Case Name: Gersich, Appellant, vs. Starich and another, Respondents
Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Wisconsin
Decision Date: 1922-06-06
Citations: 177 Wis. 507
Docket Number: 
Parties: Gersich, Appellant, vs. Starich and another, Respondents.
Judges: 
Reporter: Wisconsin Reports
Volume: 177
Pages: 507–510

Head Matter:
Gersich, Appellant, vs. Starich and another, Respondents.
May 11
June 6, 1922.
Trial: Advisory verdict: Effect: Findings of court: Appeal.
1. In an action by the buyer of an interest in a partnership against the seller to set aside the transfer and to recover the purchase price, where the verdict was advisory, it was the duty of the court to make findings of fact, and these findings set aside and superseded the verdict in so far as they differed from it.
2. Although'the trial court may either expressly or by implication adopt an advisory verdict as its. findings, in which event it constitutes the findings in the case, where the court states that its findings take the place of the advisory verdict the latter is no longer to be considered.
3. In such case the only question on appeal is whether the findings of fact of the trial court were sustained by the evidence.
4. The legislature may not take from the courts the determination of equitable issues and put such determination in the hands of a jury.
Appeal from a judgment of the circuit court for Sheboy-gan county: Michael Kirwan, Circuit Judge.
Affirmed.
A suit in equity to set aside a transfer of a one-half interest in the State Realty Company, a partnership, and in other property on the ground of fraud and for a recovery of the purchase price. The court took an advisory verdict. The jury found, among other things, (1) that each of the defendants represented to the plaintiff that each of the defendants derived an income of $1,000 per month from the business of the State Realty Company; (2) that such representations were not made as statements of fact; (3) that they were made for the purpose of inducing plaintiff to purchase the interest of the defendant Swkhart in said company; (4) that plaintiff relied upon said-representations to the extent of being thereby induced to purchase the said interest of defendant Burkhart; (5) that said representations were false; (6) that the defendants knew them to be false;- (7). that plaintiff, relying upon them, failed to exercise ordinary care; and (8) that the defendants did not conspire together to defraud the plaintiff by means of such false representations.
The trial judge made complete findings of fact, in which he found that no false representations of any kind had been made by the defendants, or by either of them, and that they had not conspired together to defraud plaintiff. He also stated in his conclusions of law that “the foregoing findings of fact are hereby substituted by the court for and instead of the advisory verdict which was rendered herein by the jury, and the judgment shall so declare.” From a judgment dismissing the complaint upon the merits the plaintiff appealed.
The cause was submitted for the appellant on the brief of Charles Voigt of Sheboygan, and for the respondents on that of Theodore Benfey of Sheboygan and M. C. Mead of Plymouth.

Opinion:
Vinje, C. J.
The cause was submitted on both sides upon printed briefs. Though the trial court made findings of fact which he declares shall take the place of the verdict, and though the appellant's attorney correctly states that the verdict is advisory merely, yet his whole brief is devoted to sustaining the proposition that the verdict entitles plaintiff to judgment.
The verdict being advisory merely, it became the duty of the court to make findings of fact. Northwestern Nat. Bank v. Ramsey, 96 Wis. 544, 549, 71 N. W. 939. Such findings set aside and superseded the verdict in so far as' they differed from it. Harrison v. Juneau Bank, 17 Wis. 340; Gunn v. Madigan, 28 Wis. 158; Northwestern Nat. Bank v. Ramsey, 96 Wis. 544, 71 N. W. 939; 10 Ruling Case Law, 533. True, the trial court may either expressly or by implication adopt the advisory verdict as his findings, in which event it constitutes the findings in the case. Northwestern Nat. Bank v. Ramsey, 96 Wis. 544, 71 N. W. 939. But where, as here, the court expressly states that his findings take the place of the advisory verdict, the latter drops out of the case and is no longer to be considered. The case must be treated as though no advisory verdict was taken, and be disposed of upon the findings of fact made by the court. If such findings are sustained by the evidence and in turn sustain the judgment, that ends our judicial inquiry.
It has been held that it is beyond the power of the legislature to take from courts the determination of equitable issues and put such determination in the hands of a jury. Callanan v. Judd, 23 Wis. 343.
The only question, therefore, on this appeal is whether or not the findings of fact of the trial court are sustained by the evidence. While, as stated, this has not been argued by appellant nor. does his brief contain specific assignments of error, as required by Supreme Court Rule 10, still'we have examined the evidence with the result that we find therein a sufficient basis for the court's findings., and the Judgment must therefore be affirmed.
By the Court. — Judgment affirmed.