Case Name: JOSEPH LA ROCQUE, Respondent, v. ED ALHO, Appellant
Court: Idaho Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Idaho
Decision Date: 1927-01-07
Citations: 43 Idaho 405
Docket Number: 
Parties: JOSEPH LA ROCQUE, Respondent, v. ED ALHO, Appellant.
Judges: Wm. E. Lee, C. J., and Budge, Taylor and T. Bailey Lee, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Idaho Reports
Volume: 43
Pages: 405–409

Head Matter:
(January 7, 1927.)
JOSEPH LA ROCQUE, Respondent, v. ED ALHO, Appellant.
[252 Pac. 675.]
Lester S. Harrison, for Appellant.
James A. Wayne, for Respondent.

Opinion:
GIVENS, J.
Respondent instituted this action to recover $378 for the rental of two teams, three sets of sleighs and for expenses incurred by him in caring for one of the teams because of improper care by appellant, claimed to be due pursuant to an alleged oral contract which was in effect that appellant should feed and properly care for the horses and have the right to use them in the city of Kellogg in connection with his transfer business for nothing, but that if appellant used the teams outside of Kellogg for any work, or rented or contracted them, then appellant was to pay $40 per month for each team, and $1 per day for each set of sleighs. Respondent alleged that appellant did not use the teams in Kellogg but rented and contracted them to various persons. Appellant denied he was to pay anything for the horses or sleighs and counterclaimed for $228.26 for goods sold and delivered.
The jury returned a verdict for respondent for $378, together with costs upon which judgment was entered.
Though improperly designated, appellant evidently meant to make three assignments of error, namely, that the evidence is insufficient to support the verdict — the particulars wherein it is insufficient not being pointed out; that the verdict was excessive; and that the verdict was irregularly arrived at.
It would serve no purpose to review the evidence which, though conflicting, was sufficient to support the verdict; hence so far as that ground is concerned the verdict will not be set aside. (Kelley v. Arave, 41 Ida. 723, 243 Pac. 366; Eastwood v. Schultz, 42 Ida. 118, 243 Pac. 653.)
Upon the trial appellant admitted that all but $31.07 of his counterclaim had been settled and respondent conceded that $31.07 was due and might be deducted from his claim. After the jury was instructed a verdict was returned for the entire amount sued for, namely, $378, whereupon the court said:
"I think you gentlemen have made a mistake. La Rocque concedes that $37.07 should be deducted from his claim against Mr. Alho. You better take the verdict and return to the jury-room and reform it." '
The second verdict returned was in the same amount as the former, namely, $378. It is conceded by respondent that it may have been that the jury overlooked appellant's counterclaim of $31.07 and also the interest on plaintiff's claim which was prayed for and recites in his brief:
"And if this be the view taken by this court, then the plaintiff will not object to the allowance of this sum of $31.07 in reduction of the judgment; this upon the theory that the plaintiff conceded such item and has no desire to recover more than he is entitled to."
The verdict should be reduced in the amount of the conceded counterclaim. (C. S., sec. 6446.)
Appellant^ contention that the verdict was irregular is as follows:
"Verdict arrived at by resorting to chance, should be set aside. ' '
What irregularity or chanee there was is not stated and there was no evidence as to the same-. No motion for a new trial was made and no affidavits asserting that the verdict was arrived at by a resort to the determination of chance or that it was irregular were filed in accordance with C. S., secs. 6888' and 6889, or otherwise; consequently there is no foundation for this assignment.
The judgment is ordered modified by deducting therefrom $31.07 and affirmed as modified. Since respondent at all times conceded the $31.07 should be deducted, costs are awarded to respondent.
Wm. E. Lee, C. J., and Budge, Taylor and T. Bailey Lee, JJ., concur.