Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1921-02-02
Many Witnesses Called;
Biggest Case In
Years.

The case of Dr. Dunn of Platteville
VS. other stockholders of the former
Acme garage company was brought
to settlement late Wednesday,. The
company's assets were placed at $43-
100000. Then 100000 was allowed
each side for legal expenses. The
remainder or $35 10000, is to be div
| ided among the stockholders as their
interest may appear and Dr. Dunn as
one-sixth shareholder will receive a
trifle less than 100000 for his stock
The action was joined in December
1916 when Dr.. Dunn, as minority
stakeholder Of the corporation asked
for a valuation and accounting 1t was
argued at various times in the courts
of the county and went to the sup
RENE court once on the right of the
treasurer to sell certain shares of re-
serve stock. This sale was set aside
Following the breaking away of
various stockholders who found the
game too strenuous, six men were
left with so shares apiece DIR. Dunn
was one Of these. In his demand for
an accounting he estimated the assets
OF the company at $SS,000.00 He en-
ployed expert accountants to go over
the books and prove this and was
prepared to bring in numerous wit
nesses to show that the books had not
been properly kept and that many
sales and other transactions where
money had been paid in had not been
registered.
The other side W. L. Thorne, w. c.
Hill, John Kettler, Fred Weinbergen
and Frank Goodell, were equally
alert. They also had accountants
hired and witnesses ready to be sworn.
When the case came up Tuesday
the circuit court room was full of
attorneys, litigants and witnesses.
H. H. Thomas of DIN, Butler, Thorn
as, StebbinS and Stroud of Madison,
and Brennan & Carthew of Lancaster
represented DR. Dunn. Kopp &c
Brunckhorst, RIA. Goodell and e. E.
Burns represented the other stock
holders. The specimens and exhibits
for testimony filled a large trunk anu
were so heavy thai finally the trunk
bottom collapsed.
Tuesday afternoon and part of We'd
nesday were taken up in examining
one adverse witness. Wednesday
afternoon was used up with another
witness. Thirty witnesses on each
side were in the court room, one from
Seattle, Wash, and numerous farmers
who wanted to get home to their fam
lilies and chores. 1t looked like a
long session and everybody was ready
for one lasting until the February
term Of court except the farmers and
they were Tuning. (The greater num-
Der of the witnesses were brought to
testify to purchases, storage, etc,
made of and with the company
Ar six O'Clock the oOurt CtpOOVlV 1d-
vised the litigants to forget their per-
sonal differences and get together on
business basis He assured them
that at o'clock the next morning
further negotiation would be stopped
and the action formally made into
lawsuit that would without doubt, be
very costly.
At ten o'clock the litigants and their
attorneys were far apart and ready to
OH with the lawsuit next morning. An
apparent deadlock had been reached.
Shortly after midnight they reached
a settlement as stated in the fore
going.
The action has been costly to both
sides. 1t is estimated that DR.. Dunn's
expense for legal work, accountants,
witnesses, etc, will run up to 100000.
The expense Of his opponents is also
very high.
! What promised to be the biggest law
suit tried in Grant county in years has
been settled but not without enormous
expense to all parties concerned.
The corporation sold their business
fourteen months ago to the Eagle gar
| age Co., converting their assets into
cash making settlement easy.