Opinion ID: 2049119
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Sufficiency of the evidence. The determinative question is whether there was substantial evidence of theft.

Text: We can put aside the issue of credibility. That issue was for the jury. The jury could find plaintiff lost the cattle and hogs when he said he did. But did he produce sufficient evidence for the jury to find they had been stolen? In Long v. Glidden Mutual Insurance Association, 215 N.W.2d 271, 273 (Iowa 1974), we said: Proof of theft requires more than proof of mere disappearance. But an inference of theft is justified when property disappears without the knowledge or authority of its owner in circumstances tending to show it was not accidentally mislaid or lost and did not stray by itself. We also said absence of direct evidence or physical indicia of theft does not preclude a finding of theft when the trier of fact could find from circumstantial evidence that theft was reasonably probable, and more probable than any other theory based on the evidence. We believe there was sufficient evidence for the jury to find the loss was caused by theft in this case. Two cases relied on by defendant are distinguishable. Once is Raff v. Farm Bureau Insurance Co. of Nebraska, 181 Neb. 444, 149 N.W.2d 52 (1967). In that case a farmer allowed his hogs to range in a corn field which was not hog tight. Twenty-four of them strayed away. He was able to follow tracks for some distance. A week later two of them returned. A neighbor had seen the others at his farm and had called another neighbor, one Effle, thinking they were his. Effle started home with the hogs but abandoned them near his farm when he determined they were not his. They were not thereafter found. The court held the mere fact they were not found did not prove they were stolen. In contrast to these facts, the jury could find the livestock did not stray in the present case but were removed by human intervention. The Raff case does not support defendant's position. The other case is Gifford v. M.F.A. Insurance Company, 437 S.W.2d 714 (Mo. App.1969). In that case the plaintiff was in the business of pasturing, feeding and caring for cattle owned by others. He had 450 head of cattle in various pastures on over 1300 acres of leased land. Eighteen cattle were discovered missing. Plaintiff asserted the fences were intact and it was uncommon for cattle to stray although it had happened before. The case was tried to the court, and the trial court held for the defendant insurer. Under Missouri practice, when the court of appeals reviews a case tried to the court with jury waived, it reviews the evidence as in an equity appeal, making its own determinations of fact. H. & H. Manufacturing Co. v. Cimarron Insurance Co., 302 S.W.2d 39, 42 (Mo.App. 1957). The court of appeals held plaintiff had not carried his burden to prove the cattle had been stolen. The policy contained a mysterious disappearance exclusion which the court in its de novo review held was proven as part of plaintiff's own evidence. In contrast, we have stronger evidence of theft, especially in the testimony of Mrs. Berry, and a mysterious disappearance exclusion is not involved. We also have a finding of fact of theft by the trier of fact. Unlike the Missouri appellate court we do not decide the facts anew. In a law action like this we are bound by trial level findings of fact based on substantial evidence. The verdict finding theft in this case is supported by substantial evidence. II. Adequacy of plaintiff's proof of loss. Defendant also asserts a policy defense based on alleged failure of plaintiff to furnish timely proof of loss. Although this issue was raised in the pleadings, it was not raised at trial. There was evidence from which the trier of fact could have found substantial compliance with this policy provision. See Henschel v. Hawkeye-Security Insurance Company, 178 N.W.2d 409 (Iowa 1970). Defendant did not except to trial court's failure to submit the issue to the jury. The issue cannot be raised for the first time on appeal. Galbraith v. George, 217 N.W.2d 598, 602 (Iowa 1974). Plaintiff's judgment must stand. Affirmed.