Simpson v. Snyder

Supreme Court of Iowa

Simpson v. Snyder

6 N.W. 730, 54 Iowa 557

CourtSupreme Court of Iowa

DecidedOctober 7, 1880

StatusPublished

Cited by15 cases

This text of 6 N.W. 730 (Simpson v. Snyder) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Simpson v. Snyder, 6 N.W. 730, 54 Iowa 557 (iowa 1880).

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Opinion

Beck, J.

i. ad miniscoiweiSon of judgment. I. The only questions discussed by defendant’s counsel involve the sufficiency of the evidence to support the verdict, and the correctness of the judgment against plaintiff in his capacity as administrator, Other questions raised by the assignment of errors and not discussed we are not permitted to consider.

II. The decision of the case turned upon the question whether the property in controversy belonged to plaintiff or to J. W. Simpson, defendant’s intestate. Upon this question there was conflict in the evidence. The preponderance of the proof, we think, was in favor of plaintiff. The positive and [558]*558direct admission of the intestate that the cattle belonged to plaintiff is shown by more than one witness. This, with other evidence, well supports the verdict.

III. The pleadings show that the property was taken and claimed by defendant as administrator, and that he sold the same as administrator. Defendant sets up no claim to the property in any other capacity. It appears, then, that the controversy is about property which the administrator claims belongs to the estate, and which he sold as administrator. He was chargeable, as administrator, with the proceeds of the property, and it is very plain that the estate, and not the defendant, should pay plaintiff the amount recovered in this action. The judgment, therefore, was properly rendered against the defendant as administrator. If the judgment in this form is erroneous, it is difficult to see how it can be prejudicial to defendant. Unless prejudice be shown, the judgment cannot be disturbed.

The counsel for defendant insist that if the cattle did not belong to the intestate, the defendant wrongfully took them, and the estate cannot be liable for his tort. But this statement does not present the whole case. The estate received the benefit of the proceeds of the cattle, and ought to restore the amount thus realized to plaintiff. It is not shown that defendant realized by the sale of the cattle less or more than their value; it will be presumed that he sold them for their value. The action is not to recover damages for the tort of defendant, but for the value of the'property, and the verdict and judgment were for the value. The position of defendant’s counsel possibly would be correct if the judgment were for damages on account of the wrongful act of defendant. No other questions are presented in the case. The judgment of the Circuit Court is

Affirmed.

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Beck, J.

i. ad miniscoiweiSon of judgment. I. The only questions discussed by defendant’s counsel involve the sufficiency of the evidence to support the verdict, and the correctness of the judgment against plaintiff in his capacity as administrator, Other questions raised by the assignment of errors and not discussed we are not permitted to consider.

II. The decision of the case turned upon the question whether the property in controversy belonged to plaintiff or to J. W. Simpson, defendant’s intestate. Upon this question there was conflict in the evidence. The preponderance of the proof, we think, was in favor of plaintiff. The positive and [558]*558direct admission of the intestate that the cattle belonged to plaintiff is shown by more than one witness. This, with other evidence, well supports the verdict.

III. The pleadings show that the property was taken and claimed by defendant as administrator, and that he sold the same as administrator. Defendant sets up no claim to the property in any other capacity. It appears, then, that the controversy is about property which the administrator claims belongs to the estate, and which he sold as administrator. He was chargeable, as administrator, with the proceeds of the property, and it is very plain that the estate, and not the defendant, should pay plaintiff the amount recovered in this action. The judgment, therefore, was properly rendered against the defendant as administrator. If the judgment in this form is erroneous, it is difficult to see how it can be prejudicial to defendant. Unless prejudice be shown, the judgment cannot be disturbed.

The counsel for defendant insist that if the cattle did not belong to the intestate, the defendant wrongfully took them, and the estate cannot be liable for his tort. But this statement does not present the whole case. The estate received the benefit of the proceeds of the cattle, and ought to restore the amount thus realized to plaintiff. It is not shown that defendant realized by the sale of the cattle less or more than their value; it will be presumed that he sold them for their value. The action is not to recover damages for the tort of defendant, but for the value of the'property, and the verdict and judgment were for the value. The position of defendant’s counsel possibly would be correct if the judgment were for damages on account of the wrongful act of defendant. No other questions are presented in the case. The judgment of the Circuit Court is

Affirmed.

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Bluebook (online)

6 N.W. 730, 54 Iowa 557, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/simpson-v-snyder-iowa-1880.

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