Stafford v. Drewry

32 S.W.2d 255
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedOctober 31, 1930
DocketNo. 724.
StatusPublished

This text of 32 S.W.2d 255 (Stafford v. Drewry) 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
Stafford v. Drewry, 32 S.W.2d 255 (Tex. Ct. App. 1930).

Opinion

' HICKMAN, C. J.

This suit was instituted by appellees W. B. Whitehead and Ed Snead, their petition complaining of appellee J. D. Drewry and appellant Roy Stafford. The suit against Drewry was upon a promissory note for the principal sum of $495 and for the foreclosure of a chattel mortgage on a Chrysler automobile. Stafford was joined as a party defendant and judgment sought against him on the theory that he had made fraudulent representations to the plaintiffs as to the value of the automobile covered by the mortgage. Allegations were also made that Drewry had made like false representations to the plaintiffs, inducing them to purchase the note sued upon. The defendant Drewry, by a cross-action, brought J. L. Marr into the suit, alleging that Stafford and Marr were partners, engaged in the business of buying and selling automobiles, and that on and prior to November 30, 1928, he (Drewry) was the owner of a certain Chrysler automobile, 1927 model, and on said day Stafford represented to him that the firm of Stafford and Marr owned a substantially new Chrysler 62 car, 1928 model, which had been run only a few. thousand miles, and that the paint on said car was the original factory paint; that said car had the appearance of a new ear, and the paint was in good condition and apparently new, and said car had the appearance of a 1928 model coach, as represented by Stafford; that, relying upon the representations of Stafford, he consummated a trade with him, whereby he exchanged the car then owned by ¡him for the one owned by Stafford and Marr, giving to them, in addition to the car, a diamond ring and a negotiable note for the principal sum of $495, secured by a mortgage on the car which -they were transferring to him. The relief sought by Drewry against Stafford and Marr was a rescission of their trade, and in the alternative, in the event a rescission could not be had, for judgment against them for $525 damages. Judgment was also sought by Drewry against Stafford and Marr for the recovery of all such amounts as might be recovered from him by the plaintiffs Whitehead and Snead on the note described in their petition, to the amount of $350 thereof. He further prayed for judgment for all interest and attorneys’ fees that might be recovered against him on said note in favor of the plaintiffs, and for all costs of suit, etc. The appellants, Stafford and Marr, by various exceptions, interposed pleas of misjoinder both as to parties and causes of action.

A jury was demanded and the cause submitted on special issues. By the answers to these issues the jury determined: (1) That Stafford made false representations to White *257 head concerning tlie Chrysler automobile; (2) that-Whitehead relied thereon in purchasing the note sued on herein; (3) that the market value of the automobile traded by Stafford and Marr to Drewry at the time Whitehead and Snead purchased the note from the defendant Stafford was $500; (4) that its market value would have been $800 had it been a coach, 62, 1928 model, and in good mechanical condition; (5) that Stafford represented to Drewry at the time they traded automobiles that the car he was trading to Drewry was a No. 62, 1928 model, in good mechanical condition; (6) Drewry believed and relied on these representations at the time he traded with Stafford; and (7) the diamond ring traded by Drewry to Stafford was valued at $25. There were other findings immaterial to the disposition of this cause under our views of the controlling questions.

The undisputed facts are that in the trade between Drewry and the firm of Stafford and Marr the former executed to the latter his note for $495 secured by a mortgage on the automobile which Drewry was obtaining in the trade. This amount of $495 included $100 which Drewry owed Stafford and Marr on a prior transaction, and $45 as interest and carrying charges. Stafford proposed to sell this note to Whitehead and Snead, representing that the automobile upon which the mortgage existed was a Chrysler coach, No. 62, 1928 model. Stafford’s proposition to Whitehead and Snead was to sell them the note for $450. This sale was to be without recourse on Stafford and Marr. The note was left in Whitehead’s possession for a short time for him to investigate same and decide whether he desired to purchase it, with the understanding that, should he decide to purchase it he would send his check to Stafford for $450, and, if he decided not to do so, he would return the note. Whitehead discussed the matter with Drewry, and Drewry told him the car was a No. 62, 1928 model. Instead of purchasing the note which Drewry had executed to Stafford and Marr, Whitehead and Snead took a note directly from Drewry payable to them, secured by a mortgage on the same caí-as that described in the Stafford and Marr note. That was done in order to employ a different form for the note and mortgage from that used in the Stafford and Man-note. When Drewry executed and delivered this new note and mortgage to Whitehead and Snead, they destroyed the note and mortgage theretofore executed by Drewry to Stafford and Marr, and sent to Stafford $450 in accordance with their previous negotiations.

In so far as the petition of Whitehead and Snead made allegations of fraud against Drewry, same may be disregarded. Their action against him was upon the note for principal, interest, and attorney’s fees, and for the foreclosure of a mortgage lien. That was the utmost of the recovery to which 'they were entitled, and it is whólly immaterial, so long as they were declaring upon this note, that he made false representations to induce them to accept same. They were entitled to but one recovery against him, and, had they elected to base their right of recovery upon the tort, the amount thereof would have been much less than the judgment obtained herein, as will be presently pointed out. The suit therefore between Whitehead and Snead and Drewry was a simple action upon a promissory note, and for the' foreclosure of a chattel mortgage securing same. Upon this phase of the case they were properly awarded a judgment against him in accordance with the terms of the note, for principal, interest, and attorneys’ fees, and for a foreclosure. Concerning this phase of the judgment there is no difficulty.

But, when their cause of action against Stafford is considered, different questions are presented. He was not a party to the note, and no judgment could be rendered against him thereon. The only cause of action, if any, which the plaintiffs have against him is an action for damages suffered by them on account of alleged false statements made to them by him. It is a simple suit for damages for fraud. They are entitled to no judgment against him except one compensating them for their actual loss occasioned by his false representations. If Drewry is solvent and able to pay this note, they have suffered no damages and are entitled to no judgment ■against Stafford, notwithstanding he may have misrepresented the value of their security. It was an essential and necessary allegation of their petition that Drewry was insolvent, or, to state it differently, that the note was not worth the amount paid for it at the time they purchased same. In the absence of such allegation, the general demurrer of Stafford to their petition should have been sustained. The evidence is deficient in the same particular, and for that reason is insufficient to sustain any judgment on this phase of the ease.

The measure of damages applied in favor of Whitehead and Snead against Stafford is manifestly incorrect.

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Bluebook (online)
32 S.W.2d 255, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/stafford-v-drewry-texapp-1930.