{ "id": 8627366, "name": "T. P. WARREN v. EDWARD R. WHITE, JR.", "name_abbreviation": "Warren v. White", "decision_date": "1960-01-29", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "729", "last_page": "737", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "251 N.C. 729" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C.", "id": 9292, "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "20 A.L.R. 2d 248", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "121 S.E. 659", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "187 N.C. 393", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8653870 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/187/0393-01" ] }, { "cite": "181 S.E. 336", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "208 N.C. 414", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8608535 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/208/0414-01" ] }, { "cite": "73 S.E. 240", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "157 N.C. 424", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8658079 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/157/0424-01" ] }, { "cite": "76 S.E. 698", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "161 N.C. 50", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11269640, 11269652 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/161/0050-01", "/nc/161/0050-02" ] }, { "cite": "73 S.E. 234", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "156 N.C. 553", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11272119 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/156/0553-01" ] }, { "cite": "51 S.E. 2d 629", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "229 N.C. 786", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 12168102 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/229/0786-01" ] }, { "cite": "35 A.L.R. 2d 914", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "176 S.E. 275", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "207 N.C. 201", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8624459 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/207/0201-01" ] }, { "cite": "163 S.E. 747", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "202 N.C. 846", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8629840, 8629863 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/202/0846-01", "/nc/202/0846-02" ] }, { "cite": "15 L.R.A. (N.S.) 399", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "L.R.A.N.S.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "57 S.E. 145", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "144 N.C. 455", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8660671 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/144/0455-01" ] }, { "cite": "35 A.L.R. 2d 910", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "35 A.L.R. 2d 906", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R. 2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "27 S.E. 2d 80", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "223 N.C. 467", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8611430 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/223/0467-01" ] }, { "cite": "183 S.E. 292", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "209 N.C. 285", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2221395 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/209/0285-01" ] }, { "cite": "141 U.S. 479", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "U.S.", "case_ids": [ 3556007 ], "weight": 3, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/141/0479-01" ] }, { "cite": "95 A.L.R. 1132", "category": "reporters:specialty", "reporter": "A.L.R.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "176 S.E. 252", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "207 N.C. 86", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8622658 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/207/0086-01" ] }, { "cite": "68 S.E. 134", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "152 N.C. 651", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11272396 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/152/0651-01" ] }, { "cite": "22 How. 28", "category": "reporters:scotus_early", "reporter": "How.", "case_ids": [ 1137372 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/us/63/0028-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 921, "char_count": 21470, "ocr_confidence": 0.534, "pagerank": { "raw": 3.1430839934547417e-07, "percentile": 0.8621666745821861 }, "sha256": "5a8a08e118e643e3ad134752398b1cbc343efcf6025a2608c7c985535135a579", "simhash": "1:50d2f9bbb637d4c9", "word_count": 3532 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:26:21.126874+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "HiggiNS, J., took no part in the consideration or decision of this case." ], "parties": [ "T. P. WARREN v. EDWARD R. WHITE, JR." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Bobbit, J.\nDefendant\u2019s principal assignments of error, directed to rulings on evidence, failure to nonsuit, submission of issues and portions of the charge, draw into focus this crucial question: Is recovery on the alleged oral agreement barred by the statute of frauds?\nG.S. 22-1, in pertinent part, provides: \u201cNo action shall be brought ... to charge any defendant upon a special promise to answer the debt, default or miscarriage of another person, unless the agreement upon which such action shall be brought, or some memorandum or note thereof, shall be in writing, and signed by the party charged therewith or some other person thereunto by him 'lawfully authorized.