Court Opinion

ID: 9551247
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 18:49:59.191643+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:23:23.374484
License: Public Domain

CROCKETT, Justice
(dissenting, but concurring in result) :
There are some persuasive reasons why I cannot agree to the disposition of this case on the ground stated in the main opinion.
The first is that the defense of illegality of the contract was not asserted nor relied on, nor in any manner raised or presented in the district court; nor in any manner raised, briefed or argued to this court. It is a well settled and well advised rule, which we should not depart from, that under such circumstances this court will not consider such a matter.1 In fact in a very similar situation this court has but recently resolved such a dispute without dealing with the problem of illegality of the contract.2
The second is that, without so deciding here, it is at least questionable whether the giving away of such cards free for the asking, and the awarding of free prizes, constitutes a transaction so fraught with illegality and moral turpitude that a court should refuse to enforce it. However, assuming that this plan might be held to be illegal, there would arise this further problem: whether the person who created it and accepted full performance, could assert it as a defense against an innocent party who had fully performed. We have previously had occasion to comment on this subject in the case of McCormick v. Life Insurance Corp. of America.3 We there stated that in determining whether such a contract should be enforced a number of factors should be considered in each individual case:
(a) The degree of criminality or evil involved; (b) the moral quality of the *457conduct of the parties; (c) comparison between them as to guilt or innocence; (d) the equities between them; and (e) the effect upon third parties or the public.
Reflection upon the foregoing in connection with other aspects of the problem will suggest that in all likelihood defendant choose not to assert nor rely upon the defense of illegality for its own good and sufficient reasons. An important one is that it having created and used the extensive and expensive plan of promotion and advertising, and held out the inducement to the plaintiff (and presumably many others) to accept the defendant’s offer by performance, its own sense of fairness and good conscience would restrain it from asserting any wrong it may have itself committed as a basis for refusing to fulfill its promises to the public. With that thought I am in hearty accord. If it is to be assumed that the defendant is a wrongdoer, it seems to me discordant with principles of equity and justice to permit it to accept whatever benefits it may have obtained by inducing performance by innocent parties, and then repudiate its promise.4 It is small wonder that the company never asserted nor relied upon such a defense which would in effect be saying: we are not only wrongdoers, but deceivers and defaulters.
It is unnecessary to establish bad precedents as to both of the propositions I have stated above. It has the potentially troublesome and unfair effect of deciding an important issue without giving the parties an opportunity to present evidence, or to argue and brief the matter, and without giving the trial court an opportunity to rule thereon. This seems particularly undesirable because there are so many advertising and promotion plans of this general character that such a ruling may have such far-reaching effects upon business and commerce.
Consequently I think it is greatly to be desired that the difficulties above referred to be avoided by adjudicating this case upon the issues framed by the pleadings and presented to the lower court, and as briefed and presented to this court on appeal. I therefore direct attention to the issue raised by the defendant: that there is no reasonable basis in the evidence to support the verdict and judgment. In preface thereto I reiterate support of the right of trial by jury as often approved by this court; and I do not believe what is said *458below departs therefrom. It is so well established as to be beyond question that a jury should be allowed a wide latitude of discretion in determining issues of fact upon which there is genuine dispute. Nevertheless, there should be no illusion that this allows jurors unbridled freedom to award damages against one person simply because another points a finger and so demands.5 The performance of their duty must conform within the limitations of reason and justice, and within the rule of law. This requires that to justify recovery, there must be a basis in the evidence of at least some credibility, such that reasonable minds, acting fairly thereon could find facts upon which recovery could lawfully be predicated.
It is to be appreciated that neither trial courts in submitting issues to a jury, nor the jurors themselves, are infallible. That they sometimes make mistakes which need correcting is recognized in the rules of procedure which allow for the correction of such mistakes by the trial court by granting certain post-trial motions, or a new trial, or by this court on appeal. If the verdict is outside the rule of law, or the jury has made a clear and patent mistake in its determination on a question of fact, it is both the prerogative and the duty of the court in the discharge of its responsibility as the supervisory authority in charge of the whole process of justice to correct such errors.
The plaintiff had to meet one simple and basic requirement: that she obtain, present and exhibit to the defendant cards upon which the required words, “Ride the Hot One,” were “legible.” There is no evidence whatsoever that when the cards in question were presented the word “hot” was legible. The contention is that the word had been on the two cards plaintiff presented, but that it had disappeared. It is thus plainly and indisputably shown by the evidence, including the exhibits, that the plaintiff failed to meet the requirement of the defendant’s offer. Inasmuch as the verdict is inconsistent with the observable and incontrovertible facts, I am persuaded that this is a situation where it is necessary that the verdict and judgment be corrected. I therefore agree to the reversal.

.That this court will not consider matters raised for the first time on appeal see Hamilton v. Salt Lake County Sew. Imp. Dist., 15 Utah 2d 216, 390 P.2d 235, and cases therein cited; also Evans v. Shand, 74 Utah 451, 280 P. 239; Thompson v. Ford Motor Co., 14 Utah 2d 334, 384 P.2d 109; Simpson v. Gen’l Motors, 24 Utah 2d 301, 470 P.2d 399.

. See Walters v. National Beverages Inc., 18 Utah 2d 301, 422 P.2d 524.

. 6 Utah 2cl 170, 308 P.2d 949 ,(1957) ; citing Corbin on Contracts § 1534.

. Where the contract is not so inherently evil or immoral as to be malum in se and therefore against public policy, it seems to me that there is no valid reason why its creator should be permitted to urge its illegality. He should be estopped to do so. See Scott v. Apgar, 238 La. 29, 113 So.2d 457, see 17 C.J.S. Contracts § 280 p. 1212.

. See Seybold v. Union Pac. R.R. Co., 121 Utah 61, 239 P.2d 174, 177 (1951); see also Russell v. Watkins, 49 Utah 598, 164 P. 867, 869 (1917); and see statement in Stickle v. Union Pac. R.R. Co., 122 Utah 477, 251 P.2d 867, 870 (1952).