Barton v. Saylor

Opinion by

Mr. Justice Frazer,

In 1921 plaintiff sued to recover damages for breach of promise of marriage made in March, 1908, averring that, although a reasonable time had elapsed, defendant failed and refused to carry out his promise, and, on the contrary, was about to marry another. The court below submitted the case to the jury which returned a. verdict for plaintiff and from judgment entered thereon defendant appealed.

The trial judge in his charge to the jury affirmed a point submitted by plaintiff, in substance, that, if entitled to recover, her mental anguish and disappointment are elements to be considered in arriving at the measure of damages, adding further that the law goes not only to the extent stated but gives further damages “if the evidence indicates any attempt on the part of defendant ......to besmirch the character or the purity of the plaintiff; ......if such evidence appears, and only if such evidence appears, you can take that instruction into consideration.” Counsel for defendant objected to this language calling attention of the court to the fact that there was no evidence of any damage except that resulting from disappointment, pain, suffering and mental anguish, to which the court stated: “There was an attempt in the presence of the jury to prove by a witness, that was not admitted, to show that this plaintiff kept company at late hours with other men, after a time when she alleged in her statement the breach occurred. That is to be calculated by a thoughtful, impartial jury as unfair, and can be considered by the jury.” Later on counsel further objected that nothing appeared in the evidence tending to besmirch the character of plaintiff and asked that the portion of the charge making such reference be withdrawn, to which request the court said: “I don’t think that the counsel in' any way tried to besmirch the plaintiff’s reputation or character. I stated to you, as a general proposition of law, that when the effect of the defendant’s evidence, after a breach has been made, or a suit has been begun, even up to and during a trial, if it impresses you as an intent to besmirch the character of the plaintiff, even though the evidence was not admitted, it can be considered by you. That is what I consider the law though I don’t think there was any effort of that kind.”

Although the trial judge attempted to impress upon the jury the fact that in his opinion there was no attempt to impeach plaintiff’s character, the language used may readily have left the jury under the impression it was, nevertheless, for them to say whether such attempt was made at the time defendant offered evidence of plaintiff entertaining at her home á young man who was shown to be a friend of the family. There was absolutely nothing contained in the rejected offer that could be held to indicate improper conduct on the part of plaintiff and it is impossible to say to what extent the language quoted may have influenced the verdict. The trial judge should have stated positively that no evidence had been proposed of the character under discussion. Under the circumstances we feel bound to reverse the judgment and order a new trial.

As the case goes back for another trial, discussion in detail of the remaining assignments of error is unnecessary. It is sufficient to say they show no cause for reversal. The only important question raised relates to the time the statute of limitations began to run. The rule in such case is that it begins not at the time the promise is made but at the time of the breach. Where no time for performance is fixed a reasonable time is implied and in determining this the jury may consider the age and situation of the parties and the pecuniary ability of the man to support a family: Wagenseller v. Simmers, 97 Pa. 465. It is immaterial what length of time may have elapsed between the date of the promise and the date of the breach, if neither party makes an attempt to cancel the engagement or pursues a course of conduct which might be construed as having that effect and both treat the engagement as continuing by openly recognizing its existence. In the present case there is evidence that defendant, on various occasions, when the time for marriage was under discussion, stated he desired to adjust and straighten out his business and personal affairs before he could marry. In the meantime the conduct of the parties showed an intent on the part of both to carry out the contract at a future time and not until May, 1920, did the attitude of defendant change or did he indicate a desire and intention to break his promise. Under these circumstances the breach did not occur until 1920 and the statute did not begin to run until that date.

The judgment is reversed and a new trial ordered.