Case ID: ny-st-rep_49/html/0924-02.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Ehrlich, Ch. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

John H. Rieger et al., Resp’ts, v. William J. Swan, App’lt.
    Appeal from judgment entered on verdict in favor of plaintiffs.
    
      W. S. Severance, for app’lt; Palmer & Boothby, for resp’ts.
   Ehrlich, Ch. J.

The action was upon a special agreement, whereby the defendants agreed, in consideration of an introduction given by the plaintiff, that they would divide with the plaintiff the sum to be received by them upon a transaction growing out of such introduction.

The contract was satisfactorily proved, and the jury awarded the plaintiff a verdict for the amount which the parties had agreed upon.

But the defendant claims that the verdict is against the weight of evidence.

In this he is mistaken, the verdict in no manner indicates bias or prejudice, and no doubt recordsthe conviction of a disinterested jury, on conflicting facts. It should not be disturbed.

The exceptions taken by the defendants are without merit.

The one at folio 118 to that portion of the charge which the judge qualified, is unavailing.

In respect to this, the trial judge said, that the burden of proof was not on the defendants. . «

This was consistent with what he said in another portion, wherein he told them that the burden of proving the contract was upon the plaintiffs, who were bound to establish its existence by a preponderance of evidence.

There is no merit in the appeal, and the judgment and order appealed from must be affirmed, with costs.

Fitzsimons, J., concurs.