Case Title: Nellis v. Allen

Citation: 105 So. 2d 659

Docket Number: 

State: alabama

Court: Alabama Supreme Court

Date: 1958-10-09T00:00:00Z

Document:
105 So. 2d 659 (1958)
Marion B. NELLIS
v.
Lovick ALLEN.
1 Div. 696.

Supreme Court of Alabama.
October 9, 1958.
*660 J. B. Blackburn and Jas. R. Owen, Bay Minette, for appellant.
Chason & Stone, Bay Minette, for appellee.
LIVINGSTON, Chief Justice.
This is an appeal from a judgment in a suit to recover commission allegedly due a real estate broker. The complaint as amended contains two counts: Count 1 in Code form for work and labor done, and Count 2 as follows:
A demurrer to Count 2, as amended, was overruled and trial resulted in a verdict of $2,500 for the plaintiff.
Appellant's first contention is that the demurrer to Count 2, as amended, should have been sustained. Assuming without deciding that Count 2 is subject to demurrer, we have held that where a verdict is general, as in this case, and may be referred to a common count, the action of the trial court in overruling defendant's demurrer to Count 2 is without prejudice to the defendant. Latter v. Schwarz, 223 Ala. 438, 137 So. 27; Dixie Pratt Coal Mining Co. v. Arrant Ins. Agency, 209 Ala. 289, 96 So. 193; Finney v. Newson, 203 Ala. 191, 82 So. 441; White v. Jackson, 36 Ala.App. 643, 62 So. 2d 477.
Abercrombie v. Pell, 235 Ala. 396, 179 So. 371, is readily distinguishable from the case at bar. There, one count was ex delicto and the other ex contractu, and a question of personal property exemption was involved.
Appellant's next assignment of error is that the trial court committed reversible error *661 in allowing plaintiff's wife, Mrs. Lovick Allen, to testify, on redirect examination, as to the substance of a conversation after the appellant brought out on cross-examination that a conversation had taken place. The pertinent part of the testimony is set out:
There is a difference between the rule that allows all of a conversation that is relevant and material to be brought out when part of the conversation has been previously introduced and the one where there has been testimony that a conversation took place. The former is admissible even though it be hearsay. Clancy Lumber Co. v. Howell, 260 Ala. 243, 70 So. 2d 239. The latter is not admissible. As was said in Jones v. Central of Georgia Ry. Co., 204 Ala. 148, 85 So. 428, 429:
To the same effect are Nelson v. Lee, 249 Ala. 549, 32 So. 2d 22, and Providence Life & Accident Ins. Co. v. Black, 15 Ala.App. 437, 73 So. 757.
The principal litigated question in the case was the employment of appellee by the appellant, as a real estate broker, to sell her property. Appellant and Dr. Mosely, the purchaser, testified emphatically that he was not so employed and did not produce the purchaser. Appellee's testimony was in direct conflict. The testimony of appellee's wife, set out above, was clearly hearsay, but carried a strong inference to support the theory that appellee was so employed and did produce the purchaser.
We cannot say that it was not prejudicial error to allow Mrs. Allen to testify as to the substance of the conversation. For the error pointed out, the cause is due to be reversed and remanded.
Reversed and remanded.
LAWSON, STAKELY and MERRILL, JJ., concur.