Case Name: Ambroz and another, Appellants, vs. La Crosse Mutual Loan & Building Association and another, Respondents
Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Wisconsin
Decision Date: 1921-07-13
Citations: 174 Wis. 583
Docket Number: 
Parties: Ambroz and another, Appellants, vs. La Crosse Mutual Loan & Building Association and another, Respondents.
Judges: 
Reporter: Wisconsin Reports
Volume: 174
Pages: 583–585

Head Matter:
Ambroz and another, Appellants, vs. La Crosse Mutual Loan & Building Association and another, Respondents.
June 1
July 13, 1921.
Building and loan associations: By-laws: Withdrazvals: Loss of profits.
Where the by-laws of a building and loan association provided that in case of the withdrawal of a member he would be entitled to only fifty per cent, of the profits made during membership, a member who surrendered his original loan, took out a new one, and at such time accepted a check for the balance due him after being credited with one half of the profits, cannot thereafter recover from the association the entire profits on the old loan.
Appeal from a judgment of the circuit court for La Crosse county: E. C. Higbee, Circuit Judge.
Affirmed.
Action to recover profits claimed to be due plaintiffs while members of defendant association. Plaintiffs July 1, 1915, obtained a loan of $13,000 from the defendant, secured by a mortgage on real estate, and made monthly payments thereon. Under the usual experience of the association the loan would be fully paid in about nine years if monthly payments and premiums bid therefor were paid. The monthly payment on their mortgage was $65 and the premium bid by them was $31.20. In December, 1918, plaintiffs were in arrears and made application for a new loan of $11,000. The by-laws, a copy of which plaintiffs had, provided that in case of withdrawal members were entitled tó only fifty per cent, of the profits made by the association during membership. Plaintiffs claimed that Mr. Luening, the secretary of the association, told them that they would be entitled to all their profits upon the new mortgage. This Mr. Luen-ing denies, and this is the vital fact in dispute.
The circuit court submitted the cause to the jury in a special verdict containing these questions:
“(1) Did the defendant William Luening, at or before the making and execution of the plaintiffs’ second mortgage in February, 1919, agree with the plaintiffs that if they surrendered their stock and took a new loan that the defendant association would credit them with all they had paid into the association, including premiums, besides their proper share of the profits under the by-laws, receiving the same proportionate return on their investments as if they should remain in said association until the maturity of their stock ? A. Yes.
“(2) If you answer question No. 1 ‘Yes/ then did plaintiffs make, execute, and deliver the second mortgage and surrender their stock in reliance upon said agreement? A. Yes.”
Thereafter the court denied plaintiffs’ motion for judgment on the verdict, and entered an order granting defendants’ motion for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. Judgment dismissing the plaintiffs’ complaint and for costs was accordingly entered for the defendants. The plaintiffs appealed.
For the appellants there was a brief by Lees & Bunge of La Crosse, and oral argument by George W. Bunge.
For. the respondents there was a brief by George H. Gordon, Law & Gordon of La Crosse, and oral argument by George H. Gordon.

Opinion:
Vinje, J.
It is evident that the trial court set aside the verdict because unsupported by the evidence. The record sustains the action of the court. Both plaintiffs admitted that' Luening told them they could get only fifty per cent, of the profits. The by-laws so provided. The settlement made at the time was as follows:
Loans in 61st series.$13,000 00 Credit:
42 payments at $65 (dues).$2,730 00
50 % of accumulated profits to Jan. 1st 477 10
- $3,207 10
Less—
4 mo. dues, arrears .'. $260 00
4 mo. interest, arrears.... 260 00
4 mo. premium CO to
4 mo. fines . 0\ t-i
$656 47
Taxes . 296 52 952 99
$2,254 11
Paid by order No. 3873 . 254 11
$2,000 00
Old loan .$13,000 00
New loan. 11,000 00
Credit as per above. 2,000 00
This showed that they received only fifty per. cent, of profits, and Mrs. Ambros-received a check for the balance due them of $254.11 and kept the proceeds and has never offered to return them.
They voluntarily signed papers for a new loan after Mrs. Ambros had been, given a check for. $254.11 representing the difference between the value of their stock and the amount of the new loan. There is no claim that they signed the new mortgáge by mistake or duress. They paid interest on the new mortgage two or three months, then took up the mortgage by making a new loan elsewhere, and later brought this action to recover the balance of the profits claimed to be due them. The case presents only a question of-fact which the trial court correctly resolved. The case should not have been submitted to a jury at all.
By the Court. — Judgment ¡affirmed.