Court Opinion

ID: 6641918
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 20:46:23.617296+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:59:16.306868
License: Public Domain

Maxwell, J.
The petition states that in the spring of 1871, defendant employed plaintiff to break one hundred and twenty-six and one-half acres of land at $2.90 per acre; that plaintiff completed the breaking by the 20th day of June, 1871; that a dispute arose between the parties as to the number of acres broken up, and the matter was submitted by agreement of the parties to T. Duncan, E. Phillips, and Doctor Collins, each party agreeing to abide the award; that the arbitrators so appointed made their award; that plaintiff had broken one hundred and twenty-one and one-half acres of land, the pay for which, amounting in the aggregate to the sum of $353.56. Defendant paid plaintiff on said award the sum of $270, leaving a balance of $83.56.
The defendant answered, denying the allegations of the petition. On the trial of the cause in the district court the plaintiff, testifying in his own behalf, was asked the following question: “ Will you state to the jury all you know about a submission to the arbitration of T. Duncan, E. Phillips and Doctor J. Collins, of the matters in controversy in this case?” Defendant objected to the question on the ground “ that the petition did not state any such arbitration as the statute provides for,” which objection was sustained by the court, and to which ruling plaintiff excepted. Plaintiff then offered to prove the terms of the alleged arbitration and the award, to which defendant objected. The objection was sustained, and plaintiff excepted. The jury found a verdict for the defendant, upon which judgment for costs was entered.
The only question in this case is, whether an award of arbitrators not in conformity to the statute, is valid and binding on the parties. At common law “ a submission might be either by word or deed. If the submission be by word there is no remedy to enforce the party to *390perform the award; but reciprocal actions on tbe case, and an action of debt will lie, if money be awarded, for it is in the nature of a simple contract.” 1 Bacon's Abr., 306. “ But now an action may be maintained in all cases on tbe submission itself.” Purslow v. Bailey, 2 Ld. Raymond, 1039.
In tbe case of Burnside v. Whitney, 21 N. Y, 148, tbe court said: “It bas been often held that tbe statute prescribing certain forms for submission to arbitrators, and allowing tbe parties to agree that a judgment of a court of record, designated in tbe instrument of submission, should be rendered upon tbe award, was cumulative merely, not exclusive; and that an award pursuant to tbe submission which would have been valid at common law, but which did not conform to tbe statute, would support an action.” Browning v. Wheeler, 24 Wend., 258. Deidrick v. Rickley, 2 Hill, 271.
Arbitrators being chosen, and they acting within tbe scope of their authority, tbe award becomes tbe act of tbe parties, and decides tbe rights of tbe parties, as effectually as a judgment, and is as binding, until set aside by a proper proceeding.
Tbe provisions of our statute in relation to arbitration is not exclusive, but cumulative merely, and where parties have submitted matters of difference to arbitrators of their own selection, and an award bas .been made in pursuance of such submission, the award will be deemed valid and binding until set aside.
Tbe court therefore erred in excluding tbe testimony of tbe plaintiff as to tbe submission and award. Tbe .judgment of tbe district court must therefore be reversed, and tbe cause remanded for further proceedings.
Reversed and remanded.
Chief Justice Lake concurs.