Case Name: John S. Pronger, Respondent, v. C. G. Buck, Appellant
Court: Washington Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Washington
Decision Date: 1928-02-15
Citations: 146 Wash. 577
Docket Number: No. 20923
Parties: John S. Pronger, Respondent, v. C. G. Buck, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: Washington Reports
Volume: 146
Pages: 577–578

Head Matter:
[No. 20923.
Department Two.
February 15, 1928.]
John S. Pronger, Respondent, v. C. G. Buck, Appellant.
Clarence L. Gere, for appellant.
Stratton & Kane and Elmer W. Leader, for respondent.
Reported in 263 Pac. 959.

Opinion:
Askren, J.
Plaintiff brought this action to recover damages for a claimed alienation of his wife's affections by the defendant. The cause was tried to a jury, and. the verdict was for the defendant. The court granted a new trial upon the ground that the verdict was contrary to the weight of the evidence. The defendant then appealed, assigning two errors.
He first claims that the court erred in permitting an amended and supplemental complaint in the action, in which acts of the appellant occurring after the filing of the original complaint were set np as additional grounds of recovery.
If we understand appellant's argument, it is that respondent,' having filed a complaint .charging that the affections of his wife had been alienated, nothing occurring thereafter could affect him in any way, since the alibnatibh was complete. Whether this' is true or .not depends upon the facts introduced in evidence,-and which have not been brought here for review. Assuming that the alienation was complete' at the time of the institution of the action, certainly the acts of the réspóndent thereafter tended to show not a new cause of action, but the purpose of-prior acts and the completeness of their efficacy. Eklund v. Hackett, 106 Wash. 287, 179 Pac. 803.
The other error assigned is that the trial court abused, its discretion in granting a new trial.
As we have seen, the court did so upon the ground that the verdict was contrary to the evidence. There being no statement of facts brought here for review we are unable to examine the evidence to see if there was any abuse of discretion. .Since the statute empowers the trial court to grant a new trial, if it believes the verdict contrary to the weight of the evidence, we must presume that the court performed its duty.
Judgment affirmed.
'Mackintosh, O. J., Fullerton, Main, and Holcomb, JJ., concur.