Hanson v. Johnson
Supreme Court of Minnesota
201 N.W. 322 (Minn. 1924)
Hanson (plaintiff) leased a farm to Schrik but retained the rights to two-fifths of the corn grown there. Schrik mortgaged his share of the crops to a bank, which sold Schrik's property, including 393 bushels of corn, at auction with Schrik's permission; Johnson (defendant) purchased that corn. Hanson sued for conversion, and at trial introduced, over Johnson's hearsay objection, Schrik's statement to Hanson at the time of division: "Mr. Hanson, here is your corn for this year . . . this belongs to you, Mr. Hanson." The trial court admitted the statement and ruled for Hanson; Johnson appealed, challenging the admission.
Whether out-of-court statements not offered to prove the truth of the matter asserted, but whose words themselves affect the legal rights of the parties, are admissible.