Opinion ID: 1418760
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Liability To Weiss On His Claim For Wages

Text: Apart from the damages claimed by Weiss, individually, because of his liability on the guaranties, the jury awarded him the amount of $2,400 which it found he lost as wages because of fraud by Northwest. Weiss contends Northwest misrepresented to him that it would pay him a salary for several months while he made an orderly disposition of the equipment. This would create a cause of action individually in Weiss separate from any claim by Fall Creek. Northwest introduced evidence that it made no such promise but the jury found against it. Northwest's other defense is that Weiss did not adequately plead this as an element of damage and, therefore, the court incorrectly overruled its demurrer to plaintiff's complaint. Plaintiff pleaded that Northwest misrepresented to Weiss that he would be compensated for his work in selling the equipment of Fall Creek. In his damage paragraph, however, Weiss did not allege he lost wages or compensation because of this misrepresentation. He generally pleaded that as a result of the conduct of Northwest he was damaged in the sum of $1,500,000. This is not a recommended method to allege a specific claim of damages. We do not find it, however, to be reversible error. The pleading served its principal function and placed Northwest on notice that this claim for lost compensation was being made. It requested an instruction limiting its liability to Weiss to the amount he may have earned as salary if he had been employed to sell the equipment. The plaintiff Weiss was entitled to recover for his lost compensation. That part of the judgment awarding plaintiff $2,400 is affirmed.