Poore v. Starr Piano Co.

• Decision Date: 01 December 1914
• Citation: 67 So. 99,68 Fla. 425
• Parties: POORE v. STARR PIANO CO.
• Court: Florida Supreme Court

67 So. 99

68 Fla. 425

POORE v. STARR PIANO CO.

Florida Supreme Court

December 1, 1914

Error to Circuit Court, Santa Rosa County; J. E. Wolfe, Judge.

Action by the Starr Piano Company against J. F. Poore. Judgment for plaintiff, and defendant brings error. Reversed.

Syllabus by the Court

SYLLABUS

Where any evidence has been submitted upon which the jury could lawfully find for one party, the trial court should not direct the jury to find a verdict for the opposite party.

COUNSEL Clark & Magaha, of Milton, for plaintiff in error.

J. T. Wiggins, of Milton, for defendant in error.

OPINION

PER CURIAM.

The piano company brought an action on a note given to the company for balance due on a piano and attorney fee. The defendant filed only a special plea in the nature of a plea of partial failure of consideration on which plea issue was joined. After introducing the note and evidence of a reasonable attorney fee, the plaintiff rested. The defendant produced evidence which at least tended to prove the issue tendered to and accepted by the payee of the note, but the court directed a verdict for the plaintiff and the defendant took writ of error.

Where any evidence has been submitted upon which the jury could lawfully find for one party the trial court should not direct the jury to find a verdict for the opposite party.

As there was evidence at least tending to prove the issue tendered and accepted, it was error to direct a verdict for the plaintiff. See Hillsborough Grocery Co. v. Leman, 51 Fla. 203, 40 So. 680; Gunn v. City of Jacksonville, 67 Fla. 40, 64 So. 435. See section 1465, Gen. State.

The judgment is reversed.

SHACKLEFORD, C.J., and TAYLOR, COCKRELL, HOCKER, and WHITFIELD, JJ., concur.