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1 Dall. 419

Patton v. Caldwell

Supreme Court of the United States

Decided April 15, 1789

Supreme Court of the United States · decided 1789-04-15

THIS was an action on a policy of insurance, the trial of which, offered to read in evidence a special verdict that had been given in another action upon the same policy, but against a different underwriter. that the verdict was given between other parties, and, therefore, not admissible; upon which Lewis proved an agreement of all the underwriters to be bound by one verdict.

Decided 1789-04-15

M‘Kean, Chief Justice.

¶1The objection turns upon this principle, that the Defendant had no opportunity of cross-examining upon the former trial; and the answer is, that he, with the rest of the underwriters, had agreed to be bound by one verdict; which is certainly the only ground, for offering the evidence proposed by the Plaintiff’s counsel.

¶2*420Whether this agreement was made in person, or by a Broker mutually employed, it is equally binding on the parties; and, under the agreement, all the underwriters were fully entitled to interfere upon the former trial, and to cross-examine the witnesses then produced. Although, therefore, we should not have allowed the special verdict to be read without full proof of the agreement; yet, on receiving that satisfaction, we think it would be unfair to suppress it; and, for the future, we desire, that all such agreements may be entered on the records of the Court.

¶3The admission of this evidence, however, cannot be conclusive; as it is manifest, that testimony has been given on the present occasion, different from what was given on the former; and, consequently, a very different verdict may with great justice and propriety take place.

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