Waters v. Brand

• Decision Date: 08 June 1972
• Docket Number: No. 4042,4042
• Citation: 497 P.2d 875
• Parties: Alfred B. WATERS, Appellant (Defendant below), v. Charles BRAND, Appellee (Plaintiff below).
• Court: Wyoming Supreme Court

Page 875

497 P.2d 875

Alfred B. WATERS, Appellant (Defendant below), v. Charles BRAND, Appellee (Plaintiff below).

No. 4042.

Supreme Court of Wyoming.

June 8, 1972.

Jones, Jones, Vines & Hunkins, and W. h. Vines, Wheatland, for appellant.

Smith, Stanfield & Mendicino and Thomas S. Smith, Laramie, for appellee.

Before McINTYRE, C. J., and PARKER, McEWAN, and GUTHRIE, JJ.

Mr. Justice PARKER delivered the opinion of the court.

On September 4, 1969, Charles Brand filed a complaint against Alfred B. Waters, alleging, inter alia, that the actions of defendant at approximately 1:15 a. m., August 10, 1969, had put him in great apprehension of being shot; that defendant had thereafter represented himself as an officer of the law and had placed plaintiff under arrest, which arrest was unauthorized; held him under force of threat; and taken him to the Platte County Sheriff. Plaintiff asked for liquidated damages in the amount of $91.00; damages because of mental and physical distress, harm to his good name, reputation, and credit, and public humiliation, embarrassment and shame, in the sum of $10,000.00; and for $20,000.00 exemplary damages. Defendant denied generally and following trial to the court without a jury, judgment was entered in plaintiff's favor for $500.00 damages plus $500.00 exemplary damages, from which defendant has appealed.

There is some conflict in the evidence and defendant indicates his recognition of our obligation to assume that the evidence in favor of the successful party is true, leaving out of consideration entirely evidence of the unsuccessful party in conflict therewith, and giving to the evidence of the successful party every favorable inference which may be reasonably and fairly drawn from it. Severin v. Hayes, Wyo., 372 P.2d 1017, 1020.

The facts most favorable to plaintiff show briefly: Alfred and Avice Waters received a decree of divorce August 22, 1969, complaint having been filed July 14, 1969, and a restraining order simultaneously issuing against Mr. Waters. Charles Brand was Mrs. Waters' step-cousin and had an apartment in Wheatland. There had been no one to enforce the restraining order, and about August 3 Mr. Brand came to stay with Mrs. Waters at Glendo (Platte County) so that 'nobody would come around.' During the afternoon of August 9, they decided to go to a cabin ¹ in the Laramie Peak area (Albany County) to fish and relax. This cabin was then being purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Waters and according to the testimony Mr. Waters was not to go there at any time his wife occupied it. Mr. Brand and Mrs. Waters were accompanied to the cabin by her three children and Mr. Brand's stepchild. Later that day nine adults (including Mr. Waters' nephew) and several small children also arrived at the cabin site, all of these leaving by evening except the nephew and two of his friends. On Saturday evening, August 10, the children went to a dance being held nearby but Mrs. Waters and Mr. Brand did not accompany them because of the other guests, who left sometime before 10:30 p. m. After Mrs. Waters had done some cleaning the two remaining played cards until one or one-thirty. Mr. Brand then went to one of the sleeping cabins to retire since he had had little sleep the previous evening, as he had sat up visiting until after 4 a. m. Mrs. Waters, who had gone to the outhouse, went into his cabin to see if he wanted another blanket. He was sitting on the bed with his boots off, and she sat down on the end of the bed, asking if he needed additional bedding. He commented that it was kind of chilly and she reached over and kicked the cabin door shut. A few minutes later the door burst open, and Mr. Waters entered the cabin, pointing a pistol at and saying to Mr. Brand and his wife that they were under arrest, that he had 'caught you _ _'s in bed,' Mrs. Waters (who was fully clothed, including her coat) replying, 'No you didn't.'

Mr. Waters had told the sheriff on August 9 that he figured his wife was at the cabin and had at that time been deputized as a sheriff for Platte County because of vandalism, explaining to the sheriff that if he caught someone he could show the card and hold them until the sheriff arrived. He was told that the card issued to him could not be used at his Laramie Peak place since it was in Albany County. He and his son-in-law had arrived at the Laramie Peak cabin about 1:15 a. m.

After Mr. Waters had made the arrest he, his wife, and Mr. Brand went to the main cabin, and while his son-in-law was getting the truck they had come in, an altercation occurred, Mr. Brand overpowering Mr. Waters, but releasing him when requested to do so by his wife. Mr. Waters drove himself and the other three to Glendo where he picked up a deputy sheriff and then proceeded to the Office of the Platte County Sheriff in Wheatland where Mr. Brand was held, Mr. Waters having arrested him for adultery, assault and battery, and attempted murder. On Monday, August 12, Mr. Brand was taken to the Office of the Albany County Sheriff, contacted a Laramie attorney, and was released...