T. L. Edge v. North State Feldspar Corp.

193 S.E. 2, 212 N.C. 246, 1937 N.C. LEXIS 285

Opinion

Stacy, C. J.

The verdict is uncertain or ambiguous. Wood v. Jones, 198 N. C., 356, 151 S. E., 732. It is in the alternative. Pearce v. Fisher, 133 N. C., 333, 45 S. E., 638. Its inconclusiveness necessitates another hearing. Plotkin v. Bond Co., 200 N. C., 590, 157 S. E., 870; Bank v. Broom Co., 188 N. C., 508, 125 S. E., 12; Holler v. Tel. Co., 149 N. C., 336, 63 S. E., 92. “A verdict finding matter uncertainly or ambiguously, is insufficient, and no judgment shall be given thereon.” Coke on Littleton, 227, quoted with approval in Crews v. Crews, 64 N. C., 536. “It is misleading to embody in one issue two propositions as to which the jury might give different responses.” Emery v. R. R., 102 N. C., 209, 9 S. E., 139; Carey v. Carey, 108 N. C., 267, 12 S. E., 1038; Mfg. Co. v. Assur. Co., 106 N. C., 28, 10 S. E., 1057; DeHart v. Jenkins, 211 N. C., 314, 190 S. E., 218.

A verdict, whether upon one or many issues, should be certain and determinative of the controversy. Plotkin v. Bond Co., supra; Chapman-Hunt Co. v. Board of Education, 198 N. C., 111, 150 S. E., 713; Bank v. Broom Co., supra; McAdoo v. R. R., 105 N. C., 140, 11 S. E., 316; Emery v. R. R., supra.

Here, the alternative verdict éstablishes neither proposition with certainty or definiteness, as the evidence of mutual mistake, if any, is very slight, and the sufficiency of the allegation of fraud is quite doubtful, if not deficient. Pearce v. Fisher, supra.

Nor is the verdict capable of interpretation so as to support the judgment quod recuperet, by proper reference to the pleadings, the evidence, the admissions of the parties, and the charge of the court. Newbern v. Gordon, 201 N.C., 817, 160 S. E., 182; Short v. Kaltman, 192 N. C., 154, 134 S. E., 425; Kannan v. Assad, 182 N. C., 77, 108 S. E., 383. The rights of the parties have not been sufficiently determined.

New trial.