\u201d (Statute of Frauds and Perjuries, 1678, 29 Car. II, c. 3, \u00a7 4, Wig-more on Evidence, \u00a7 2454, note 6.)\nThe following statement by Mr. Justice Clifford in Emerson v. Slater, 22 How. 28, 16 L. Ed. 360, was quoted with approval by this Court in Dale v. Lumber Co., 152 N.C. 651, 68 S.E. 134, and in Garren v. Youngblood, 207 N.C. 86, 176 S.E. 252, 95 A.L.R. 1132, viz.: \u201cBut whenever the main purpose and object of the promisor is not to answer for another, but to subserve some pecuniary or business purpose of his own, involving either a benefit to himself, or damage to the other contracting party, his promise is not within the statute, although it may be in form a promise to pay the debt of another, and although the performance of it may incidentally have the effect of extinguishing that liability.\u201d (Our italics)\nToo, in the Dale and Garren cases, this Court quoted with approval this summary (headnote in official U. S. report) of the rules underlying decision in the leading case of Davis v. Patrick, 141 U.S. 479, 12 S. Ct. 58, 35 L. Ed. 826, viz.: \u201cIn determining whether an alleged promise is or is not a promise to answer for the debt of another, the following rules may be applied: (1) if the promisor is a stranger to the transaction, without interest in it, the obligations of the statute are to be strictly upheld; (2) but if he has a personal, immediate and pecuniary interest in a transaction in which a third party is the original obligor, the courts will give effect to the promise. The real character of a promise does not depend altogether upon form of expression, but largely upon the situation of the parties, and upon whether they understand it to be a collateral or direct promise.\u201d (Our italics)\nIn Garren v. Youngblood, supra, the plaintiff recovered on an oral agreement by defendant, an officer, director and stockholder of a bank, that he would be personally responsible for any loss plaintiff might sustain if her funds were permitted to remain on deposit with the bank. This agreement was held to be an original promise upon sufficient consideration and that G.S. 22-1 did not apply. It is noted that the plaintiff, after the bank closed, had filed her claim against the bank and had received a dividend thereon.\nIn Brown v. Benton, 209 N.C. 285, 183 S.E. 292, the defendants, the main stockholders of a corporation, agreed orally to be personally responsible for merchandise shipped to the corporation. According to plaintiff, the understanding was that plaintiff would ship and bill the lumber to B. L. Johnson Company \u201cand they (defendants) would be personally responsible to me.\u201d It was held that plaintiff had declared upon an original promise, not within G.S. 22-1. Plaintiff\u2019s recovery was upheld.\nIn Farmers Federation, Inc., v. Morris, 223 N.C. 467, 27 S.E. 2d 80, plaintiff sold merchandise to a corporation engaged in the restaurant business upon the defendant\u2019s request that credit be extended to the corporation and that he (defendant) would be responsible for all bills so contracted. It was admitted that the defendant was the president and a stockholder in the corporation. The defendant, by answer and by his testimony, denied that he had made the alleged oral promise. Upon the plaintiff\u2019s appeal from a verdict in favor of the defendant, a new trial was awarded for error in excluding testimony proffered by plaintiff tending to show the extent of the defendant\u2019s interest in the corporation and its business. Plaintiff\u2019s said proffered testimony was held competent \u201cto show that the defendant had a personal, immediate and pecuniary interest in the transaction.\u201d\nDecisions in many jurisdictions are reviewed in Annotation, 35 A.L.R. 2d 906, under the caption, \u201cStatute of frauds: promise by stockholder, officer, or director to pay debt of corporation.\u201d Two quotations point out the distinction recognized in our decisions, viz.:\n\u201cAs applied to promises by stockholders, officers, or directors, to pay a debt of the corporation, it may be said that the promise is original where the promisor\u2019s primary object was to secure some direct and personal benefit from the performance, by the promisee of his contract with the corporation, or from the latter\u2019s refraining from exercising against the corporation some right existing in him by virtue of the contract. The benefit to the promisor is to be distinguished from the indirect benefit which would accrue to him merely by virtue of his position as a stockholder, officer, or director. If the benefit accruing is direct and personal, then the promise is original within the rule above discussed, and the validity thereof is not affected by the statute of frauds.\u201d 35 A.L.R. 2d 910. As supporting this statement, these North Carolina decisions are cited: Satterfield v. Kindley, 144 N.C. 455, 57 S.E. 145, 15 L.R.A. (N.S.) 399, 12 Ann. Cas. 1098; Beck v. Halliwell, 202 N.C. 846, 163 S.E. 747; Brown v. Benton, supra; Farmers Federation, Inc., v. Morris, supra. Gennett v. Lyerly, 207 N.C. 201, 176 S.E. 275, discussed below, is cited as \u201crecognizing rule.