Erstad v. Jacobson

FisK, Cb. J.

This is an appeal from an order overruling a demurrer to a portion of the defendant’s answer. The action, as disclosed by the complaint, is in tort to recover damages for the alleged conversion of $200 in money which plaintiff alleges that he delivered to the defendant on November 21, 1912, for safe-keeping, upon defendant’s promise to return the same to plaintiff upon demand. The plaintiff alleges that on or about IVIarch 1, 1913, he demanded of the defendant the return thereof, which demand was refused. He also alleges that at divers times since said last-mentioned date he demanded a return of such money from defendant, which demands were refused. The fifth and last paragraph of the complaint alleges “that the defendant unlawfully took and converted the said $200 to his own use, to the damage of the plaintiff in the sum of $200; that this action is in tort.”

To such complaint defendant answered as follows:

“I. Admits the receipt of $200 from and of the plaintiff on or about the 21st day of November, 1912, and, except as hereinafter qualified, admitted, or otherwise explained, denies each and every matter, allegation, and thing in said complaint contained.

“II. Alleges that at various dates since said 21st day of November, 1912, and prior to the 18th day of March, 1913, the defendant paid back to the plaintiff, at plaintiff’s instance and request, various sums of the total aggregate sum of $78, for and on account of said $200 aforesaid, .and at that time tendered to plaintiff the balance of said sum, to wit, the sum of $122, and that the plaintiff refused to accept the same.

“For a second and further defense:

“1. Defendant realleges and restates each and every allegation, matter and thing hereinbefore contained.

“2. Alleges that on or about the 18th day of March, 1913, the plaintiff, who had heretofore been in the employ of this defendant, quit his said employment, and with himself and family, consisting of a wife and three’ children, continued to board and room with this defendant; that this defendant at that time notified the plaintiff that in the event he continued to board and room with defendant, with himself and family, he would be charged the reasonable value of said room and board for himself, wife, and three children, and that said amount would be deducted from the residue of said money in the possession of this defendant as hereinbefore set forth; that the said wife and children of this plaintiff did so board and room with this defendant from the 18th day of March, 1913, until the 12th day of April, 1913, inclusive, and that the plaintiff herein boarded and roomed, with this defendant from said 18th day of March, 1913, until the 1st day of May, 1913, inclusive, and that said board and room, as aforesaid, is of the value of $140, and that no part thereof has ever been paid except the application of the balance of the $200 left with this defendant, being the sum of $122, and that there is due and owing to the defendant by reason thereof the further sum of $18.-

“Wherefore, the defendant demands judgment against the plaintiff in the sum of eighteen and no/100 dollars ($18), with interest thereon at 7 per cent per annum from and after the 1st day of May, 1913, together with his costs and disbursements in this action.”

To such answer plaintiff served a pleading which he styles a reply, but which is somewhat of an anomaly, as it assumes to be an answer to certain portions of the defendant’s answer consisting of new matter by way of defense only, coupled with a sort of combination of both a reply and a demurrer to defendant’s so-called “second and further defense.” We quote the following from such pleading:

“That the plaintiff for a reply to that part of the defendant’s answer denominated by the defendant ‘a second and further defense,’ and to the defendant’s counterclaim, alleges:

“I. That the plaintiff demurs to the second defense and counterclaim stated in the defendant’s answer herein, on the grounds that on the face thereof the said answer does not state facts sufficient to constitute a defense.

II. That the plaintiff demurs to the second defense and counterclaim stated in the defendant’s answer herein, on the grounds that on the face thereof, the said answer does not state facts sufficient to constitute a counterclaim.”

The sole question for determination on this appeal is whether the trial court erred in overruling the above-quoted portion of plaintiff’s so-called reply, but which is in effect a demurrer. We have reached the conclusion that the same was properly overruled. The pleadings on both sides are very inartistically drawn, but as we construe the portion of the answer thus challenged, we think it states a sufficient de'fense to tbe plaintiff’s cause of action, conceding tbat tbe complaint properly alleges a conversion by defendant of tbe plaintiff’s money. Sucb answer, if true, shows tbat no sucb alleged conversion took place, for it alleges tbat between November 21, 1912, tbe date sucb money was intrusted for safe-keeping with defendant, and March 18, 1913, tbe defendant, at plaintiff’s instance and request, returned to him various sums aggregating $78, and tendered tbe balance, $122, to tbe plaintiff, which tender was refused. Sucb answer also alleges that on or about March 18, 1913, defendant notified plaintiff tbat if be and bis family, who bad theretofore lived with tbe defendant, continued to board and room with him, be, tbe plaintiff, would be charged with tbe reasonable value of their board and room, and tbat sucb reasonable value thereof would be deducted from tbe residue of said money in defendant’s possession; and it is further alleged tbat, notwithstanding sucb notice, tbe plaintiff and bis wife and children continued thereafter to room and board at defendant’s home for a considerable period of time, and tbat tbe reasonable value thereof was $140, which entirely exhausted tbe balance of tbe fund thus in defendant’s bands belonging to tbe plaintiff, and left a balance of $18 in defendant’s favor, for which he demanded an affirmative judgment. While sucb answer does not allege an express consent on plaintiff’s part to tbe terms of sucb notice, we think tbe fair inference, in tbe absence of anything to tbe contrary, is tbat be agreed thereto by thereafter continuing to remain with bis family in defendant’s home, receiving room and board. This being true, no conversion of sucb money took place as alleged in tbe complaint; or, if sucb conversion bad taken place prior thereto, it was waived by sucb implied agreement. If tbe demurrer bad been aimed merely at tbat portion of tbe answer wherein tbe defendant seeks an affirmative recovery for tbe sum of $18, our decision might have been different.

Tbe order appealed from is affirmed.