Court Opinion

ID: 7151350
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 15:59:33.424031+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:15:08.429813
License: Public Domain

Opinion oe the Couet by
Judge Petees :
Although the weight of evidence inclines against the verdict, still the preponderance is not such as to authorize this court to interpose, and reverse the judgment on that account.
But instruction No. 2 given at the instance of appellee cannot be sustained. It is as follows:
• “That upon the trial of this case the jury ought to take as true all the allegations in plaintiff’s petition, and amended petition, not denied by defendant in his answer, except the question of the value of the property or amount of damages claimed.”
This instruction is substantially the same that was. given in Tipton vs. Triplett, 1 Met., 571. Of which this court-said. By this instruction questions of law were submitted to the jury instead of being decided by the court, as they should have been. Whether a fact which is alleged in any part of the pleadings be material, or immaterial to the matters in issue, is a question of law. And whether it has been denied in the answer, or the response, is also a question of law- The court should determine not only what allegations have been specifically controverted, and 'inform the jury *155what facts are to be considered by them as true under the pleadings in the action.

Harlan, for appellants.

Barnes, for appellee.

The instruction referred to was calculated to mislead the jury, and appellant might well complain of it as prejudicial to him, especially in a case like the present when the important fact to entitle the appellee to a recovery is left by the evidence, to say the least of it, in great doubt.
The notice to take the depositions of the Greens is in the name of appellee, and the caption states they are to be used in the case of Oreen assignee of Shepherd, that was not insufficient to authorize the court to exclude the depositions.
No other error is perceived in giving or refusing instructions. But for the error suggested, the judgment is reversed and the cause is remanded for a new trial and for further proceedings herewith.