Dolney v. National Thrift Corp.

WILLIS, J., pro tem. Appellant, defendant below, has appealed from a judgment for money and claims errors of the trial court in failing to find on all material issues and in denying a motion for new trial and contends that the findings are not supported by the evidence. We have examined the record and the evidence brought here by reporter’s transcript and note therefrom that there is complete unity of pleadings, proofs and findings in respect to the following facts:

In 1930, upon representations made to him by the selling agents of appellant, respondent purchased from appellant, under a subscription agreement, two thrift certificates aggregating a matured valuation of $55,000 and paid thereon the initial payments required. Shortly thereafter, respondent received from appellant the sum of $100 as refund on the above payments. About March 30, 1931, respondent being dissatisfied with the transaction and claiming misrepresentations on the part of the sales agents, demanded of appellant a cancellation of the sale and return of his money. Thereupon, appellant agreed to such cancellation and a new agreement was made between appellant and respondent, and pursuant thereto, respondent surrendered and delivered to appellant the two certificates on March 30, 1931, and on April 6, 1931, received on account of said new agreement the sum of $721.50. It is for the difference between this amount and the amount which respondent alleges the appellant promised to repay and alleged to be the sum of $2,028.50, that respondent brought suit, his cause of action being based on the new agreement.

The only material issue in dispute, as reflected by the pleadings and the proofs, consists in the terms and conditions of the new agreement, respondent alleging and contending that appellant agreed to repay the sum of $2,750 in consideration of his surrendering the two certificates, while appellant alleges and contends that, through its selling agent, it agreed to repay to respondent in cash the sum of [406]$721.50 of the money he had paid on the two certificates, to wit, the sum of $2,821.50 less the sum of $100 previously repaid, and to deliver to respondent four $500 gold bonds to cover the balance of $2,000, in consideration of the surrender of the two certificates by respondent. On the issue thus joined there was a sharp conflict in the evidence presented by the opposing parties. There was substantial proof to support respondent’s version of the new agreement and the findings of the court sustaining the same, and under the established rule governing in such a case on appeal, the appellate court cannot interfere with or change the findings of the trial court.