Court Opinion

ID: 8184079
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-09 23:06:19.107745+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:40:19.961294
License: Public Domain

Cassoday, J.
It is conceded that the cause of action alleged in the complaint in this action is the same as the *351second cause of action alleged in the complaint in the former action. This being so, it is manifest that the judgment in the former action is a bar to this action, unless such second cause of action was completely eliminated therefrom prior to the verdict therein, upon which the said judgment was entered. It is conceded that there was but one verdict or finding in the former action, and that was a general ver.dict, and is the one assessing the damages of the plaintiffs therein at $4,000, as mentioned iñ the foregoing statement. That case was tried before the judge of the sixth circuit, in Monroe county, but no bill of exceptions therein was ever settled before him. The only matters of record in that case are the pleadings, the verdict, and the judgment. Such record, standing alone, would cover and include said second cause of action, and hence be a bar to this action. This cause was tried before the judge of the ninth circuit, in Columbia county, and the proceedings upon the trial of the former cause, in respect to said second cause of action therein, were made to appear in this action on the hearing of the motion of ihe plaintiffs to set aside the verdict herein and for a new trial, and were presented in the form of affidavits of the official reporter, the clerk, and the judge who officiated upon such former trial, and the affidavits of others Avho were present at that trial and stated their recollections as to what occurred.
For the purposes of this appeal, we shall assume — what is most favorable for the plaintiff — that such parol evidence was admissible to show what occurred on the former trial, and thus explain that record. Driscoll v. Damp, 16 Wis. 106. There is some want of harmony in the affidavits and statements thus made. Had the defendant moved for a nonsuit, a§ claimed, and the same had been granted, it could not be successfully contended that the former judgment is a bar to this action. Gummer v. Omro, 50 Wis. 247. It is quite apparent, however, that no such mo*352tion was ever made, much less granted therein. In fact the plaintiffs would have had no right, under the statute, to submit to a voluntary nonsuit after the argument to the jury had been concluded or waived. Sec. 2856, R. S. The defendant at first moved to set aside the verdict in the former action, and for a new'trial; but afterwards, and on the same day, withdrew that motion, and thereupon moved the court to set aside said verdict, and for a new trial upon the first and third causes pf action therein, as mentioned in said statement. That motion having been overruled with costs, judgment was entered thereupon, and then paid and satisfied, as mentioned.
The question recurs, whether such second cause of action was completely eliminated from the former case prior to the rendition of such verdict therein. Assuming that such parol evidence is admissible to explain such former judgment, then it conclusively appears therefrom that at the close of the testimony the defendant’s counsel requested. “ the court to direct a verdict for the defendant in regard to each separate cause of action set forth in the complaint, both as regards the first, second, and' third causes of action, as a separate request for each one.” In disposing of the defendant’s request to direct a’verdict in its favor, and charging the jury, the presiding judge considered each of the three causes of action separately; and in his affidavit he says “ that at the close of all the testimony in the case defendant’s attorney moved the court to direct a verdict for the defendant on each cause of action; that what was said by the court was intended and understood to be a decision in favor of the defendant upon its motion to direct a verdict as to the second cause of action, and the consideration of said second cause of action was withheld from the jury by direction of the court on account of said motion and decision. So, in his charge to the jury, he said: “With regard to the second cause of action, it is considered that there-*353is not sufficient evidence of negligence on the part of the defendant to justify a submission of that question to you. So you are not to consider the damage arising from a second fire, from the second cause of action. This is the fire of August 6, 7, 8, 1886. You are not to consider that at all.” From these statements it is very clear that under the direction of the court the general verdict in favor of the-plaintiffs and against the defendant for $4,000 included no damage by reason of said second cause of action; in other words, the court directed the jury to the effect that whatever damages they assessed against the defendant must be confined to the first and third causes of action alleged, as the evidence was insufficient to authorize any damage as to the second cause of action alleged. This was nothing more, as to the second cause of action, than a direction to the jury to return a verdict in favor of the defendant as to that cause of action. This must be so, for, if there had been no other causé of action alleged, then the request to direct a verdict in favor of the defendant would necessarily have been granted.
We must therefore treat the general verdict returned, so far as the second cause of action is concerned, as a verdict directed in favor of the defendant. That presents the question whether a judgment on a verdict so directed in favor of the defendant is a bar to another action between the same parties "for the same cause of action. It will be observed- that such verdict was so directed in favor of the defendant because the evidence was insufficient to support a verdict in favor of the plaintiffs upon the second cause of action alleged. Nevertheless the issue upon that cause of action-was tried upon the merits, and the determination thereof resulted in a verdict in favor of the defendant; and hence the judgment thereon is necessarily a bar to this action. Dick v. Webster, 6 Wis. 481; Kalisch v. Kalisch, 9 Wis. 529; Van Valkenburgh v. Milwaukee, 43 *354Wis. 574; Lawrence v. Milwaukee, 45 Wis. 309. This rule maintains even where the essential facts are stipulated by the parties, and only “ for the purpose of the trial.” Ibid. Manifestly the rule is the same where, as here, a verdict is directed upon the undisputed evidence, and judgment entered thereon; otherwise every plaintiff who fails to prove the cause of action he has alleged, and is, therefore, defeated, is at liberty to bring a new action, for the same cause of action, against the same defendant.
By the Court.— The judgment of the circuit court is affirmed. ' _
Orton, J., dissents.