money to appellant by virtue of the written contract between appellee and the other directors, of date December 1,1898; but it is earnestly insisted by counsel for appellant that appellant was not a party to this contract, and is in nowise bound by it. If this be true, we fail to see how appellant can successfully claim to hold this money because of these contracts. It pleads these contracts in its defense to the action. The money appellee seeks to recover was not paid into a common fund for the purpose of promoting appellant as an insurance company. The money was received by appellant and used by it in carrying on the business of the corporation. If appellee failed to carry out a contract which he made, it- was [123]*123not any contract with appellant. This is conceded. If appellant was not a party to this contract, and did not adopt or ratify it, it did not receive the money by virtue of the contract. But the fact is found that it did receive the money from appellee, and used it in its corporate business. If not a gift — and no claim is made that it was — it must have received it under either an express or an implied promise to repay it.

4. The questions argued by appellant in support of its motion for a new' trial depend upon whether the decision of the court is sustained by sufficient evidence. The rule is that where the record discloses evidence from which necessary material facts to support the judgment may be drawn, the action of the trial court will not be disturbed on appeal, for the reason that the qriestion is one depending upon the weight of the evidence, and is for the jury and trial court. Elkhart Paper Co. v. Fulkerson (1905), 36 Ind. App. 219.

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Bluebook (online)
81 N.E. 667, 41 Ind. App. 118, 1907 Ind. App. LEXIS 142, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/meridian-life-trust-co-v-eaton-indctapp-1907.