J. I. CASE THRESHING MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION, APPELLANT,
v.
E. C. ROWELL, APPELLEE
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J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company sued E. C. Rowell on a retain title note for a Case tractor. Rowell alleged that Case Company unlawfully repossessed and converted the tractor by taking it from a third party (H. O. Collier) to whom Rowell had delivered it on trial. Two juries found in favor of Rowell, and the Florida Supreme Court affirmed.
The court affirmed the jury verdict finding that Case Company had repossessed and resold the tractor to Collier, thereby converting it to its own use. The evidence supported the jury's findings on the pleas, and no proper objection to the jury instructions was made.
“It is contended by the defendant that by the taking of such additional note and consenting to the sale of the tractor by such agent to Collier, the plaintiff had in legal effect repossessed the tractor and resold the same to Collier.”
States the defendant's theory of unlawful repossession and conversion that was submitted to the jury.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceCase Company sold a Case tractor model C to Rowell via a retain title note. Rowell was appointed as Case Company's agent in his territory, with an age…
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The plaintiff in the court below (appellant here) filed its suit in the Circuit Court of Sumter County, Florida, against the defendant, E. C. Rowell (appellee here), upon a retain title note given by Rowell to the plaintiff for the purchase price of a certain Case tractor, model C, which was fully described in the note. The defendant filed three pleas; the first plea has been abandoned.
The second and third pleas both allege, in substance, that the note sued upon was' given for the purchase price of a certain tractor therein described, and that after the execution and delivery of the note to the plaintiff said tractor was delivered to the defendant, and that while the tractor was in the possession of one, H. O. Collier, in an effort to sell the same to him, the plaintiff unlawfully took possession of said tractor and converted the same to its own use and s'old the same to the said Collier.
It appears from the record that this case has been tried twice before juries upon the issue made by said declaration and pleas; that upon the first trial a verdict was rendered in favor of the defendant and the court granted a new trial; that upon the new trial the verdict was likewise in favor of the defendant.
There has been no assignment of error attacking the ruling of the court below, either upon the pleadings or upon the charge to the jury. The giving of the note was admitted, as' was, also, the fact that it had not been paid. There *92was testimony tending to show that the defendant at the time of the execution and delivery of the note and the delivery of the tractor to him by the plaintiff, was by the plaintiff appointed its agent in the territory in which the defendant lived, and that in computing the amount of said note the agent’s commission was deducted from the purchase price. There is also testimony tending to show that said tractor was sold and delivered to the defendant by the plaintiff to be us'ed, in part at least, by the defendant as a demonstrator. There is also testimony tending to prove that the tractor in question was thereafter delivered by the defendant to H. O. Collier upon trial to see if the same would answer his purposes; that while the defendant was temporarily absent another agent of the plaintiff went to the said Collier and demanded possession of the tractor and was advised by Collier that he, Collier, desired to retain said tractor; that as a result of negotiations then had between Collier and said agent Collier gave to the plaintiff an additional note in the sum of $250.00, which was claimed by such agent to represent additional collateral for the note previously given the plaintiff by Rowell.
It is contended by the defendant that by the taking of such additional note and consenting to the sale of the tractor by such agent to Collier, the plaintiff had in legal effect repossessed the tractor and resold the same to Collier. This issue was presented to the jury by pleadings and by instructions to which no proper objection was made and insisted on, and it appearing that there is testimony in the record which warrants the verdict of the jury, finding the pleas' to be true the judgment of the court below should be affirmed.
Affirmed.
Davis, C. J., and Wi-iitfield, Brown and Buford, J. J., concur.