Tiedt v. Johnson

186 N.W. 779, 151 Minn. 288, 1922 Minn. LEXIS 652

• Court: Supreme Court of Minnesota
• Decided: February 3, 1922
• Docket: No. 22,554
• Status: Published

Opinions

Dibell, J.

Action on a promissory note for $700. There was a verdict for the plaintiff for $387.87. He appeals from the order denying his alternative motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict or for a new trial.

1. In June, 1917, the plaintiff and the defendant traded tractors. The contract was oral. The note in suit is one of three, aggregating $2,045, given in concluding the trade.

The controversy on the merits is as to the amount which the defendant was to give as hoot money. Stating it in round figures the plaintiff claims that the amount was $2,000 and the defendant claims that it was $1,500. There was a mortgage of $500 on the defendant’s tractor. The testimony of the defendant is that the plaintiff proposed that the $500 be added to the notes given for the difference, and that the defendant get the parties from whom he had bought the tractor and to whom the $500 was owing to carry it over the year. He made the arrangement with his vendor. The plaintiff wanted it this way so that, if the mortgage was not paid and the tractor lost to him, he would have the defendant’s obligation for the boot money and the amount of the mortgage, which was about the value of the tractor; and it was agreed that if the defendant paid the mortgage he would be allowed a credit of $500 on the notes as of the date of the original transaction. This, he claims, is why the notes were of the total amount stated instead of $1,500 or about that. He paid the $500 mortgage. At the time of the trade there was also an indefinite agreement, of only incidental importance here, contemplating that the defendant should do some plowing for the plaintiff at a stipulated price and that the money earned would be applied on the promissory notes. Some plowing' was done and the money earned was applied accordingly.

The jury accepted the defendant’s version of the contract. The testimony of both the plaintiff and the defendant is positive. Each has supporting evidence. The issue was for the jury. It could have found either way, and a finding for the plaintiff would be quite as well supported. Its finding has the approval of the trial court and it is not to be disturbed by us.

2. The plaintiff contends that the evidence as to the effect of the payment of the mortgage varies the terms of the notes and that its reception was in violation of the parol-evidence rule.

The agreement of exchange rested in parol. It was performed by the defendant so far as concerns the payment of the mortgage. Not as much plowing was done as was contemplated but no complaint is made of it.

The evidence that the defendant was to have an allowance or credit of $500 in the event he paid the mortgage upon the tractor which he traded did not vary the terms of the notes. The agreement for this allowance or credit was a part of their consideration. When he paid he was entitled to a credit and could offset the amount if' sued. If the notes had been sold to an innocent purchaser, and had been paid by the defendant, he could have recovered of the plaintiff the $500 which he paid on the mortgage. The contract was not that the notes were' not to be paid according to their terms. That would constitute a forbidden variance by parol. See Security Nat. Bank v. Pulver, 131 Minn. 454, 155 N. W. 641; Harrison v. Morrison, 39 Minn. 319, 40 N. W. 66; Knoblauch v. Foglesong, 38 Minn. 352, 37 N. W. 586. The contract was that if the • defendant paid the mortgage, the amount of which was included in the notes, so that the tractor would be free, he should have a credit for the $500. The proof of the promise to credit the $500 did not offend the parol-evidence rule. Germania Bank v. Osborne, 81 Minn. 272, 83 N. W. 1084; Shove v. Martine, 85 Minn. 29, 88 N. W. 254, 412; Backus v. Sternberg, 59 Minn. 403, 61 N. W. 335; State Bank v. Pangerl, 139 Minn. 19, 165 N. W. 479; Almich v. Downey, 45 Minn. 460, 48 N. W. 197. And see Drovers C. L. & Inv. Co. v. McGraw, 150 Minn. 50, 184 N. W. 365; Giltner v. Quirk, 131 Minn. 472, 155 N. W. 760; National Citizens Bank v. Bowen, 109 Minn. 473, 124 N. W. 241; Shalleck v. Munzer, 121 Minn. 65, 140 N. W. 111.

3. After the transaction was closed and on the same day the plaintiff gave the defendant a receipt for the three notes. This receipt referred to the plowing but said nothing of the agreement as to the $500 mortgage. It was signed by the plaintiff, but not by the defendant. It was given after the agreement of exchange was made and was not the contract of exchange, which was in parol. It did not preclude evidence of the parol transaction upon the theory that it was the contract.

Some other claims of error are made. None call for specific mention. The case was tried on its merits and was clearly presented to the jury on the one question of fact, that-is, the agreement as to the $500 mortgage, and the verdict should stand.

Order affirmed.