DeSalle v. Appelberg

The defendants appeal from a judgment for the plaintiffs following a hearing before an attorney trial referee (attorney referee). The defendants claim that the trial court improperly (1) found the defendant Gustaf T. Appelberg personally liable, and (2) failed to grant a motion for mistrial and revocation of the reference to the attorney referee. We reverse the trial court’s judgment.

The genesis of this case is the alleged breach of an agreement by which the plaintiffs sold a sign business to the defendants. A promissory note represented a portion of the purchase price and was a significant…