Hohenthal v. Watson

• Decision Date: 31 March 1859
• Citation: 28 Mo. 360
• Parties: HOHENTHAL, Appellant, v. WATSON, Respondent.
• Court: Missouri Supreme Court

28 Mo. 360

HOHENTHAL, Appellant,

v.WATSON, Respondent.

Supreme Court of Missouri.

March Term, 1859.

1. A party can not assign for error that which is beneficial to himself and prejudicial to the opposite party alone.

2. Where, in an action for the possession of personal property, the plaintiff gives bond and receives possession of the property, and the cause is tried by a jury, the jury, regularly, in case of finding for the defendant, should assess the value of the property, as also the damages.

Appeal from St. Louis Court of Common Pleas.

The facts sufficiently appear in the opinion of the court.

Krum & Harding, for appellant.

I. The court below erred in directing the clerk to disregard the finding of damages contained in the verdict of the jury and to enter judgment for the defendant, with an order for a future assessment of damages. If a jury return an imperfect verdict, they may be directed to retire and correct it. (2 Greenl. R. 37; 1 A. K. Marsh. 67.) But where the jury themselves have erred in matter of substance, as by finding for the wrong party, or for a larger or smaller amount than was proper, and have separated, the court can not amend the verdict, though it may set it aside and grant a new trial. (2 Greenl. R. 37; 7 Metc. 46.) In this case the verdict was in form and needed no amendment. The jury found upon the issues which the court itself had directed them to find upon. The court having charged the jury with the assessment of damages, their verdict so affected the rights of the parties as to place it beyond the power of the court in respect to the amendment ordered.

McClellan, Moody & Hillyer, for respondent.

I. The error complained of could in nowise affect the rights of the plaintiff. The only party who had any reason to complain was the respondent. The court instructed the jury erroneously no doubt; but how could it affect the plaintiff's right? The court properly disregarded that portion of the verdict concerning the damages, and regarded it simply as a verdict for the defendant. The defendant lost his damages, and recovered only the value of the property as assessed by the court. He is the only party that suffered by the ruling of the court.

NAPTON, Judge, delivered the opinion of the court.

The proceedings in this action, which under common law forms would have been replevin, are regulated solely by the statute. Where the plaintiff is nonsuited, a writ of inquiry must issue to ascertain the value of the property, if the plaintiff has possession of it, and to assess the damages for its taking or detention. Where, however, the case is tried, the jury should regularly assess the value of the property taken in case of a finding for the defendant and where the plaintiff is in possession, and should also assess the damages. This can all be done and ought regularly to be done by the same jury. The ascertainment of the value of the property is essential, as the judgment in such cases must be against the plaintiff and...