N. S. Hoon v. Harmer Steel Products & Supply Co.

278 F.2d 427
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
DecidedMarch 24, 1960
DocketNo. 16297
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 278 F.2d 427 (N. S. Hoon v. Harmer Steel Products & Supply Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
N. S. Hoon v. Harmer Steel Products & Supply Co., 278 F.2d 427 (9th Cir. 1960).

Opinion

JERTBERG, Circuit Judge.

This is an appeal from the judgments by the district court in two of three cases which were consolidated for trial. Separate judgments were entered against the appellant in both cases, and separate appeals were taken which are presented on a consolidated record. The third case involved in the consolidated trial is not involved in this appeal.

These two actions in the district court involved claims and counterclaims for damages for conversion, breaches of contracts, for conspiracy, and for accountings.

Jurisdiction of the district court was invoked under Title 28 U.S.C.A. § 1332 (a). This Court has jurisdiction of this appeal under Title 28 U.S.C.A. § 1291.

The appellant is N. S. Hoon, a citizen of India, and is hereinafter referred to as Hoon or appellant. The appellees are Harmer Steel Products and Supply Co., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Oregon, hereinafter referred to as Harmer, the Port of Longview, a municipal corporation of the State of Washington, hereinafter referred to as the Port, United Pacific Insurance Company, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Washington, Asano Bussan Company of New York, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, hereinafter referred to as Asano, and Robert T. Stevens, a resident of the State of Washington, hereinafter referred to as Stevens. The appellee United Pacific Insurance Company took no active part in the trial and has filed no brief on this appeal.

The procedural events leading up to the consolidated trial in the district court are as follows: On February 13, 1957 Hoon commenced an action in the Superior Court of the State of Washington for Cowlitz County against Harmer and the Port, seeking specific performance, demanding possession of certain steel rails, and praying that their transfer be enjoined. The state court issued a temporary restraining order and directed the defendants to show cause why they should not be enjoined from disposing of the rails. Following a hearing, the state court issued an injunction, and United Pacific Insurance Company furnished the injunction bond on issuance of the temporary injunction. Asano intervened in such superior court action by filing a complaint in intervention. In the complaint in intervention United Pacific Insurance Company was added as a party because of the issuance of the injunction bond. Asano caused the state court action to be removed to the United States District Court, Western District of Washington, Southern Division. Following a hearing, the district court vacated all restraining orders and injunctions theretofore issued by the state court. Hoon filed an amended complaint in the district court against Stevens and his wife, Harmer, the Port, and Asano, seeking damages for conversion of the steel rails, damages for breach of contract, and conspiracy. Harmer counterclaimed against Hoon for damages in the amount of the attorneys’ fees incurred by it in securing the vacation of the temporary injunction or restraining order issued by the state court. Stevens and his wife counterclaimed against Hoon for a judgment in the amount of the unapplied balance of a deposit made by Stevens to Hoon on account of a contract to purchase steel rails, and for damages arising out of the issuance of the temporary injunction or restraining order by the state court. Asano counterclaimed seeking damages against Hoon in the sum of $150,000.

On April 5, 1957 Stevens commenced an action against Hoon in the Multnomah County Circuit Court of the State of Oregon, seeking damages for breach of contract. Hoon caused said action to be removed to the United States District Court for the District of Oregon, which district court transferred said cause to the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, Southern Division. Hoon counterclaimed, seeking damages against Stevens.

[430]*430The district court ordered the two actions consolidated for trial on the ground that the actions involved common questions of fact and law, and that the interests of justice would thereby be better served. The trial of the consolidated causes, which followed pretrial hearings culminating in an extensive pretrial order, extended over a period of several days, during which the testimony of many witnesses was taken and in the course of which 200 exhibits were received in evidence. In its findings of fact in each cause the court stated:

“The court in general was favorably impressed with the credibility of Stevens and MacTarnahan, but not with that of Hoon. The court finds against Hoon on any issue of fact where the burden of proof is on Hoon and his position is supported only by his own testimony.”

In its memorandum decision the trial judge stated in part as follows:

“The ultimate issues of importance in these cases present questions of fact. These issues are numerous, complicated and in some respects obscure by reason of the manner and course of dealings between the parties. Every detail in the facts has been considered whether or not specifically mentioned herein. Every exhibit has been studied critically, the evidence reviewed and the memoranda of counsel reread in the light of the argument and as related to the facts found by the Court.
* * *
“While not satisfied with the veracity of MacTarnahan and Stevens in every particular of their testimony, in general I was favorably impressed with the integrity and credibility of both. In all important respects Stevens testified directly, reasonably and convincingly. I am satisfied that the apparent uncertainty and hesitancy in some parts of MacTarnahan’s testimony was due to his habits of thought and speech rather than to any effort to avoid or alter the truth as he understood it.
“Hoon’s ready and voluble explanation to his own advantage on almost every detail of the case did not impress me favorably, particularly when considered in contrast to his vituperative, self-serving letters filled with claims, contentions and immoderate charges against almost everyone with whom he dealt. His courtroom and witness stand personality bears only slight resemblance to that of the author of his writings.
“On many points of dispute in the Hoon-Harmer and Hoon-Stevens accounting Hoon’s contentions are supported only by his oral testimony. His glib explanations for the most part I find incredible; in some instances they are in direct variance with contract provisions and written evidence. I find against Hoon on any issue of fact where the burden of proof is on Hoon and his position is supported only by his own testimony.”

We have set forth the views of the district court on his appraisal of the credibility of witnesses before him as expressed in the findings of fact and the memorandum decision in order to point up the limitations which are thereby placed upon our function as a reviewing court. These limitations are well expressed by this Court in the recent decision of Joseph v. Donover Co., Inc., 9 Cir., 1958, 261 F.2d 812. In that case this Court stated at page 817:

“Appellee O’Donnell was the prevailing party below, and hence we must take that view of the evidence most favorable to him. He is entitled to the benefit of all favorable inferences from the facts proved relative to the issue of his liability.

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Related

N. S. Hoon v. Harmer Steel Products And Supply Co.
278 F.2d 427 (Ninth Circuit, 1960)

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278 F.2d 427, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/n-s-hoon-v-harmer-steel-products-supply-co-ca9-1960.