Case ID: mont_9/html/0398-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Blake, C. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

KILBY, Appellant, v. BAKER, Respondent.
    New Trial— Conflict in testimony — Where no reasons are giren in the transcript for the action of the court below in granting a new trial, and there is a substantial conflict in the testimony, the judgment will be affirmed. (Oases of Chauvin v. Valiton, 7 Mont. 5S1; Kireher v. Conrad, ante, p. 191; Landsman v. Thompson, ante, p. 182, affirmed.)
    
      Appeal from. Seventh Judicial District, Yellowstone County,
    
    Defendant’s motion for a new trial was granted by Liddell, J.
    
      JR. T. Allen, for Appellant.
    
      O. F. Goddard, for Respondent.
    Setting aside the verdict of the jury was a matter of legal discretion, vested in the court below, and this court will not interfere with it unless abuse of that discretion is shown, and especially if there be a substantial conflict of evidence. (Hayne on New Trial and Appeal, §§ 97, 289; O’Brien v. Brady, 23 Cal. 243; Brake v. Palmer, 2 Cal. 177; Speck v. Hoyt, 3 Cal. 413; Peters 
      v. Foss, 16 Cal. 358; Nooney v. Mahoney, 30 Cal. 226; Sharp v. Hoffman, 79 Cal. 404; Harnett v. C. P. P. P. Co. 78 Cal. 31; Minium v. Bliss, 77 Cal. 90.)
   Blake, C. J.

This action was commenced to recover damages for the malicious prosecution of Kilby by Baker. The jury returned a verdict for the plaintiff, and the court below granted the motion of Baker for a new trial. No reasons are given in the transcript for this ruling, and the grounds which appear in the notice relate chiefly to the insufficiency of the evidence. There is a substantial conflict in the testimony of the parties, and we cannot say that there has been an abuse of judicial discretion. No questions of law for the guidance of the court at another trial have been brought to our attention, and the judgment must be affirmed, with costs. (Chauvin v. Valiton, 7 Mont. 581; Kircher v. Conrad, ante, p. 191; Landsman v. Thompson, ante, p. 182.)

De Witt, J., concurs. Harwood, J., being disqualified, did not sit in this case.