Wagner v. Boltz

55 Pa. D. & C. 279, 1945 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 204
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Lebanon County
DecidedNovember 8, 1945
Docketno. 225
StatusPublished

This text of 55 Pa. D. & C. 279 (Wagner v. Boltz) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Lebanon County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wagner v. Boltz, 55 Pa. D. & C. 279, 1945 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 204 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1945).

Opinion

Ehrgood, P. J.,

This matter comes before the court on a motion for a new trial by the above named defendant, from a verdict rendered by a jury in favor of plaintiff. Plaintiff instituted an action in assumpsit against defendant, claiming the sum of $214.87 as the cost of material supplied and labor furnished in the repair by plaintiff of defendant’s automobile. Plaintiff’s statement alleged that on or about September 5,1944, plaintiff received defendant’s automobile for the purpose of making repairs thereto at the request of defendant, and plaintiff performed the work and repairs, and supplied the materials for the performance of said work and repairs, as set forth in plaintiff’s book of original entry, of which a true and correct copy is attached, marked Exhibit “A”. That the prices charged were fair and reasonable and the ordinary market prices for work and repairs of the character supplied, and defendant promised and agreed to pay plaintiff for said repairs and materials. That defendant accepted the work and repairs, and material supplied, but has neglected and failed to make payment therefor. The affidavit of defense admitted that defendant took his autombile to plaintiff’s garage for the [281]*281purpose of having the same repaired, and that plaintiff did some work in connection therewith, and that plaintiff has certain charges as set forth in plaintiff’s Exhibit “A”. Defendant denied that repairs were made in accordance with defendant’s request and that the material and supplies were supplied in accordance with the request of defendant. Defendant also denied that the charges were fair and reasonable charges for the work and repairs furnished, and avers that the work was done in an unworkmanlike manner, whereby it will be necessary for defendant to dismantle his ear in order to straighten a bent frame at an expense to defendant exceeding $100.- Until such services are done, as required by good workmanship and the standards of the trade and the terms of the oral contract originally made between the parties, defendant denies that he owes the plaintiff any sum of money.

The motion for a new trial alleges three reasons, as follows:

“1. The court erred in refusing defendant’s motion for withdrawal of a juror when plaintiff’s counsel, in addressing the jury, informed the jury that defendant had made a tender of $175 as the case went to trial, as an argument why the verdict should be for plaintiff, with the suggestion that defendant admitted that such amount was due, and from such admission the jury could infer that the whole amount claimed by plaintiff was due. This was fatal error and incurable by the court’s effort at explanation to the jury to ignore counsel’s statement. Such tender was not in evidence and the comment was fatally prejudicial.
“2. The court erred in refusing defendant’s motion for withdrawal of a juror when plaintiff’s counsel referred to defendant as a chiseler trying to beat an honest claim, there being no evidence in the case to warrant such comment, particularly because no witness [282]*282was produced by the defendant and resorting to the courts for proof of disputed claims certainly cannot warrant such comment. The error was fatal and not cured by the court’s appeal to the jury to disregard the comment.
“3. The verdict under the evidence could, under no circumstances, have been in excess of $102.87. No evidence was produced from which the jury could fairly infer the number of hours of labor supplied by the plaintiff. His claim was based upon book entries of which “Exhibit A” of plaintiff’s statement was alleged to be a copy. Plaintiff, on cross-examination, admitted his inability to testify to the labor items of his own knowledge. During the noon recess he was permitted to bring into court his books of original entry of which “Exhibit A” was a purported copy.
“4. After a noon-day recess he brought back some loose papers which he claimed were books of original entry but he failed to introduce them in evidence although invited to do so. Inspection of the plaintiff’s Exhibit “A” shows on its face that the same is not a book of original entry since plaintiff admitted that it covered labor charges extending over many hours and different days. Plaintiff, for the reasons indicated, failed to prove his case by competent evidence and the verdict rendered was a mere guess insofar as it exceeded in amount the sum of $102.87. As to items making up that total the evidence was sufficient. Hence defendant asks that judgment be rendered in the above amount or a new trial granted.”

At the time of argument on the motion for a new trial, defendant filed a brief stating, “Defendant is willing to rest his claim for a new trial on the simple ground that the verdict is against the evidence”. Notwithstanding that defendant at time of argument withdrew the first two reasons urged in plaintiff’s motion, we will consider them and dispose of them.

[283]*283As to the first reason alleged, the record indicates that after the jury was sworn, plaintiff’s counsel made his opening address to the jury. Thereafter, defendant’s counsel made the following statement to the court:

“Defendant hereby makes tender of payment of $175 in settlement of the case we are about to try, with the understanding that he is ready to pay that amount into court, and, further, if the verdict is in excess of that amount, the costs will be placed on the plaintiff.”

The court received this offer subject to defendant’s objections, and reserved decision on it, pending the close of the case.

Thereupon, counsel for defendant addressed the court as follows:

“I object to any terms of settlement being stated by Mr. Meyer to the jury and ask for the withdrawal of a juror.”

This motion was overruled by the court, and an exception noted for the defendant. The record indicates that the motion was made after the conclusion of plaintiff’s counsel’s opening address. The objection does not indicate what “terms of settlement” were referred to by plaintiff’s counsel in said opening address. However, thé evidence taken at the trial indicates that the repairs were completed on September 5, 1944, and the car was delivered to defendant, without payment. About 30 days thereafter the defendant complained about the bill being too high and at that time an offer of settlement was discussed but no agreement reached. Some time later, plaintiff agreed to accept $180 in settlement in the event that payment was made at the time of discussion. Defendant offered plaintiff $130 and finally, plaintiff agreed to accept $190 if settlement was completed at that time. Defendant gave plaintiff a check for $130 and a note for $60. The next day defendant stopped payment on said check and refused to pay the note. It is, therefore, apparent that [284]*284there was considerable evidence relating to settlements being discussed between plaintiff and defendant. The remarks of counsel for plaintiff, which defendant’s counsel objected to, do not appear of record. The objection to improper remarks of counsel should be made immediately after the alleged unfair comment is made, and the alleged unfair remarks should be included in the motion of withdrawal, or placed upon the record. This was not done by defendant’s counsel in this case.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
55 Pa. D. & C. 279, 1945 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 204, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wagner-v-boltz-pactcompllebano-1945.