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Aller v. Millard Hunt Co.

Court of Appeals of Ohio
Jan 18, 1932
181 N.E. 655 (Ohio Ct. App. 1932)

Opinion

Decided January 18, 1932.

Evidence — Objection too late, after witness answered, when — Error in overruling directed verdict motion, waived — Defendant introduced evidence thereafter — Overruling motion at close of all evidence, not assigned as error — Account stated and agency established by evidence.

1. Objections not taken until after witness had answered held too late to be available on review.

2. Error, if any, in denying defendant's motion for directed verdict at close of plaintiff's evidence, held waived by defendant's going forward with evidence.

3. Denial of motion for directed verdict at close of entire evidence, not being assigned as error, need not be considered on review.

4. Where defendant sent daughter, with his books and checks, to plaintiff's place of business to represent him in adjusting account, evidence of agency held sufficient for jury.

ERROR: Court of Appeals for Marion county.

Mr. Frank Wiedemann and Mr. Grover C. Brown, for plaintiff in error.

Messrs. Carhart Warner, for defendant in error.


The action was brought by the Millard Hunt Company upon an account stated. The defense was a general denial. Upon trial by a jury, a verdict was returned for plaintiff for $207.09. A motion for a new trial was overruled, and a judgment entered upon the verdict. Error is prosecuted to this court by defendant below, Llewellyn L. Aller, who seeks a reversal of this judgment upon several grounds.

We have examined the rulings of the trial court on testimony offered, and find that no prejudicial error has intervened in this respect. Such objections as were well taken came after the witness had answered the questions propounded. Hence, they were too late to be of any avail here. Neiswender v. State, 28 O.C.A., 545, 552.

At the close of plaintiff's evidence in chief, defendant moved for a directed verdict in his favor, on the ground that plaintiff had failed to introduce any evidence tending to prove the claimed agency. The trial court overruled this motion, and counsel for defendant contend that this ruling constitutes reversible error.

The record discloses that after the motion for direction was overruled, the defendant went forward with evidence; that is to say, put in his case. He, therefore, waived that error, if such it was. True, at the close of all the evidence the defendant renewed his motion for a directed verdict, but he does not assign the overruling of that motion as a ground of error. We, therefore, are not required to consider it. Burke v. Burke, 36 Ohio App. 551, 173 N.E. 637. We prefer, however, to dispose of this proposition as if it were properly before us for determination.

We learn from the record that the defendant sent his daughter, Mrs. Ruth Morrison, to the plaintiff's place of business to represent him in adjusting the account. The daughter took with her the defendant's books and checks. On three occasions she and Millard Hunt, representing plaintiff, discussed the account and endeavored to settle it. According to Millard Hunt's testimony he and Mrs. Morrison agreed upon the amount due and owing from defendant to plaintiff, namely, $207.09. He further testified that thereafter he and defendant discussed the amount agreed upon to be paid by defendant to plaintiff, and that defendant promised to send a check covering same, which defendant did not do. Surely, these facts tend to prove the claimed agency.

Upon the issues of agency, and whether or not an account was in fact stated, the testimony is conflicting. By its verdict the jury found these issues in favor of the plaintiff, and after a careful reading of the entire record we are convinced that the verdict is not against the decided weight of the evidence. Dean v. King, Pennock King, 22 Ohio St. 118, 134, and kindred cases.

All other claims of error to which our attention has been called have been noted, but they are not of sufficient importance to justify special mention.

Holding these views, it follows that the judgment of the court of common pleas should be affirmed.

Judgment affirmed.

CROW and KLINGER, JJ., concur.


Summaries of

Aller v. Millard Hunt Co.

Court of Appeals of Ohio
Jan 18, 1932
181 N.E. 655 (Ohio Ct. App. 1932)
Case details for

Aller v. Millard Hunt Co.

Case Details

Full title:ALLER v. THE MILLARD HUNT CO

Court:Court of Appeals of Ohio

Date published: Jan 18, 1932

Citations

181 N.E. 655 (Ohio Ct. App. 1932)
181 N.E. 655
12 Ohio Law Abs. 2