Case ID: wis_122/html/0660-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "SiebecKek, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Pearson, Respondent, vs. Kelly, Appellant.
    
      September 27
    
    October 18, 1904.
    
    
      Contract made on Sunday: Invalidity: Pleading: Special verdict.Costs.
    
    
      1. In an action for services, where the proof showed that the express contract on which the claim was based was made on Sunday and there was no claim quantum meruit, there could be no recovery even though the answer did not assert the invalidity of the contract but merely alleged that its terms, were ‘different from those stated in the complaint.
    
      2. When a special verdict is requested, under sec. 2858, Stats. 1898, it is error to refuse it and to submit the case for a general • verdict.
    3. Where the trial court erroneously denied a motion for a new trial, upon reversal of such ruling thp moving party will he relieved from motion costs imposed upon him.
    Appeal from a judgment of tbe circuit court for Yilas county: W. C. Silvebti-ioeN, Circuit Judge.
    
      Reversed.
    
    Tbe cause of action, as stated in tbe complaint, is:
    “That on and between tbe 16tb day of April and the-30th day of' June, 1903, inclusive, tbe plaintiff rendered and performed work, labor, and services at defendant’s logging camp in Vilas county for a period of fifty-nine and three-fourths days, for which work, labor, and services tbe defendant promised and agreed to pay tbe plaintiff tbe sum of $35 per month; tbat tbe defendant is now indebted to tbe plaintiff for said labor, performed as aforesaid, in tbe sum of $76.50.”
    . Plaintiff asked judgment for tbis amount, and for bis costs and disbursements. Tbe complaint alleges no claim on quantum meruit, nor was any proof offered of tbe value of tbe services.
    Tbe answer admits tbat tbe services were' performed for tbe period claimed, but allegns tbat:
    “It was expressly agreed and understood tbat tbe defendant was to pay tbe plaintiff for bis work, labor, and services rendered tbe sum of one dollar ($1) per day for each and every day, and tbat, in ease said plaintiff remained in tbe employ of said defendant until he completed tbe logging job on band at bis logging camp in Vilas county, referred to in tbe complaint, then in such case tbe defendant agreed to pay tbe plaintiff a sum in addition to one dollar per day to make tbe wages paid for such services.equal to thirty-five dollars ($35) per month.
    “Further answering, defendant alleges tbat tbe plaintiff quit work before tbe completion of tbe contract agreed upon, as hereinbefore referred to, at tbe camp of tbe defendant, and thereupon tbe defendant offered to pay tbe plaintiff tbe sum of fifty-five and eighty one-hundredths ($55.80) dollars, being one dollar per day for tbe services rendered, less tbe sum of three and ninety-five one-hundredths ($3.95) dollars camp account, and that the plaintiff refused to accept such sum.”
    Plaintiff did not remain until the completion of the logging job. The answer was accompanied by an offer of judgment for the sum of $55.80 damages, with interest thereon from June 30, 1903, with the costs and disbursements of the suit.
    Judgment was rendered in favor of plaintiff for the full amount of his claim and for $12 costs. This judgment was appealed to the circuit court for Yilas county, where the case was tried before a jury at the December term, 1903.
    In the absence of the defendant, his foreman put plaintiff at work. Plaintiff did not speak to the foreman about wages, and with reference to the rate of his wages and the time when this was settled upon he testified:
    “Cannot remember the day I talked with Kelly. I had been working for a few days. I went to him to find out what my wages would be. He told me they would be $35 a month. This was in his house; I believe .in the evening — in the afternoon some time. Q. Was it after you came from your work in the evening? A. I think it was on Sunday. Q. You say it was Sunday, and you were not busy, and you went in there, and thought you would find out what the wages were? A. Yes, he was not busy then. Both of us had lots of time.”
    This is all the evidence as to the time of the making of the contract. ’There was conflicting evidence as to the period during which plaintiff was to remain in defendant’s employ. Plaintiff’s testimony supported the averments of the complaint, and defendant’s testimony supported the answer.
    It appears that defendant demanded a special verdict after the jury was impaneled and before testimony was taken. Before argument of the case, counsel for defendant proposed that the following questions be placed in the special verdict:
    “Was it understood and agreed between the plaintiff and defendant that, if plaintiff would work until the end of the logging job, bis wages would be $35 a month?” or “Was the wages of $35 a month, as evidenced between the plaintiff and defendant, made dependent upon the plaintiff’s continuing in the employment of the defendant until the end of the logging job?”
    The court did not submit a special verdict. Defendant’s motion for a new trial upon the minutes of the court was overruled, and $10 was imposed as costs of the motion. This is an appeal from a judgment for the full amount claimed.
    The cause was submitted for the appellant on a brief by John Barnes, attorney, and E. D. Minahan, of counsel, and for the respondent on a brief by dolman & dolman.
    
