Liquidators v. Bowles ( 1931 )

KELLY, J.

No novel question of law is involved in this case. Plaintiff is a corporation and its president testified that defendant, Gibson Bowles, made the representations as alleged in the complaint. The president of the corporate plaintiff also testified that in said defendant’s presence he repeated the snhstance of the alleged representations to Mr. Slipp, plaintiff’s manager and secretary. This was corroborated on the witness stand by Mr. Slipp. In every material respect, defendant, Gibson Bowles, contradicted plaintiff’s witnesses.

Two considerations influence the writer in his conclusions herein. One is that the learned judge of the circuit court, who saw all of the witnesses, observed their manner and heard their testimony, immediately thereafter disposed of the case by dismissing it.

The other is that, if plaintiff believed the representations alleged to have been made by Mr. Bowles, its exaction of a discount of more than 22 per centum of the par value of the note is of such a nature as to justify a court of equity in requiring strict proof before granting plaintiff the relief sought.

Our conclusion is that plaintiff has not sustained its allegations with respect to the making of the alleged misrepresentations and its reliance thereon by the degree of proof which would justify a decreee in its favor.

The decree of the circuit court is affirmed.