\u201d\n\u201cWhere an oral promise by a stockholder, officer, or director of a corporation is collateral in form and effect, and the consideration was not intended to secure or promote some personal object or advantage of the promisor \u2014 as distinguished from the benefit accruing to a person from the mere -fact of his being a stockholder, officer, or director \u2014 , the promise is collateral and within the statute of frauds.\u201d 35 A.L.R. 2d 914. As supporting this statement Gennett v. Lyerly, supra, is cited. Satterfield v. Kindley, supra, is cited as \u201crecognizing rule.\u201d\nDefendant relies largely on Gennett v. Lyerly, supra, and on Myers v. Allsbrook, 229 N.C. 786, 51 S.E. 2d 629.\nIn Gennett v. Lyerly, supra, the defendant, E. Lyerly, who was otherwise engaged in the hosiery business, was the president, treasurer and the owner of a large amount of stock in the Yeager Manufacturing Company, of which his brother, Walker Lyerly, was secretary and general manager. Yeager Manufacturing Company was engaged in the manufacture of furniture; and, on certain orders to plaintiff for lumber, notations made by Walker Lyerly were to the effect that payment was guaranteed by \u201cE. Lyerly.\u201d There was no evidence that E. Lyerly had guaranteed payment, orally or otherwise, or had authorized Walker Lyerly to obligate him for such payment. The language upon which the present defendant relies is part of a discussion to the effect that, if an oral promise had been made by defendant, such oral promise would be within G.S. 22-1 because the evidence in that case did not disclose that E. Lyerly had \u201ca personal, immediate, and pecuniary benefit in the transaction.\u201d While the de-cisi\u00f3n in Gennett v. Lyerly, supra, is fully supported on other grounds set forth in the opinion, it is noted that the opinion cites in support of the statement upon which the present defendant relies the original decision in Peele v. Powell, 156 N.C. 553, 73 S.E. 234, apparently overlooking the fact that this decision was reversed on rehearing in Peele v. Powell, 161 N.C. 50, 76 S.E. 698.\nMyers v. Allsbrook, supra, involved an entirely different factual situation. There the plaintiff sued on defendant\u2019s alleged oral promise to pay his brother\u2019s pre-existing debt. Moreover, -there was neither allegation nor evidence that -the alleged oral promise was made for the defendant\u2019s benefit or that he had any personal, immediate or pecuniary interest in the transaction.\nWalker, J., in Whitehurst v. Padgett, 157 N.C. 424, 73 S.E. 240, citing Peele v. Powell, supra, said: \"... a promise is not within the statute of frauds, i-f it is based upon a consideration and is an original one, and ... it is original if made at the time or before the diebt is created, and the credit is given solely to the promisor or to both promisors, as principals; . . .\" The decision in the White-hurst case is succinctly and accurately stated in the third headnote, viz.: \u201cWhen a tenant of a farm has applied to a merchant to furnish him with fertilizers for making the crop on the leased premises, saying that the landlord would -pay for them, the -assertion of the tenant will not of itself render the landlord liable; but if the latter, when called upon by the merchant at the time of the transaction, says, 'All right, go ahead and furnish (the lessee) and I will see that you get the money,\u2019 his words may -amount to a -binding and sufficient promise under the statute of frauds, as he had a direct and pecuniary interest in the making of the crop as the landlord of the first promisor.\u201d In accord: Dozier v. Wood, 208 N.C. 414, 181 S.E. 336.\nIt is unnecessary to consider in detail the evidence as to what was said by defendant preceding the advancement by plaintiff of his own funds in payment of the six items aggregating $4,693.13. The evidence is uncontradicted that these amounts were advanced to discharge obligations of the corporation and that the corporation had no funds for the -payment thereof. Suffice to -say, the evidence was \u2022amply sufficient to support the jury\u2019s finding that defendant contracted and agreed with plaintiff \u201cthat he (defendant) would personally pay the plaintiff any sums plaintiff advanced to Winston-Salem Motors, Inc., as alleged in the Complaint.\u201d\nDefendant testified that he advanced in excess of $23,000.00 to the corporation during the period plaintiff was general manage!. It is noted that the evidence does not disclose the name of any other stockholder or indicate that such other stockholder advanced additional funds or otherwise participated in the corporation\u2019s affairs. Defendant\u2019s testimony is explicit that, for the time being, he had advanced all the money he had or could borrow, but anticipated that he would thereafter receive additional funds from his professional earnings. (Note: According to plaintiff, defendant gave assurance that he would also obtain funds from an anticipated sale of his Myrtle Beach property.) In these circumstances, the advancements by plaintiff were made. There can be no doubt but that defendant was personally, directly and pecuniarily interested in the continuance in business of the corporation and would be the principal beneficiary if this were accomplished and the principal loser if it were forced out of business.\nUnder these circumstances, we are of opinion, and so hold, that G.S. 22-1 is not a bar to plaintiff\u2019s recovery on the alleged oral agreement.