Case Title: Pillsbury Mills v. Chehardy

Citation: 231 La. 111, 90 So. 2d 797

Docket Number: 

State: louisiana

Court: Louisiana Supreme Court

Date: 1956-11-05T00:00:00Z

Document:
90 So. 2d 797 (1956) 231 La. 111 PILLSBURY MILLS, Inc. v. Dewey CHEHARDY, d/b/a Chehardy's Store. No. 42676. Supreme Court of Louisiana. November 5, 1956. Joseph D. Lupo, Independence, Ponder & Ponder, Amite, for appellant. Iddo Pittman, Jr., Hammond, for appellee. MOISE, Justice. Plaintiff brought suit against the defendant, claiming that there was due him $10,071.48, on an open account. He prayed for legal interest, from April 22, 1945, until paid. The defendant answered, and pleaded in reconvention, that plaintiff was indebted unto him, in the amount of $28,477.76. *798 He claimed that there was a set-off due him, and prayed for judgment, in the amount of $18,406.28. It is self-evident that by claiming a set-off, defendant judicially admitted the correctness of plaintiff's demand. Articles 2207, 2208, 2209, LSA-Revised Civil Code; Jackson v. Taylor Bros. Garage, La.App., 1st Circuit, 1941, 4 So. 2d 41; Chickasaw Wood Products Company v. Vail-Donaldson Company, 2d Circuit, 1932, 19 La.App. 315, 138 So. 680, (transferred 1931), 173 La. 59, 136 So. 87; Young v. Williamson, 2d Circuit, 1931, 16 La.App. 406, 133 So. 807; Ashley v. Sholars, 1870, 22 La.Ann. 442. Defendant admitted on cross examination, that the claim of plaintiff, as set forth in the itemized statement attached to the petition, was correct. The burden was on the defendant to establish, with a reasonable certainty, the demands made in reconvention. Stringfellow v. Nowlin Bros., 157 La. 683, 102 So. 869; Butler v. Bryant, La.App., 75 So. 2d 519; Barbara, Inc. v. Billelo, 212 La. 937, 33 So. 2d 689. We have examined the record, and arrived at the conclusion, that the findings of the trial judge are correct. His reasons for judgment are as follows: The defendant, plaintiff in reconvention, pleaded joint venture in this Court. As a general rule, this Court does not consider defenses raised for the first time on appeal. Lindner v. Cotonio, 175 La. 352, 143 So. 286. However, since defendant has made so many intimations in the reconventional demand, we have studied the record to determine whether a joint adventure existed between the parties. As between the parties, joint adventures arise only where the parties intended the relationship to exist. They are ultimately predicated upon contract either express or implied. Daspit v. Sinclair Refining Co., 199 La. 441, 6 So. 2d 341. Likewise, there must be an equal right to direct and govern the movements and conduct of each other in respect to the undertaking, and each party must have some voice and right to be heard, in the control or management. Hawkins v. Travelers Indemnity Co., La.App., 73 So. 2d 348. No such relationship existed between Chehardy and Pillsbury Mills, Inc. Therefore, the plea of joint adventure is without merit. For the reasons assigned, the judgment of the trial court is affirmed at defendant's cost. PONDER, J., recused.