Ryan v. Schardt

22 Ohio C.C. Dec. 445

• Court: Ohio Circuit Courts
• Decided: January 11, 1909
• Status: Published

Opinion

SMITH, J.

We do not think the judgment of the trial court should be reversed on the ground that the verdict is not sustained by sufficient proof nor do we find error in the trial court refusing the special charges asked for by plaintiff in error. The rigid rule contended for in these charges has been relaxed and where formerly no recovery could be had on a contract like the one in suit unless the agreement was strictly performed, yet now where the contractor acts in good faith there may be such a recovery although the contract may not have been literally performed. Kane v. Stone Co. 39 Ohio St. 1.

There is error, however, in the general charge of the court in this: .The court does not definitely or clearly define to the jury the meaning of the burden of proof or the preponderance of the evidence. Also in those portions of the charge where the court speaks of the drain as one which an ordinarily reasonable and prudent man would have had constructed through his property. This was not the question for the jury but the action was upon a written contract, the performance of which was disputed. Also in charging the jury that the defendant must show that the sewer or drain as built by the plaintiff does not comply with, the terms of the agreement. This burden was upon the plaintiff to show that it did so comply, and it was also error to charge that the burden of proof should be established by a fair preponderance of the evidence. There are no degrees in preponderance; if the evidence preponderates at all, however slightly, this is sufficient. Russell v. Russell, 3 Circ. Dec. 460 (6 R. 294).

No other errors appearing in the record, for the above reasons the judgment of the trial court is reversed.

Giffen and Swing, JJ., concur.