Case Name: DOKKEN, Respondent, v. W. L. HUFFMAN AUTOMOBILE COMPANY, Appellant
Court: South Dakota Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: South Dakota
Decision Date: 1918-03-26
Citations: 40 S.D. 286
Docket Number: File No. 4258
Parties: DOKKEN, Respondent, v. W. L. HUFFMAN AUTOMOBILE COMPANY, Appellant.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Dakota Reports
Volume: 40
Pages: 286–288

Head Matter:
DOKKEN, Respondent, v. W. L. HUFFMAN AUTOMOBILE COMPANY, Appellant.
(166 N. W. 1086.)
(File No. 4258.
Opinion filed March 26, 1918.)
1. Trials — Appeal—Credibility of Witnesses, Verdict- as Controlling,
Where issues of fact involved credibility of witnesses, verdict of jury settled them in plaintiff’s favor.
' 2. Master and Servant — Term of Employment, Monthly Wages as Determining — Statute—Notice of Change re Employment, Effect.
The adopted estimation of wages being hy the month, it is presumed, in absence of an agreement to the contrary, that the employment was hy the month; construing Civ. Code, Sec. 1478; and defendant employer could not, hy giving notice on the fifth day of a month, make a change in amount or basis of employee’s compensation for that month, without his consent.
Appeal from Municipal! Court of the Ciify of Sioux Falls. ’Hon. Alpha F. Orr, Judge.
Action by I. H. Doltken, against the W. L. Huffman Automobile Company, to recover plaintiff’s salary and commissions for his services as employee of defenldianit. From a judgment for plaintiff, and- from an order denying a new trial, defendant appeals.
Affirmed.
Morris & Fitzpatrick, for Appellant.
Bailey & Vooirhe'es, and P. G. Honegger, for Respondent.
(2) To point two of itihie opinion, Appellant cited1: Civ. Code, Secs. 1477, 1478, 1479; Crone Miller v. Duluth Superior Milling Company, (Wis.), 114 N. W. 432, 433; Dodson Braun Mfg. Company v. Di-cks, (Tex.) 76 S. W. 451.

Opinion:
GATES, J.
Plaintiff was employed by defendant on July 1, 1916, as manager of its Sioux Falls branch office. It is conceded by defendant thialt his salary .was to ¡be $100 per month. It is claimed by the plaintiff, but denied by defendant, that in addition to the salary he was to receive 'a commission of $5 per oar upon all cars delivered from the brandh office. Defendant also claimed, but plaintiff denied, that the employment was -with the understanding that either party might discontinue the agreement at any time on notice to the other party. Plaintiff was notified, on Ootoiber 5, 1916, that thereafter he would receive compensation solely upon a commission 'basis. From a judgment for plaintiff for the amount of lids October salary and total commissions, less certain agreed defections, and from an order denying a new trial, defendant appeals.
The 'above-mentioned issues of fact involved the credibility o.f the witnesses. The verdict of the jury settled them in plain tiff's favor. Spaulding v. Pitts, 26 S. D. 78, 127 N. W. 610.
The aidloiptedi estinnaitfcfa iof wages hieing ,by tíre month, it is presumed, in the absence of an agreement 'to' the contrary, that tli.e 'employment was by -the .month. C. C. § 1477. Therefore defendant coukl mot, by notice gvilven on the 5 th day of October make a change in the amount or basis of plaintiff's compensation for that month without plaintiff's doosent. Such notice would only be effective beginninig with the first of the following month. Dodson-Braun Mfg. Co. v. Dix (Tex. Civ. App.) 76 S. W. 451. The evidence fails to show such consent bjr plaiintiff.
The judgment and order appealed from are affirmed.