Opinion ID: 2284361
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: sufficiency of the evidence

Text: Both Beckman and Kirstein contend that the evidence was insufficient to show that either breached the duty to wind up and render an account. We deal with this issue summarily. Appellants' emphasis on the judge's grant of directed verdicts in their favor on Farmer's intentional tort claims of fraud, conversion and civil conspiracy is misplaced. The absence of sufficient proof of one or more elements of those claims clearly does not mean, as a matter of law, that appellants committed no breach of the duties of good faith and fair dealing that partners owe one another. [44] Although there was much conflicting testimony, the jury could fairly find breach of fiduciary duty by both appellants. Besides evidence of appellants' ongoing refusal, despite Farmer's written and oral requests to both, to conduct a winding up and final accounting, the record contains ample evidence of an effort by Beckman, with Kirstein's acquiescence and participation, to deny Farmer his rights as a partner and exclude him from sharing in the Laker fee settlement. [45] This court will not weigh the evidence or pass upon the credibility of witnesses. Queen v. Postell, 513 A.2d 812, 816 (D.C.1986), quoting V.E.M. Hotel Serv. v. Uline, 190 A.2d 812, 813 (D.C.1963). Where a jury performs its function under proper instruction, we are without authority to set aside its resolution of factual issues, or to substitute our own views, Dollak v. Educational Aids Co., 214 A.2d 481, 483 (D.C.1965); American Marietta Co. v. Griffin, 203 A.2d 710, 712 (D.C. 1964). The jury was correctly instructed that partners occupy a position of trust and good faith toward one another, and have a duty both to disclose all pertinent information relating to the partnership and to account to the partnership for any fee received from a transaction connected with the winding up. The jury could properly find that Beckman and Kirstein had failed to discharge their fiduciary duties toward Farmer.