Opinion ID: 312922
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The claim is barred as a matter of law under the

Text: 22 Oklahoma two-year statute of limitations. 23 It is agreed that the instant case is governed by 12 O.S. Sec. 95, as amended, which provides that an action for relief on the ground of fraud must be brought within two years after the cause of action has accrued, and that the cause of action shall not be deemed to have accrued until discovery of the fraud. The phrase until the discovery of the fraud does not necessarily mean until the party has actual notice of the fraud, and fraud is deemed to have been discovered when, on the exercise of reasonable diligence, it could, and should have been, discovered. Walker v. Walker, 310 P.2d 760 (Okl.1957). 24 The fraud found by the jury in the instant case necessarily occurred on or about December 8, 1965, the date when the release was signed. The present action was not instituted till March 5, 1969. Accordingly, a pivotal question was when Sade could have known, and should have known, that he was the victim of Northern's fraud in securing the release. If he knew, or should have known, prior to March 5, 1967, then his action is barred by the two-year statute of limitations. If, on the contrary, he only learned of the fraud, and could only have been reasonably expected to thus learn, after March 5, 1967, then his action is not barred by the two-year statute. 25 Sade instituted his negligence action in the Kansas courts on June 22, 1967, and the Kansas trial court granted summary judgment against him on January 13, 1969. As indicated, Sade instituted the present action on March 5, 1969. It is Sade's position that he did not learn, nor could he reasonably have been expected to learn, of Northern's fraud till sometime after he instituted the Kansas proceeding, when Northern's employees in their answer set up the release supplied them by Northern. It is Northern's position, on the other hand, that Sade should have learned of Northern's alleged fraud long before March 5, 1967. 26 The trial court submitted to the jury the issue as to when Sade knew, or should have known, of Northern's alleged fraud under instructions which in our view adequately advised the jury of the consequences which would flow from its decision on the matter. We find no error in submitting this matter to the jury. The testimony and inferences to be drawn therefrom bearing on this particular issue were conflicting and posed an issue of fact, not one of law. The jury by its verdict has determined that the action is not barred by the two-year statute of limitations, and we are not inclined to disturb its finding. 27