92 Ga. 273 | Ga. | 1893
1. What was the warranty? It was, that the dry kiln was of good material, well made, and with proper management capable of doing as good work as similar articles of any other manufacturer in the United States. What was the consequence stipulated for between the
2. The plea of partial failure of consideration not al
3. But the plea of partial failure of consideration, when amended and enlarged by the further plea of actual fraud on the part of the plaintiff by having knowledge of and fraudulently concealing the alleged defects, knowing that they were latent and could not be discovered within thirty days from the first use of the apparatus (and m fact they were not discovered until afterwards), would be a defence to the action to the extent, at least, of the partial failure of consideration occasioned by the fraud. There can be no doubt that it is a fraud for manufacturers of machinery to fill it with latent defects not discoverable in thirty days, and then sell it as good but warranting the same only as against defects actually discovered within thirty days, they knowing that the existing defects are not discoverable within that time, and concealing both the defects and their knowledge of them. To do this wTould be practicing deceit and committing actual fraud. Those who commit actual fraud cannot protect themselves against answering therefor by any form of warranty or any limitations which they may introduce in the terms of the warranty. Fraud in the principal contract, the contract of sale, is not to be answered by setting up a collateral contract which was as much the offspring of the fraud as was the principal contract itself. The special plea, as finally shaped by the plea of fraud, should not have been stricken; and m striking the same and m afterwards directing a verdict for the plaintiff the court erred. Judgment reversed.