Court Opinion

ID: 9528413
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 03:40:56.693147+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:26:50.872622
License: Public Domain

LANGDON, J., Dissenting.
I dissent. The complaint alleges the perpetration of a gross fraud upon plaintiff, by the deliberate acts and representations of a person in whom he reposed his fullest confidence. The circumstances alleged are so aggravated that rules of pleading should be given their appropriate liberal application in order to prevent a possible serious miscarriage of justice. The case of Original Mining & Milling Co. v. Casad, 210 Cal. 71 [290 Pac. 456], arising under somewhat similar facts, fully sustains the sufficiency of the complaint herein.
The plaintiff is denied relief because he has assertedly not alleged circumstances showing and excusing his failure to discover the fraud at an earlier date. But the complaint does allege these circumstances, and upon a fair consideration of the allegations, the failure to bring the action sooner is entirely understandable and justifiable. Plaintiff, an uneducated man unfamiliar with business, was favored with the friendship of defendant Patrick Longan, a rich and socially prominent business man, for years prior to the transaction in question. The latter acted as his confidential adviser and was entrusted with his affairs. The said defendant promised to indemnify plaintiff and hold him harmless from any *278loss arising out of the transaction. Plaintiff relied upon Longan when the original fraudulent representations were made to him; was it not natural for him to rely upon Longan when this later fraudulent promise was made? To a person such as plaintiff, there were no facts or circumstances tending to arouse suspicion until the latter part of 1929, when he was ousted from his position with defendant’s company. He then first conceived of the deception by his trusted adviser and immediately employed counsel, investigated the transaction, and brought this suit. If plaintiff can prove these allegations he is undoubtedly entitled to a judgment. I am satisfied that he should be given the opportunity to do so.
Rehearing denied.