DocketNumber: Docket No. 94
Citation Numbers: 167 Mich. 341
Judges: Bird, Blair, Brooke, McAlvay, Moore, Ostrander, Steers, Stone
Filed Date: 11/3/1911
Status: Precedential
Modified Date: 9/8/2022
Plaintiff recovered a judgment against defendant in an action of assumpsit for services claimed to have been rendered in boarding, caring for, and providing clothing, medicines, and the services of a physician for the wife of defendant. Defendant asks for a reversal by this court on account of errors claimed to have been committed by the court during the course of the trial. (
The record shows that defendant and his wife lived on a small farm of 30 acres, owned by the entireties, near Eloise, in Wayne’County. The wife was somewhat mentally unbalanced. He desired her cousin, a Mr. Reed, who with his wife lived in Detroit, to take Mrs. Vreeland
Afterwards, on April 14, 1904, and while Mrs. Vreeland was at the home of plaintiff, Mr. Reed wrote to defendant a letter, in which he stated:
“ I just want to see you in regard to Jane [Mrs. Vreeland], and see which is the cheapest way to treat her, if she is to be treated. I think we can devise some plan when I see you.”
The record does not show that anything resulted from this letter, and defendant’s wife remained with plaintiff. In June, 1904, it appears from the record that the parties to this suit had a settlement in full to that date for all services and charges of plaintiff. The foregoing facts appear to be undisputed. The claim of the plaintiff is for board, etc., furnished from June, 1904, until December, 1907, for which she recovered a judgment for $1,541.55. She testified that defendant left his wife at her home, and never came there afterwards, or had any dealings with her in relation to his wife.
Defendant claims that on June 4, 1904, he paid the plaintiff in full to June 17th, and at the same time told her he could not afford to pay any longer; that on or before the date last mentioned he notified plaintiff by registered letter that he would not pay his wife’s board any
“Dear Charlie:
“We intend to come out Sunday, June 19, 1904, if nothing happens. Please be there and meet us at Eloise station at 2 o’clock in the afternoon. Please write soon and let me know how you are. Goodbye, from your wife, Jennie.”
Upon the facts in the case, which are in dispute, there was a sharp disagreement between the parties.
Many errors are assigned upon the remarks of the court, interjected during the trial, in commenting and passing upon objections in the presence of the jury, claimed by defendant to have been clearly prejudicial to him. Sufficient of these statements will be quoted to indicate their character, as follows:
“ Plaintiffs Attorney: The theory is that this woman was taken away at the request of the defendant, and that he never got her back.
“ Defendant’s Attorney: There are two theories. Mr. Pound has one, and I have the other.
“ The Court: He has proven his one.
“Defendant's Attorney: I am trying to prove by cross-examination mine.”
Further colloquy occurred, and the court said:
“We are suing for the time when he said, ‘Reed, you take her home, and when you cannot take care of her turn her over to Mrs. Toms.’ Passed her off his hands. You might just as well engage pasture for a horse or feed for a cow. Made a bargain. He said, ‘ You go and take care of her,’ and he was bound to pay for her so far.”
Later the court said:
*344 “ You go on and put in your case, and you will never get your case out of their side. You will have to make it yourself.”
To which statement defendant excepted, and the court added, “If you have a case.” Later, when counsel for defendant was cross-examining plaintiff, the court interposed the following:
“ The Court: Did he, either by talk or act, express to you that he wanted her taken care of, or did he want her turned out like an animal to die ? Tell the jury that.”
From the foregoing quotations, it clearly appears that the jury must have understood the attitude and personal opinion of the court upon the subject under consideration. Such conduct, to say the least, was unfortunate and without excuse, and constituted prejudicial error. We find nothing in the conduct of the attorney which will warrant the criticism which may be inferred from some of the remarks of the court. This court has held much less pointed statements made by the trial judge, both as to the facts and the treatment of an attorney in a case, not permissible. Wheeler v. Wallace, 53 Mich. 355 (19 N. W. 33, 37); People v. Hare, 57 Mich. 505, 515 (24 N. W. 843); McDuff v. Journal Co., 84 Mich. 1, 9, 10 (47 N. W. 671, 22 Am. St. Rep. 673); Williams v. West Bay City, 119 Mich. 395 (78 N. W. 328); In re Stockdale’s Estate, 157 Mich. 606 (122 N. W. 279), and cases cited; Fors v. Fors, 159 Mich. 159 (123 N. W. 579), and cases cited.
Some errors were assigned to portions of the charge which would warrant the application of the same rule, but, as a repetition upon another trial is improbable, the matter requires no discussion.
The judgment is reversed, and a new trial ordered.