Case Name: Extein v. Kincus, Appellant
Court: Superior Court of Pennsylvania
Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania
Decision Date: 1949-11-22
Citations: 165 Pa. Super. 591
Docket Number: Appeal, No. 233
Parties: Extein v. Kincus, Appellant.
Judges: Before Rhodes, P. J., Hirt, Dithrich, Ross, Arnold and Fine, JJ. (Reno, J., absent).
Reporter: Pennsylvania Superior Court Reports
Volume: 165
Pages: 591–593

Head Matter:
Extein v. Kincus, Appellant.
Argued September 29, 1949.
Before Rhodes, P. J., Hirt, Dithrich, Ross, Arnold and Fine, JJ. (Reno, J., absent).
Manfred Landau, with him Romain O. Hassrich, for appellant.
Albert 8. Oliensis, with him A. Allan Goodman, for appellee.
November 22, 1949:

Opinion:
Opinion by
Fine, J.,
Samuel Extein, appellee, instituted a suit in assumpsit against Herman Kincus, appellant, seeking the return of $2,500 representing a down payment made under an oral agreement for the purchase of appellant's taproom business. An answer was filed denying the material averments and the matter proceeded to trial before a judge without a jury who after hearing found for the plaintiff for the full amount. At the conclusion of the trial and before judgment, appellant moved for and was denied a continuance on the ground that he had no opportunity to produce at the trial a witness who would have testified in his behalf. A motion for a new trial averring error in the refusal of a continuance was dismissed by the court below, wherefore this appeal.
The sole question raised by appellant is whether the court below abused its discretion in refusing a continuance in the circumstances disclosed by this record. Appellant inaccurately states that he did not have the opportunity to produce Philip Goldberg, his former attorney, as a witness in his behalf at the time of the trial. Appellant could have arranged for the presence of that witness at tbe trial but for reasons known to bimself be did not even request tbe presence of Goldberg at that time; nor did he state to tbe court any reason for bis failure to have tbe witness present. Appellant and bis counsel knew of tbe existence of Goldberg's testimony before trial and admittedly made no effort to subpoena him. Moreover, appellant did not seek a continuance prior to trial because of tbe absence of this witness. On tbe contrary, be voluntarily elected to proceed with tbe trial and take tbe chance of an unfavorable verdict without this evidence. He is, therefore, in no position to demand a re-trial because of bis own failure or neglect to move seasonably for a continuance. Jaczyszyn v. Paslawski, 147 Pa. Superior Ct. 97, 24 A. 2d 116; Marine Coal Company v. Pittsburgh, McKeesport and Youghiogheny Railroad Company, 246 Pa. 478, 92 A. 688.
Judgment affirmed.