Hockensmith v. Winton , 11 Ala. App. 670 ( 1914 )

THOMAS, J.

Sections 4298 and 4299 of the Code, found in the chapter thereof entitled “Frauds and Perjuries,” read: “(4298) Misrepresentation of a material fact, made willfully to deceive, or recklessly without knowledge, and acted on by the opposite party, or if made by mistake mid mnocently, and acted on by the opposite party, constitutes legal fraud.

“(4299) Suppression of a fact material to be known, and which the party is under obligation to communicate, constitutes fraud. The obligation to communicate may arise from the confidential relations of the parties, or from the particular circumstances of the case.”

Section 2469 of the Code, which defines actionable “deceit,” reads: “Willful misrepresentation of material fact, made to induce another to act, and upon which he does act to his injury, will give a right of action. Mere concealment of such fact, unless done in such a manner as to deceive and mislead, will not support an action. In all cases of deceit} knowledge of a falsehood constitutes an essential element. A fraudulent or reckless representation of facts as true, which the party may not know to be false, if intended to deceive, is equivalent to a knowledge of the falsehood.”

Upon a superficial view it would seem that sections 4298 and 2469, as quoted, are in conflict in those portions of each which we have placed in italics in the quotation; the former, in such portion, declaring, in effect that a misrepresentation, even when made by mistake and innocently, if acted on by the opposite party, constitutes legal fraud; and the latter, in such portion of it as is so italicized, declaring, in effect, that knowledge (or its legal equivalent as there defined) of the falsity of the representations on the part of the party making them is essential to the maintenance of a right of action against him for deceit. In reality, however, there is no conflict in this particular between the two sections. The law affords a party who is induced to enter into a cdntract by the fraud of the other party either of two remedies at law — the right of rescission, or, if waived, a right of action for deceit, either affirmatively, or as a set-off — as well as certain remedies, when appropriate, in equity. — 14 Am. & Eng. Ency. Law, 156 et seq.; 2 Mayf. Dig. 1052. The first of the sections of the Code mentioned (4298) was evidently designed to state the character of fraud that would be sufficient to authorize a rescission of the contract, and for all other purposes other than an action for deceit; and the last of the sections mentioned (2469) was designed to state the character of fraud that would be necessary to support an action for deceit. In the first case legal or constructive fraud is all that is required by the law, good or bad faith being immaterial; but in the latter case actual fraud — bad faith — is absolutely essential. — McCoy v. Prince, infra, 66 South. 950; Hafer v. Cole, 176 Ala. 247, 57 South. 757; Am. & Eng. Ency. Law, 21, 22; 6 Mayf. Dig. 256 (see under title “Deceit”) ; 2 Mayf. Dig. 1052.

Expressions of opinion merely will not support an action of deceit, unless they are knowingly false, or are made with the intent to deceive, and are so acted upon that they did deceive. — Tuscaloosa Co. v. Foster, 132 Ala. 393, 31 South. 587, and a party relying on the deception for his right of action must, as essential to such right, have been ignorant of the falsity of the representations made or opinions expressed by the other party, and must have been materially influenced by them in entering into the contract. — Hafer v. Cole, 176 Ala. 247, 57 South. 757; Union Mfg. & Com. Co. v. East Ala. Nat. Bank, 129 Ala. 292, 29 South. 781; Hooper v. Whitaker, 130 Ala. 330, 30 South. 355; Jordan v. Pickett, 78 Ala. 338.

The present is an action of deceit, and the facts sufficient to an understanding of the case are stated ia count 1 of the complaint, which the reporter will set out. The only difference, in legal effect, between this count and count 2 — the only other count in the complaint — was that in the first count it was alleged that false and fraudulent representations were made, without stating whether they were made as a matter of opinion or as a matter of fact, and in the second count it was alleged that they were made as a matter of fact. — Hooper v. Whitaker, 130 Ala. 331, 30 South. 355.

Each count alleged conjunctively, as will be observed from reading the said count that will be so set out in the report of the case, several false and fraudulent statements to have been made by the defendant, all of which, it is averred, induced the plaintiff, who believed and relied upon the truthfulness of such representations, to purchase the property. The law requires the plaintiff, who might have resorted to a separate count for each representation, but who chose here to allege them all conjunctively, to prove his case as alleged; consequently the court erred in giving at plaintiff’s request written charges numbered 4 and 5, because each of said charges directed a finding for the plaintiff in the event the jury found that only one of such representations was made. — Western Ry. of Ala. v. McPherson, 146 Ala. 427, 40 South. 934; L. & N. R. Co. v. Dancy, 97 Ala. 339, 11 South. 796; L. & N. R. R. Co. v. Johnson, 79 Ala. 436.

Besides, charge 4 is probably further faulty, in that it omits any hypothesis as to whether or not plaintiff was induced by the fraudulent representations or expressions of opinion to enter into the contract. We conceive it to.be possible that a party may, as hypothesized in the charge, be deceived by fraudulent representations or expressions of opinion used by the other, and yet not be materially influenced thereby to take action. If he acts independently of the deception and on his own judgment and responsibility, it would seem that he cannot complain. — Code, § 2469; Hafer v. Cole, supra; Union Mfg. Co. v. East Ala. Nat. Bank, supra; Tillis v. Smith, 65 South. 1015. We make this suggestion so that the plaintiff may not on another trial risk the charge in its present shape as to this particular.

If, in any case, it is doubtful as to whether a representation is as to a matter of fact or a mere opinion, the question as to which it is is one for the jury. — Tuscaoosa Co. v. Foster, 132 Ala. 393, 31 South. 587; Tillis v. Smith (Sup. Ct.) 65 South. 1015. For this reason, as well as for other reasons, the court did not err in refusing charges 1 and 2 requested by defendant.

What we have already said is sufficient, without more, to condemn charge 3 requested by defendant. It matters not from what source defendant got the information upon which he based his representations; if he did not believe such information, he did not act in good faith in making, the representations — a question which the charge ignores. Besides, the court committed no error in refusing the charge, for the further reason that it is abstract; there being no evidence tending to show that defendant made all the representtions he is alleged to have made, on the faith of information imparted by Dr. Hughes, but evidence only that he made some of them on such information.

The latter criticism applies also to charge 4 requested by defendant.

The only other alleged error that is insisted upon is as to the action of the court in admitting, over defendant’s objection, proof of an inventory taken by plaintiff of the stock of goods about a year after his purchase of them from defendant. At the time of the purchase defendant, according to plaintiff’s evidence, represented that there was $4,400 worth of the goods. This inventory, taken about a year afterwards, showed about $907.40 worth. Standing alone, it would not have been admissible, but, when coupled with the proof, as made by plaintiff, tending to show that during that year $4,-376 worth of goods had been added by him to those bought from defendant, and that during that time $7,-399 worth had been sold by him from the total, we think the inventory was admissible as tending to show that defendant’s alleged representation made as to the amount of the goods at the time of sale was false.

For the errors of the court as before pointed out in giving charges 4 and 5 the judgment is reversed.

Reversed and remanded.