\nEven so, defendant asserts that the court, in lieu of the first issue submitted, should have submitted an issue tendered by him, to wit: \u201cDid the defendant make an original promise to plaintiff to repay loans made by plaintiff to Winston-Salem Motors, Inc.?\u201d Suffice to say, the jury's answer to the first issue submitted established that defendant did make such original promise as alleged in the complaint. In this connection, see Garren v. Youngblood, supra, and Taylor v. Lee, 187 N.C. 393, 121 S.E. 659.\nDefendant quotes this statement from 20 A.L.R. 2d 248: \u201cWhere \u2022the language used, together with the surrounding facts and circumstances, makes it doubtful whether the parties intended by the promise to create an original obligation or a collateral one .to answer for the debt or default of another, the question is one of fact to be determined by the jury, or other trier of facts.\u201d As indicated, the rule embodied in the quoted statement is applicable when the particular expressions relied upon as constituting the alleged oral promise are of such doubtful meaning that diverse inferences may be drawn as to what the parties mutually understood. 49 Am. Jur., Statute of Frauds \u00a7 63. It has no application to the present factual situation.\nThe only inference that may be drawn from the evidence is that both plaintiff and defendant knew the company was in \u201cdesperate financial condition\u201d when plaintiff made the advancements. Indeed, under the evidence, it would be fanciful to suggest that the advancements were made by plaintiff in reliance on the credit (?) of the corporation.\nDefendant testified: . . there is no question but what he paid out these sums that have been testified. There was personal promise on my part, as distinguished from the corporation, that he would be paid only if these conditions were met.\u201d Asked whether he told plaintiff that he (defendant) \u201cdid make a good income and would see that he was paid anything that he did advance to the company,\u201d defendant answered: \u201cYes, I said that \u2014 -yes, I did meet him. Yes, I said I had a good income. The amount was not $35,000.00. The wording was such that I would \u2014 that Mr. Warren would lose no money.\u201d Again: \u201cI did testify a moment ago that it was my intention to pay Mr. Warren upon proper certification that certain sums were due, providing that things were done in a certain and specialized manner, and that when Mr. Warren left the company and certain things were discovered after he left, and we were unable to close the books, and we were unable to give an accounting, this contract was null and void.\u201d\nIt is noted that defendant, in his answer, simply denied he had entered into the oral contract alleged by plaintiff. He made no allegations to the effect that he had agreed personally to repay plaintiff but only on certain conditions. Defendant\u2019s evidence, as indicated, takes a different turn. The substance of his testimony is that he made the oral promise but is not liable because plaintiff failed to comply with certain conditions. These conditions are rather vaguely defined in defendant\u2019s testimony. The purport of his testimony is that plaintiff as general manager did not handle either the separate account for the resale of \u201ctraded-in\u201d used cars and other transactions in the manner it was agreed he should do. Too, defendant\u2019s testimony questions the accuracy of plaintiff\u2019s accounting as to the handling of the \u201ctraded-in\u201d used oars and the accuracy of plaintiff\u2019s testimony as to amounts received by plaintiff from the corporation or for which the corporation should receive credit. As to these matters, the evidence was in conflict. Indeed, under the evidence, it seems that the principal controversy on the first issue was not whether defendant made an original promise as alleged but whether such promise was made unconditionally or made subject to certain conditions.\nIt is noted that the court, with reference to the first issue, instructed the jury as follows: \u201c. . . if you are satisfied from the evidence and by its greater weight that there was an agreement entered into but that it was on a condition or conditions, and not an unconditional promise to pay, it would be your duty to answer this first issue \u2018No.\u2019 And, in any event, if you are not satisfied by the greater weight of the evidence that the plaintiff and defendant contracted and agreed that the defendant would personally pay to plaintiff any sums plaintiff advanced to Winston-Salem Motors, Incorporated, it would be your duty to answer this issue \u2018No.\u2019 \u201d Under these circumstances, we find no error in the submission of the first issue or in the charge in relation thereto.\nHaving discussed so fully defendant\u2019s principal assignments of error, we refrain from particular discussion of defendant\u2019s assignments of error relating to the evidence and the court\u2019s instructions relevant to the second issue. Suffice to say, we have considered these assignments of error and none discloses error deemed sufficiently prejudicial to warrant a new trial.\nNo error.\nHiggiNS, J., took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.", "type": "majority", "author": "Bobbit, J." } ], "attorneys": [ "Eugene H. Phillips for plaintiff, appellee.", "Clyde C. Randolph, Jr., for defendant, appellant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "T. P. WARREN v. EDWARD R. WHITE, JR.