Schmitz v. Mathews , 133 Wash. 335 ( 1925 )

Respondent's complaint alleged that he advanced $600 to the appellant, which the appellant has failed to repay. The appellant's answer denied that the $600 was advanced as a loan, and, as an affirmative answer, alleged it was given as part payment of the purchase price of stock owned by appellant, and that respondent had failed and refused to pay the balance of the purchase price. The answer did not ask for any affirmative relief, but merely that respondent's action be dismissed. The only alleged error which we are called upon to consider arises from the giving of two instructions to the jury.

One of these was to the effect that, if the jury believed that the evidence was evenly balanced as to whether the agreement was as alleged by respondent or as claimed by appellant, the verdict should be for appellant, as respondent had the burden of proving the allegations of his complaint by a fair preponderance of the evidence. The other instruction was that the burden of proof was on the appellant to support by a fair preponderance of the evidence the allegations contained in his affirmative defense, and that, if appellant had failed to prove these material allegations, it would be the jury's duty to find for the respondent.

These instructions are concededly conflicting and contradictory and must have been confusing to the jury. The burden of proof is not upon a defendant to prove any allegations of his affirmative defense when the affirmative defense, as here, adds nothing to the general denial and raises no affirmative issues. When such instructions are found, the error is prejudicial. See Fireman's Fund Insurance Co. v.Oregon-Washington R. Nav. Co., 96 Wash. 113, 164 P. 765, where many cases from this court are cited.

The respondent argues, however, that the appellant is in no position to complain of the instructions, for the error, which it is tacitly conceded exists, was one which the respondent asserts was invited by the appellant. It is true, the issues were confused by appellant having interposed what he saw fit to denominate an affirmative defense, whereas it was nothing more than a general denial. But this is not an invitation to the trial court to commit error — it is merely an opportunity. Enthusiastic reliance is placed upon the decision of this court in DavidsonFruit Co. v. Produce Distributors Co., 74 Wash. 551,134 P. 510, where we held that, under pleadings very similar to those in the case at bar, instructions similar to those given by the trial court here would not justify a reversal, for the reason that the error had been invited. An examination of that case, however, shows that there the appellant specifically requested the court to instruct that the burden was on him to prove the affirmative matter set up in his answer, and that the court having accepted that invitation, the appellant could not thereafter complain. Here, however, although the appellant put into his answer affirmative matter, he did no more than was said in the Davidson case, supra, the defendant there did, that is, "in setting up its version of the contract defendant added nothing to its plea," and this superfluous pleading, standing alone, can hardly have been an invitation to the trial court to lay the burden of proof upon the appellant. Even if it were such an invitation, in this case we find that the appellant himself withdrew the invitation by requesting the court to give a proper instruction, for the record shows he asked this instruction; that the burden was upon the respondent to prove that the $600 had been paid to the appellant as a loan, and that the respondent must prove this by a fair preponderance of the evidence, saying:

"Should you believe that the evidence was evenly balanced as to whether or not the agreement was as alleged by the plaintiff or as claimed by the defendant, then your verdict should be for the defendant, for the reason, as I have instructed you, that the plaintiff has the burden of proving the allegations of the complaint by a fair preponderance of the evidence."

Clearly, therefore, there is no room for successfully claiming that the error was invited, the converse representing the actual situation.

The judgment is reversed, and the cause remanded with directions that a new trial be had.

TOLMAN, C.J., FULLERTON, HOLCOMB, and MITCHELL, JJ., concur.