Court Opinion

ID: 3253573
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-05 16:23:48.951012+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:40:31.775081
License: Public Domain

The plaintiff, appellee here, sued the defendants, appellants, joining in the complaint counts ex contractu and counts ex delicto, without averring that said counts related to the same subject matter, or that the cause of action arose out of the same transaction. The defendants' demurrer pointed out this supposed defect relying on Cox v. Awtry, 211 Ala. 356,100 So. 337, as supporting the demurrer. The holding in that case on this point was overruled by First Nat. Bank of Gadsden v. Morgan, 213 Ala. 125, 104 So. 403. The demurrer was properly overruled.
The appellants insist that there was no evidence warranting a finding by the jury on the count for money had and received as against the defendant Jim Barnett Motors, Inc., and that the court erred in refusing charges 11 and 15 relating to said count. Said charges are embodied in the record as "refused written charges for the defendants," and the case was submitted by appellants in the Court of Appeals without an order granting leave to sever in the assignments of error. In these circumstances only errors affecting the rights of both appellants are available to reverse. Minor v. Thomasson,236 Ala. 247, 182 So. 16; F. Becker Asphaltum Roofing Co. et al. v. Murphy, 224 Ala. 655, 141 So. 630; Joiner v. State, 232 Ala. 522,168 So. 885; Fields et al. v. Southeastern Fuel Co.,233 Ala. 437, 172 So. 257; Foster v. Williamson, 236 Ala. 672,185 So. 168.
There was evidence justifying a finding by the jury as to the fifth count for money had and received against Bentley and the evidence abundantly supports the trover count against both defendants.
The court failed to instruct the jury "to specify under which count they find their verdict." There was no request in writing or otherwise for the jury to so specify, nor was there any exception reserved to the oral charge of the court, raising such question. It was raised for the first time in the motion for new trial.
We are of opinion that the question should have been raised in advance of the verdict. The failure of the verdict to so specify could only affect the rights of the defendants, and it was not permissible for them to sit silent until the verdict was rendered, and then object. Southern Building  Loan Ass'n v. Davis, 223 Ala. 222, 135 So. 164; Southern Building  Loan Ass'n v. Wales, 24 Ala. App. 542, 138 So. 553.
The suit was for the conversion of both the Dodge and the Plymouth, and defendants' special pleas, pleaded in short by consent, breach of warranty, deceit in the sale of the Dodge, set-off and recoupment, presented very broad issues concerning the condition of the Dodge the character of the defects, and its value when sold by Smith to Bentley. In the light of these issues we are not of opinion that it was reversible error to overrule the defendants' objection to the question put to the witness, Crews, eliciting testimony as to what it would cost to buy and install a new driver shaft in the Dodge, which the evidence showed was defective and out of line.
Nor did the court commit reversible error in not excluding the answer, that it would cost $15.
The foregoing disposes of all questions argued in brief. No reversible errors appearing the judgment will be affirmed.
Affirmed.
GARDNER, C. J., and THOMAS and FOSTER, JJ., concur.
                          On Rehearing.