Sweetser v. Dobbins

McKee, J. This was an action on the equity side of the court for the reformation of a deed. Questions were framed and submitted to a jury, the answers to which were returned and filed as a special verdict. No order was made setting aside [530]the verdict; but as appears from the record, the court, “ upon the verdict and the testimony in the case,” made and filed a written decision in accordance with sections 632 and 633 of the Code of Civil Procedure, in which it found, as a fact, that the deed sought to be reformed truly expressed the intention of the parties to it, and there was no mistake in its execution; and therefore, as a conclusion of law, the defendant was entitled to judgment.

Upon a certified statement of the pase, the plaintiff moved for a new trial, on the ground that the verdict and decisión were not sustained by the evidence, and of error of law occurring at the trial; and from an order denying the motion, this appeal is taken.

The principal assignment of error is that the court erroneously instructed the jury as to the degree of evidence requisite to prove the facts involved in the issues submitted to them. Appellant contends that by subdivision 5 of section 2061 of the Code of Civil Procedure, the legislature has changed the rule of the old courts of equity, as to the proof necessary to establish the issue in an action for the reformation of a deed or other instrument in writing; and that now, under the working of the Code rule, instead of having to prove the fact at issue by evidence clear and convincing, or beyond a reasonable doubt, as the court charged the jury in the case, it is only requisite to prove it by a preponderance of evidence. But the questions invoked by the contention do not necessarily arise out of the record, for although special issues were submitted to the jury that, under the instructions of the court, returned a verdict, yet the verdict and the instructions upon which it may be said to have been predicated, were disregarded by the court in the determination of the case; and the action of the court in that regard was not error.

For, as has been repeatedly held before and since the adoption of the Codes, the verdict of a jury, with respect to controverted facts arising in an equity case, is not conclusive upon the questions submitted, but merely advisory in its character; and the judge may, when satisfied that truth and justice require it, set aside the verdict and order a new trial, or may qualify or alter any of its special findings, or disregard it, in whole or in part,