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53 Vt. 482

Goodenough v. Huff

Supreme Court of Vermont

Decided January 15, 1881

Supreme Court of Vermont · decided 1881-01-15

This case was heard at the September Term, 1880, Ross, J., presiding. This was an action of assumpsit, in two special and the general counts. Pleas, the general issue, and Statute of Limitations. Replication, similitur to the general issue, and to the plea of the Statute of Limitations, a general traverse that the cause of action did accrue within six years, &c. The declaration, pleas and motions were part of the exceptions.

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently February 1913

2 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1881-01-15

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¶1The opinion of the court was delivered by

Royce, J.

¶2The plea of the general issue put in issue the fact, when the- defendant made the promise alleged in the second special count, and the consideration for making it. The court only submitted to the jury to find when he made the promise by executing the note that was put in evidence, and the amount due upon it.

¶3It was incumbent on the plaintiff to show a legal consideration to support the promise, — and if he introduced any evidence tending to show such a consideration for the promise as is alleged in the declaration, it was his right to have it submitted under proper instructions to the jury. We think the evidence of the plaintiff did so tend, and that it was not so variant from the allegations in the declaration as to justify the court in neglecting or refusing to submit the fact which it tended to show to be passed upon by the jury. The plaintiff did not waive that right, by not requesting that it should be submitted. The issue was made by the pleadings and the evidence, and it was the duty of the court to have' submitted that issue to be found by the jury, without any specific request or claim made that he should do so.

¶4The judgment is reversed, and cause remanded.

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