Mullett v. Emme

216 N.E.2d 366, 144 Ind. App. 638, 1966 Ind. App. LEXIS 386
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedMay 9, 1966
DocketNo. 20,340
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 216 N.E.2d 366 (Mullett v. Emme) 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
Mullett v. Emme, 216 N.E.2d 366, 144 Ind. App. 638, 1966 Ind. App. LEXIS 386 (Ind. Ct. App. 1966).

Opinion

WlCKENS, J.

In a suit on account, appellant filed what he terms a cross-complaint. The account was for the sale of potatoes and defendant-appellant set up breach of warranty of fitness and suitability for use as seed, in his cross-action.

The only question here is whether the trial court sufficiently complied with the statutory requirements by stating its special findings of fact on the particular issues formed on the cross-complaint.

The cross-complaint made many material and specific allegations which were denied by the answer thereto. A trial of several days was had. Considerable evidence, relating to those issues, was submitted. The request for special finding of facts and conclusions of law was [641]*641timely filed and there appears no question as to its being proper.

Under these circumstances we are of the opinion that the statute requires the trial court to make a specific statement of ultimate facts found on the issues of both the complaint and the cross-complaint. Acts 1881 (Spec. Sess.) ch. 38, §394, p. 240, §2-2102 Burns’ 1946 Replacement.

The parties, upon proper request have the right to such procedure. That is true even though there is a general rule that where the special findings are silent on a material fact that is equivalent to a finding against the party having the burden of proof. Miller, etc. v. Ortman, etc., et al. (1956), 235 Ind. 641, 665, 136 N. E. 2d 17.

We think that the general rule is designed to cover inadvertent omission of detail, and not to make unnecessary any special finding.

Appellant called the trial court’s attention to the omission of special findings by specifications in his motion for new trial. This is the recognized remedy where there are factual questions which were pleaded and tried and when the court ought to have made findings. Quick et al. v. Brenner (1885), 101 Ind. 230, 235.

Under Rule 1-8, Rules of the Supreme Court, omissions in the special findings could have been supplied while the matter was pending on motion for new trial.

To illustrate some of the factual challenges outlined by the issues we set forth by numbers the substance of several rhetorical paragraphs of defendant’s answers and cross-complaint, Paragraph II:

1. Defendant alleged he was a farmer in the business of growing and harvesting potatoes of which fact the plain[642]*642tiff had full knowledge — this was at issue by the allegation in plaintiff’s answers denying and demanding strict proof.

2. Defendant alleged that plaintiff was in the business of selling seed potatoes — which plaintiff categorically denied and demanded strict proof.

3. Defendant alleged he purchased from plaintiff seed potatoes for the sole and only purpose of planting the same— which plaintiff denied and alleged further that, if potatoes were sold, at no time were they certified as seed potatoes.

4. As to payment, the allegation and answer create another issue.

5. Defendant alleges discoloration of the potatoes delivered, notice to plaintiff thereof that plaintiff represented condition to be other than it was in truth and fact, the potatoes being infected with Verticular Wilt a condition causing many plants to wilt and die and to reduce harvest yield — all of which plaintiff denies and demands strict proof.

Rhetorical paragraphs 6, 7, 8, and 9 set up matters relating to warranty, planting, care, harvesting and damage which were placed in issue by denial. Also Paragraph III of the cross-complaint also created disputed issues.

An examination of the trial court’s special findings shows that only two findings could be said to be responsive to the issues tendered by appellant’s two paragraphs of cross-complaint. Those findings are:

“4. That as part of this agreement there was an implied warranty by the seller that the potatoes would be reasonably fit for use as seed.
“14. Some of the potato plants grown from the seed potatoes died.”

[643]*643We hold that the statutory language that the court shall “state the facts in writing” requires the trial court to make a good faith summary of the ultimate facts involved in the pleadings of which there is evidence when timely requested to do so. Finding that this has not been done, we are of the opinion this case should be remanded to the Steuben Circuit Court under the provisions of Rule 2-30, Rules of the Supreme Court, for findings by the trial court on the material issues of fact.

Therefore, this cause is remanded to the Steuben Circuit Court for findings by the trial court on the material issues of fact as required by Rule 2-30, Rules of the Supreme Court, 1964 Revision, such findings to be filed with this court within ninety days from the date of the filing of this opinion with the Clerk of the Supreme and Appellate Courts.

Upon the filing of such findings this cause will stand for determination on the merits here, without further briefing unless opportunity to do so is requested by the parties.

Cause remanded with instructions.

Prime, C. J., Carson and Faulconer, JJ., concur.

Per Curiam

This is an appeal from a judgment of the Steuben Circuit Court. The issues were formed below by plaintiff-appellee’s complaint in suit on account for the balance due on a sale of seed potatoes to defendant-appellant. Appellee’s complaint prays for judgment in the sum of Twelve Hundred Seventy-one ($1,271.00) Dollars, plus interest. To appellee’s complaint, appellant filed answer in three paragraphs. Paragraph I of appellant’s answer is a denial pursuant to Rule 1-3, Rules of the Supreme Court of Indiana. Paragraph II of appellant’s answer sets forth, in the way of a counterclaim, the breach of an implied warranty of quality, in which defendant alleges that the seed [644]*644potatoes purchased from plaintiff-appellee were infected with a disease known as verticillium wilt1 and that by virtue of the presence of the disease in the seed, which appellant planted, appellant’s yield was substantially reduced; that the soil of appellant’s field was infected with the disease; and, that weeds grew and ripened in spaces where potato vines had died and cast weed seed rendering the field unsuitable for the planting and cultivation of potatoes in the following year, thereby forcing appellant to plant, therein a less valuable and profitable crop. Paragraph II of appellant’s answer in counterclaim concludes with a prayer for Ten Thousand ($10,000.00) Dollars. Paragraph III of appellant’s answer in counterclaim alleges a diminution in the yield of the potato crop, as a result of the allegedly diseased seed, with a prayer for Ten Thousand ($10,000.00) Dollars. To Paragraphs II and III of appellant’s answer in counterclaim, plaintiffappellee filed answer in denial under Rule 1-3, Rules of the Supreme Court of Indiana.

The issues were thus formed and trial was to the court. At the beginning of trial, appellant requested special findings of fact and conclusions of law. Subsequent to the trial, the court entered its findings of fact and conclusions of law, which read as follows:

“SPECIAL FINDINGS OF FACT AND CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

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216 N.E.2d 366, 144 Ind. App. 638, 1966 Ind. App. LEXIS 386, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mullett-v-emme-indctapp-1966.