Case Name: Bernard Sickel et al. v. John S. Bishop, Administrator
Court: Nebraska Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Nebraska
Decision Date: 1897-12-21
Citations: 53 Neb. 141
Docket Number: No. 7696
Parties: Bernard Sickel et al. v. John S. Bishop, Administrator.
Judges: 
Reporter: Nebraska Reports
Volume: 53
Pages: 141–142

Head Matter:
Bernard Sickel et al. v. John S. Bishop, Administrator.
Filed December 21, 1897.
No. 7696.
1. Action on Note: Evidence oe Release oe Surety: Verdtct eob Plaintiee. Evidence examined, and held to sustain the finding of the jury.
2. Review: Assignments oe Error: Set-Ofe. Under an assignment that “the verdict is not supported by sufficient evidence” this court cannot deduct from the award made by the jury the amount of a counter-claim or set-off existing in favor of the defendant, and against the plaintiff, where the same was not interposed as a defense to the action.
Error from tlie district court of Lancaster county. Tried below before Strode, J.
Affirmed.
Don L. Love, for plaintiffs in error.
John $. Bishop, contra.

Opinion:
Ragan, C.
In the district court of Lancaster county John S. Bishop, administrator, sued Bernard Sickel and Lutlier P. Ludden upon a promissory note. Bishop had a verdict and judgment, and Sickel and Ludden bring the same here for review on error.
1. One argument relied upon here for a reversal of the judgment is that the verdict of the jury is not sustained by sufficient evidence. The execution and delivery of the note are admitted. It seems that the consideration for the note was some personal property sold by Bishop's intestate to Sickel, and Ludden signed the note as surety. Ludden's defense ivas that some time after the note was given a chattel mortgage was executed to Bishop on the property for which the note was given, and that Bishop agreed that in consideration of the securing of the note by this mortgage Ludden should be released from the note. The evidence on behalf of Lndden tended to support his defense, while the evidence on behalf of Bishop tended to overthrow such defense. In other words, the evidence on the issue was conflicting, and all we can say upon the subject is that the finding of the jury that Ludden had not made out his defense has sufficient evidence for its support. The defense of Sickel was that he surrendered the mortgaged property to Bishop upon an agreement, then and there made between them, that Bishop should take the property in discharge of the debt evidenced by the note. The evidence on behalf of Sickel tended to support this defense, while the evidence on behalf of Bishop tended to overthrow it. Here again the evidence was conflicting; but it supports the finding of the jury that Sickel had not established his defense.
2. Another argument made here is that the award made by the jury to Bishop is excessive. This contention of plaintiff in error is based upon another contention of his, — that Bishop seized and sold the property which was mortgaged to secure the payment of the note sued upon, and that the note should be credited with the value of that property. The answer to this contention is that if the fact existed, it was a matter of defense for the plaintiffs in error, and they should have filed a counter-claim or set-off for the value of such property. No such an issue as this is made in the pleadings or was litigated on the trial, and, under an assignment that "the verdict is not supported by sufficient evidence," we cannot reduce the award made by a jury by the amount of a counter-claim or set-off which existed in favor of the defendant against the plaintiff when it was not interposed as a defense to the action. The judgment Of the district court is right and is
A ITIfURMBD.