Tryon v. Whitmarsh , 42 Mass. 1 ( 1840 )

Wilde, J.

The principle of law on which this action is founded is well settled, and the question to be decided is, how it is to be applied to the point in,controversy between the parties. It is alleged in the declaration, that the defendant fraudulently and deceitfully represented to the plaintiffs, that certain persons named in the writ were in good credit, and might safely be trusted, when in truth they were insolvent and wholly unworthy of credit: That the plaintiffs were thereby induced to give them credit, and have in consequence thereof sustained a loss. The gist of the action is fraud and deceit in the defendant and damage to the plaintiffs, and unless both these material allegations be proved, the action cannot be sustained. The leading case in which the law in this respect was fully considered and settled is the case of Pasley v. Freeman, 3 T. R. 51. The question arose on a motion in arrest of judgment. The declaration contained allegations similar to those above stated, and a majority of the court held that the dec laration was good, and that the action would well lie. Grose, J. dissented, on the ground, that it was not alleged in the declaration that there was any privity of contract between the parties, or mat the defendant had any interest in the transaction, or that he had colluded with any one who had an interest. The other learned judges held that these circumstances were not material, and that the foundation of the action was fraud and deceit in the defendant and damage to the plaintiff, and that these allegations being proved, an action might be sustained. And so the law has uniformly been laid down in all the subsequent cases. Lord Eldon, it is true, (6 Ves. 186,) doubted whether an action in such a case would be sustained in a court of law, although he admitted the party would be entitled to relief in equity.

In Haycraft v. Creasy, 2 East, 92, the defendant had assured the plaintiff and son’s agent that one Robertson was a lady of great fortune, and much greater expectations, and that the plaintiff would be perfectly safe in giving her credit to any amount; and that he knew this of his own knowledge. These assurances were repeatedly made, but it turned out that the person re commended was in truth a person of no credit. On this evidence the jury, on a trial before Lord Kenyon, found a verdict for the plaintiff, and on a motion for a new trial, Lord Kenyon was of opinion that the verdict was well sustained by the evidence, on the ground, however, that the defendant was guilty of a legal fraud, which consisted u mi in the defendant’s saying that he believed the matter to be true, or that he had reason so to believe L, but in asserting positively his knowledge of that which he did not know.” “ That he was, therefore, guilty of a gross falsity ; and that it was a juggle to say that the defendant’s words '.n common parlance did not import knowledge in the strict sense of it.” But a new trial was granted, because the case had gone to the jury on the ground, that, though the defendant were himself a dupe, yet if the representation made by him were false, he was answerable; and because the words of the defendant were not to be taken in the strict sense in which a lawyer would use them, but as expressing a strong opinion of the truth of his assertion, from circumstances within his own knowledge. “It is true,” says Grose, J., “ that the defendant asserted his own knowledge upon the subject; but consider what the subject was of which that knowledge was predicated. It was concerning the credit of another, which is matter of opinion. When he used those words, therefore, it is plain that he o,.ly meant to convey his ¡•írong belief of her credit, founded upon the means he had of forming such an opinion and behef.”

It appears therefore very clearly, that there was no diversity of opinion between the learned judges, as to the law, although they differed as to its application to the evidence in that case. All agreed, that to maintain the action there must be proof of fraud in the defendant, and that if he knew the representation he made was false, that would amount to a legal fraud, although he might have no interest in the matter and might expect no advantage therefrom. That was the doctrine in Pasley v. Freeman, and it has been followed with great uniformity of opinion ever since. In Clifford v. Brooke, 13 Ves. 133, it is clearly and distil ctly stated by Lord Erskine. “ The proposition,” he says, “ is not, that if a man, asked whether a third person may be trusted, answers, £ you may trust him ; he is a very honest man, and worthy of trust,’ an action will lie, if he proves otherwise. There must be knowledge at the time. That is the sound principle ; that the defendant, knowing that person to be dishonest, insolvent, and unworthy of trust, made the representation.” The plaintiffs counsel relied on the case of Foster v. Charles, 7 Bing. 105, to show that actual fraud is not necessary. But the same doctrine is maintained in that as in all the other cases. The jury were instructed by the chief justice, that if the defendant made the representation, knowing it to be false, that would be such a fraud as would maintain the action.

In that case, the jury found that the defendant was guilty of fraud in law, but that he had no fraudulent intent. And judgment was rendered on the verdict, the court being of opinion that as to the fraudulent intent the jury meant no more than this, that the defendant was not actuated by the baser motive of obtaining by his misrepresentations an advantage for himself.

The law being thus clearly established, the only question is, whether it was fully and sufficiently laid down in the instructions to the jury ; or whether the case was not so left to them, that they might infer that it was not necessary to inquire, whether the defendant knew that the assertion contained in his letter was false.

Now, we are of opinion, that all the six propositions, which the jury were told the plaintiffs must prove, in order to entitle them to a verdict, might have oeen affirmatively proved to the satisfaction of the jury, and yet the defendant might have been guilty of no fraud, and might have truly believed that the assertion contained in his letter was true. It does not follow, because the jury were of opinion that the persons recommended were unworthy of credit, that the defendant, with a full knowledge of all the facts proved, was of the same opinion. Persons of equal intelligence, with the same means of information, and the same knowledge of facts, often form different and conflicting opinions. Their habits of thinking and of reasoning may differ. Some are very credulous, and are easily duped, or deceived by appearances, while others are very suspicious, cau tious, and skeptical, so that there is no standard of opinion, except in very clear cases. Undoubtedly there are cases, in which the same evidence would impress all reasonable minds with the same conviction. But this was not such a case. The evidence was doubtful, from which two juries ^* have drawn different inferences.

We are, therefore, of opinion that the question for the jury was, whether the defendant knew that the assertion or opinion contained in his letter was false, or that he did not fully believe it to be true ; or whether he did not conceal a material fact from the knowledge of the plaintiffs, with die intention to deceive them. It is true, as the defendant’s counsel have argued, that the defendant was not bound to disclose the facts on which his opinion was founded; but if he kept back any material fact, with the intent to deceive the plaintiffs, this would be fraudulent. If, on the other hand, he had trusted the persons recommended to a large amount, believing them trustworthy, then his omission to disclose the facts on which his opinion rested would be no presumptive proof of fraud.

Perhaps it is not material in which form the question is to be left to the jury, whether the defendant were guilty of a fraudulent concealment, or of making a false affirmation, knowing it to be false. The evidence which would support one of the allegations would probably support the other. The question is whether the' defendant gave an honest opinion, or was actuated by some fraudulent intention. And as this question was not distinctly left to the jury, we think the defendant is entitled to a new tidal.

The jury must have understood, that if they should be of opinion, that the six propositions stated to them were sustained by the evidence, the defendant would be liable, although he might sincerely believe that the assertion contained in his letter was true. But we think they should have been instructed, that notwithstanding they should find all the said propositions in favor of the plaintiffs, still the defendant would not be liable, if they were of opinion, from the evidence, that he gave an honest opinion, and truly believed that the persons recommended were trust worthy.

New trial granted.

* In a similar action by Lynde & Jennings against Whitmai sh, the defend int obtained a verdict.