   SiebecKek, J.

This is an action to recover the sum of $76.50, which is claimed to be due as wages for fifty-nine and three-fourths days of service rendered to the defendant. It is alleged that this sum is due upon an express contract, whereby defendant agreed to pay plaintiff for the services at his logging camp at the rate of $35 per month. That the services were rendered, and for the period alleged, is not denied, but it is claimed that the contract for services stipulated that, if the plaintiff should remain and continue in defendant’s employ until the logging job upon which defendant was then employed should be completed, he would pay him at the rate of $35 per month, otherwise the compensation should be at the rate of $1 per day for the period of service. It appears that plaintiff did not remain in defendant’s employ until the logging job in question was completed. The defendant tendered plaintiff payment for the services at the rate of $1 per day, and this was rejected.

The complaint alleges no claim upon quantum meruit, nor was any proof offered of the value of the services. If a recovery is had, it must be on the contract established by the plaintiff. The undisputed evidence establishes that the contract relied upon was made on Sunday. It has been repeatedly beld by this court that contracts made in violation of the statute forbidding the doing of any business on Sunday are void and cannot be made the basis of a recovery in the law. Vinz v. Beatty, 61 Wis. 645, 21 N. W. 787; Thomas v. Hatch, 53 Wis. 296, 10 N. W. 393; Howe v. Ballard, 113 Wis. 375, 89 N. W. 136; Brown v. Gates, 120 Wis. 349, 97 N. W. 221. Defendant does not assert the invalidity of the contract in his answer upon the ground that it was made on Sunday, but alleges the agreement differed from the one relied upon by the plaintiff in his complaint. This, however, does not preclude him from insisting that plaintiff cannot enforce a contract made in violation of the Sunday law. As observed in the case of Cohn v. Heimbauch, 86 Wis. 176, 56 N. W. 638: “The courts will neither enforce nor set aside a contract which is illegal (and npt fraudulent) from being made on Sunday.” This is upon the principle that purity in the administration of the law forbids courts from entertaining a suit upon a cause of action arising out of a contract in violation of a statute, or which is void as against public policy. 'To entertain such actions would aid the parties to enforce agreements which are repugnant to public policy. Parties to such an agreement are deemed equally guilty in the eye of the law, and must be left to suffer the consequences of their transgression and meet with the disapproval of the courts, in denying them the usual remedies of the law. Melchoir v. McCarty, 31 Wis. 252; Clarke v. Lincoln L. Co. 59 Wis. 655, 18 N. W. 492, and cases cited. The consequence is that plaintiff failed to show any ground upon which a recovery can be predicated, and his complaint should be dismissed.

Though this conclusion disposes of the case, one of the errors assigned needs to be specially noted. Before argument was made or waived, defendant requested a special verdict if the case was submitted to the jury. This the court refused, but submitted the case to the jury for a general verdict. There is nothing to show upon what ground that request was disregarded or refused. The statute (sec. 2858, Stats. 1898) is plaiu and clearly mandatory in terms, and requires tbe court to submit special verdicts covering tbe material issues of fact when requested by tbe parties. Gatzow v. Buening, 106 Wis. 1, 81 N. W. 1003; Sladky v. Marinette L. Co. 107 Wis. 250, 83 N. W. 514. It was error to refuse tbe request and to submit tbe case for a general verdict. Defendant’s motion for a new trial should bave been .granted upon this ground, since tbe court ruled that plaintiff’s right to recover was to be submitted to tbe jury upon tbe -evidence. This reverses tbe court’s ruling upon tbe motion for a new trial, and relieves defendant from the motion costs imposed upon him, and disposes of tbe question of whether those motion costs were properly allowed against him..

By the Court. — Tbe judgment of tbe circuit court is reversed, and tbe cause is remanded for further proceedings according to law.