\n(Filed 29 January, 1960.)\n1. Frauds, Statute of \u00a7 5\u2014\nWliere an incorporator and owner of almost all of >tlie capital stock ,of a corporation, in hiring a new manager after the company was in serious financial difficulties and the original capital lost, promises that he would personally pay to the manager any sums the manager advanced in the company\u2019s behalf, the promise is an original promise not coming within the purview of the statute of frauds, G..S. 22-1, since the promisor has a personal, immediate and pecuniary interest in the matter as distinguished from an indirect benefit which would accrue to him by virtue of his position as stockholder, officer or director of the corporation.\n2. Same\u2014\nWhere there is no conflict in the evidence as to the situation of the parties and that defendant promised to pay plaintiff for any sums advanced by plaintiff in behalf of defendant\u2019s corporation, the main controversy being whether such promise was conditional or unconditional, the court may submit the case to the jury upon instructions to answer the issue of whether defendant promised to pay plaintiff any sums so advanced in the negative if the jury were not satisfied from the greater weight of the evidence that the promise was unconditional and that defendant made the promise, and the refusal to submit an issue tendered as to whether the promise was an original promise will not be held for error.\nAppeal by defendant from Olive, J., April 20 Term, 1959, of Foksyth.\nCivil action to recover $4,693.13, allegedly advanced 'by plaintiff to Winston-Salem Motors, Inc., in reliance upon the oral promise and agreement of defendant, the corporation\u2019s chief stockholder, \u201cthat he (defendant) would personally pay to plaintiff any sums plaintiff advanced upon the company\u2019s behalf.\u201d Answering, defendant denied, the alleged agreement.\nThe corporation, organized in late August, 1957, entered the automobile business under an Edsel dealership. Defendant, a physician, was the principle investor in this venture and owned all capital .stock except $2,000.00. He anticipated that the venture, in two or three years, would become a profitable investment. According to defendant, \u201cthe condition of the company was horrible,\u201d in October, 1957, when defendant first contacted plaintiff. The Universal C. I. T. Corporation had given notice that it would repossess the cars in the company\u2019s possession and foreclose its \u201cfloor-plan\u201d covering such cars, thus forcing the company out of business.\nPlaintiff bad had some thirty years experience in the automobile business. Upon recommendation of a mutual friend, defendant sought plaintiff\u2019s advice and offered him the position of general manager of the company. Defendant testified: \u201cI told him (plaintiff) ... all the money that I had. originally placed in this corporation was already lost.\u201d\nPlaintiff and defendant managed to stall the Universal C. I. T. Corporation a few days while they negotiated with the Wachovia Bank \u2022and Trust Company. Upon assurances that additional capital would be invested in the company, Wachovia agreed to finance the company\u2019s new cars under a floor plan arrangement.\nPlaintiff became general manager, acting in this capacity from October, 1957, to July, 1958. Then, or shortly thereafter, the company went out of business. Plaintiff received, as salary for his services as general manager, the sum of $100.00 per week.\nThe Edsel did not receive public favor. There were few sales. The Wachovia financing plan did not cover used cars. The Federal Government attached the company\u2019s (bank account for failure to pay social security taxes. From March, 1958, the transactions involving \u201ctraded-in\u201d used cars were handled through a bank account in plaintiff\u2019s name at the City National Bank. According to plaintiff, the agreement was that the handling of these used cars was to be plaintiff\u2019s personal responsibility and project, for his own profit or loss. According to defendant, these transactions were to be for the account of the company.\nIt appears that plaintiff, while serving as general manager, advanced his own funds to or for the benefit of the company in an amount (the exact amount being in dispute) in excess of $4,693.13. The sum of $4,693.13 represents, according to .plaintiff\u2019s contention, the aggregate of six items for which he was not reimbursed either by defendant or by the company. However, at the trial, plaintiff stipulated that the amount sued for in the complaint is subject to a credit of $710.00, to wit, company funds under his control, and asserted a claim for the balance, to wit, $3,983.13.\nThe court submitted, over defendant\u2019s objection, and the jury answered, these issues: \u201c1. Did defendant contract and agree with plaintiff that he would personally pay the plaintiff any sums plaintiff advanced to Winston-Salem Motors, Inc., as alleged in the Complaint? Answer: Yes. 2. What amount, if any, is the plaintiff entitled to recover of the defendant? Answer: $3,000.00.\u201d\nJudgment for plaintiff, in accordance with the verdict, was entered. Defendant excepted and appealed, assigning errors.\nEugene H. Phillips for plaintiff, appellee.\nClyde C. Randolph, Jr., for defendant, appellant." }, "file_name": "0729-01", "first_page_order": 773, "last_page_order": 781 }