Art Bronze & Iron Works v. Beaman, 199 N.C. 537 (1930)

Oct. 8, 1930 · Supreme Court of North Carolina

199 N.C. 537

ART BRONZE AND IRON WORKS v. J. E. BEAMAN et al.

(Filed 8 October, 1930.)

Judgments F d — Motion for judgment non obstante veredicto wiH not be granted when the pleadings support the verdict.

Where the pleadings are sufficient to support the verdict, a motion for judgment non obstante veredicto will not be allowed, and where the trial depends upon whether an agreement respecting the defendant’s liability had been made between the parties, and the verdict thereon is rendered in favor of the plaintiff, the defendant’s motion for judgment non obstante veredicto on the ground of failure of consideration will not be allowed when the extent of his plea by way of answer is only the denial of the fact of agreement as alleged in the complaint.

Appeal by defendant, Perrin W. Gower, from Daniels, J., at May Term, 1930, of WaKE.

Civil action to recover'for materials furnished by plaintiff and used by J. E. Eeaman, contractor, in the construction of a building for Perrin "W". Gower, owner, and to hold the contractor’s bond liable therefor.

Tbe right of the plaintiff to recover is not now questioned, but it is alleged by the Commercial Casualty Insurance Company, surety on the contractor’s bond, that after the completion of the building, the owner agreed to release the surety from further liability under its bond and to save it harmless from claims of laborers and materialmen, if the said surety would approve a final settlement between the owner and the contractor, whereby the 15 per cent retained percentage of the contract price, in the hands of the owner, could be released to the contractor, and the owner given possession of the building. This was denied by the defendant Gower.

The jury returned the following verdict:

“1. Is defendant Beaman indebted to plaintiff as alleged in the complaint, and if so, in what amount? Answer: Yes, $1,711.71, with interest from 19 October, 1928.

“2. Was the letter of release signed by Southgate & Company, given and accepted upon agreement of Gower to pay all claims? Answer: Yes.”

Motion by the defendant Gower for judgment non obstante veredicto on the ground that there was no consideration for the alleged. agreement; overruled; exception.

Judgment on the verdict for plaintiff, and judgment over against Perrin W. Gower for Commercial Casualty Insurance Company. The defendant Gower appeals.

No counsel appearing for plaintiff,

Clyde A. Douglass and Manning & Manning for defendant Gower.

S. Brown Shepherd for defendant Insurance Company.

Stacy, C. J.

Appellant’s motion for judgment non obstante veredicto', which, in effect, is but a belated motion for judgment on the pleadings, was properly overruled on authority of the decisions in Jernigan v. Neighbors, 195 N. C., 231, 141 S. E., 586, and Shives v. Cotton Mills, 151 N. C., 290, 66 S. E., 141. The defendant Gower, in his answer, denies the agreement as alleged by the Commercial Casualty Insurance Company, but this is the extent of his plea.

The record discloses no exceptive assignment of error upon which a reversal of the judgment might properly be based. Hence, it will not be disturbed.

No error.