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165 Ala. 263

Corley v. Brown

Supreme Court of Alabama

Decided February 10, 1910

Supreme Court of Alabama · decided 1910-02-10

Assumpsit. Appeal from Coosa Circuit Court. Heard before Hon. S. L. Brewer. Assumpsit by R. E. Brown against W. A. Corley. Judgment for plaintiff and defendant appeals. — Tbe defendant proved his pleas and ivas entitled to the affirmative charge. — Gilliland & Bon v. Martin, 42 South. 7. — The evidence was not so free from conflict as to entitle defendant to the affirmative charge. — 134 Ala. 242; 135 Ala. 537; 136 Ala. 562.

Affirmed · Decided 1910-02-10

MAYFIELD, J.-

¶1— This action originated in a justice court, and there resulted in a judgment for plaintiff. Defendant appealed to the circuit .court, wherein the judgment was likewise for plaintiff, from which latter judgment this appeal is prosecuted.

¶2The only error assigned is the refusal of the trial court to give the affirmative charge for defendant. It is insisted that one or more of the pleas were proven without dispute. If this be true, of course, the charge *264should have been given as requested. We cannot agree with counsel, however, that any one of the pleas were so proven. The pleas, of course, must be referred to the complaint, which they profess to answer. The action was for balance due for wort and labor done, and for a promise to-pay this balance.

¶3While it is undisputed that there was originally, between the parties, a contract to build a specified house and to pay a certain amount therefor, and that the house was not completed in accordance with this contract, it is shown that this contract was afterwards changed, at the request of the defendant, acceded to by the plaintiff, and an other, contract substituted therefor, and that the parties thereupon made a complete settlement and adjustment between themselves, and that this suit is for the balance in that settlement agreed on. Hence this suit is not on the original contract, as alleged in the pleas. No contract is sued on, except this promise to pay this balance, and it is conceded that the balance was not paid.

¶4It is further shown, or a part of the evidence tends to show, that- the original contract was changed or abandoned at the instance and request of the defendant, and that he promised to pay this balance in consideration of the change of the contract. So the action was not on the original contract, as alleged in the pleas. The pleas were, therefore, not proven without dispute, and the court properly refused to give the affirmative charge as requested.

¶5Affirmed.

Anderfon, MoOibljan. and Sayre, JJ., concur.
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