P. & M. Sales Co. v. Kenmare Jewelry Mfg. Co.

235 S.W.2d 515, 1950 Tex. App. LEXIS 1800
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedDecember 8, 1950
DocketNo. 14298
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 235 S.W.2d 515 (P. & M. Sales Co. v. Kenmare Jewelry Mfg. Co.) 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
P. & M. Sales Co. v. Kenmare Jewelry Mfg. Co., 235 S.W.2d 515, 1950 Tex. App. LEXIS 1800 (Tex. Ct. App. 1950).

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

Appellee filed this suit against appellants on a sworn account for $500. Appellants answered that they operate as a broker in the distribution of merchandise; that when appellants purchased certain merchandise (jewelry) from appellee, appellee agreed that the merchandise should be' gold plated and of high quality; but the same was gold stripped and turned green from use; that they could not use it, or resell it; and prayed that appellee take nothing by its ■suit. The appellee filed a supplemental petition pleading waiver and estoppel. , The case was submitted to a. jury on special issues to which no objections were made before the charge was read to the jury. To the three issues submitted to the jury, they answered: (1) That appellee warranted the merchandise to be “gold plated and of high quality”; (2) -that if was not gold-plated and of high quality; and (3) (We quote in full) : “What do you find from the preponderance of the evidence was the difference in value, if any, of the merchandise in question as represented by plaintiff and that, which was delivered to defendants on the orders involved herein ? - Answer in Dollars, if any, and cents, if any.” Answer: “None.”

"From the judgment in favor of appellee for the' balance due -on the jewelry- as shown by the sworn account, to iwit, $500, this appeal has been duly perfected.

Appellant assigns three points of error; the first, as follows: “The trial court erred in submitting special issue No. 3 to the jury for the reason that said issue is vague, confusing . and misleading, and was beyond the comprehension of the jury.” This point must be overruled for the reason that no objection was made by appellant to issue No. 3 before it was submitted to the jury, and also because the point itself is too general. Rule 272, Vernon’s Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.

The second point was; “The trial court erred in entering judgment for the appellee because the answer of the jury to special issue No. 3 is in direct conflict with and repugnant to their' answers to special issues No. 1 and No. 2.”

The statement of facts in the record contains only the testimony on the motion for new trial; the evidence on the main trial on the merits being omitted. Under such state of the record we must presume that the evidence sustained the jury findings on all issues, and unless such findings are in conflict to such an- extent that all cannot be true at the same time there was ■no error. Applying such test, we are of the opinion that it is possible appellant warranted the merchandise in question, as found, and that the merchandise was not as warranted; and that at the same time such merchandise in its condition as received 'was worth as much as the price charged therefor. In other words, we cannot say that" the merchandise delivered was not worth the contract price, notwithstanding the fact that it was not as ‘warranted and was of an inferior grade or quality. Under the presumption of the evidence sustaining the finding ofwalue, we must overrule this point. . .

The third point is as follows: “The trial court erred in overruling appellant’s motion for- new trial; in that the court excluded testimony offered by appellant to support his charge of misconduct of-the jury, that such -excluded testimony -was clear and convincing testimony referring -to an overt act of misconduct of the jury.”

[517]*517Under Rule 327, V.T.R.C.P, the burden of proof is now on the complaining party to prove the alleged acts of misconduct of the jury. If such acts are proven, then the question of whether such- acts of misconduct were prejudicial is one of law for the court. City of Houston v. Quinones, 142 Tex. 282, 177 S.W.2d 259; 27 Tex. Law Review 708.

The bills of exception show the excluded testimony. They disclose that the. juror Travis would have testified that he did not understand the meaning of special issue No. 3; that “We differed on that — on what the answer would be, because we didn’t know what the question was. * * * And the foreman said that he thought that it meant that if we answered it ‘None’ that the plaintiff didn’t collect anything from the defendants. * * * ”

“Q. You relied on what the foreman gave as his opinion? A. Yes; I was willing to do what the majority wanted to according to their understanding and — it seemed that most of them were in favor of the defendant and we thought that we was answering that question to that effect. * ⅜ * »

The foreman Stevens testified that the jury did not vote on whether the plaintiff or defendant should win; there was no other vote than those on the answers to the questions.

The juror Fagin testified that after the foreman was elected the jury “decided in favor of the defendant;-.. ***„•*** We decided to vote and everybody decided for the defendant. Q. Now, after that, did you discuss the questions that were submitted to you? A. Yes. * * *” After objection was sustained he testified in connection with the bill of- exception as follows: “Now, Mr. Fagin, I will ask you if at the time that you were deliberating on these issues 'in attempting to arrive at a verdict, did you understand all about what this special issue No. 3? A. No, sir. * * *

“Q. You didn’t understand it and don’t understand it now — is that right? A. Yes, sir.
“Q. I will ask you, Mr. Fagin, was there some question in your mind as to what it ■ meant and did Mr. Stevens, the foreman, express his opinion to you by answering it ‘none’ that way it would mean that the defendant would prevail and , that the defendant would have to pay no money — ? A. That’s -the way I thought it was.
“Q. Is that the reason, Mr. Fagin, that you answered this question ‘none’ — that the foreman suggested to you? A. Yes, sir.”
On cross-examination he testified (Also in the bill of exceptions) :
“Q. You followed the court’s charge in this case, did you not, Mr. Fagin? A. Sir?
“Q. You tried to follow the court’s charge — ? A. Yes, sir.
“Q. And conscientiously considered every question submitted to you? A. Yes.”

The juror Hudson testified:

“* * * Q. Now, after you had elected your foreman, I will ask you if you arrived at any other unanimous decision of any kind on your part? A. Well, we took a vote and voted unanimously for the defendant.
“Q. You took a vote and voted unanimously for the defendant in this case? A. Yes; we .discussed it first,.though.
: “Q. Did you discuss each issue before you voted on it? A. Yes, sir.
“Q. Did .you discuss special issue No. 3 before you voted on it? A. Yes, sir.” '

And in connection with the bill of exception as follows: “Q. Now, I will ask you if upon being called on to'vote bn the answer to special issufe -No. 3, if there was any discussion ‘about that question? A. Yes; there was discussion. * * *

“Q. I will ask you, did you 'raise any question about special .issue No. 3 or what it meant or what your answer should be? A. Discussed- it, ¡but I didn’t understand it and I -don’t think the rest of them did. * .⅜ *
“Q. I- will ask you now, Mr. Hudson, if the foreman of the jury made any [518]

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235 S.W.2d 515, 1950 Tex. App. LEXIS 1800, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/p-m-sales-co-v-kenmare-jewelry-mfg-co-texapp-1950.