19 Misc. 173 | N.Y. App. Term. | 1897
The plaintiffs, a firm doing business in the city of Boston, sent to the defendant in April, 1896, four bales of dry Russian calfskins on memorandum as samples, the defendant agreeing to let the plaintiffs know after inspection, and within ten days after receipt of goods, what price it would offer; the skins to be purchased from such samples. The defendant subsequently, without offering any price, shipped the goods to be sold by its agent in Paris, France, and they were sold by him, netting $250.75.
On September loth, Mr. Bernard, one of the plaintiffs, called at the place of business of the defendant in New York city, and was shown the account sales covering the goods in question which the defendant had received from Paris. This called for $250.75,. and then and there. the ' defendant gave Bernard a check for that amount in full payment of the plaintiffs’ demand, which Bernard agreed to accept in full payment, if his partner, the other plaintiff, who was in Boston, would be satisfied; if the partner was not satisfied, Bernard agreed to return the check to the defendant.
These facts are testified to by Henry Werner, a witness called by the defendant, and, in substance, are not disputed by 'the plaintiff. Bernard testified that the condition about returning the check was imposed • after he got it into his possession, but while-yet in the defendant’s office. Assuming this to be so, the result is the same, because he did not return the check after the imposition of the condition, nor did he object to the condition itself.
The check was taken to Boston by Bernard, deposited in bank to the plaintiffs’ credit, and collected. ‘
On September 11th, Bernard wrote the defendant from Boston that he had talked the matter over with his partner, and that they had decided to accept the check for $250.75 as part payment only of the bill. Immediately on receipt of this letter the defendant replied that Mr. Bernard had agreed either to accept the check in full payment or return it, at the same time stating: “If you retain the amount accepted by you, we shall expect you to do so in full payment. But if you think you are entitled to any additional payment you must both morally and legally return the check given you, and seek redress in the courts.” ; ,
It is unnecessary to determine whether the answer pleads in technical form an accord and satisfaction or the payment of a disputed account, for the result in either case is the same.
The defendant became liable to the plaintiffs for the conversion of the property. The action is in form for trover, in which the value, less $250.75, is claiméd by way. of damages. The value had never been fixed by agreement prior to the giving of the check, and the amount was, therefore, unliquidated. What the goods cost the plaintiffs was not necessarily the measure of recovery, but the market value at the time of the conversion, and this was the disputed question raised at the interview had by Bernard with the defendant.
The evidence admits of - but one interpretation, and that is that the defendant intended at the.time it gave the.check to settle once for all the dispute,, and that Bernard so. understood it. The letter which Bernard wrote from Boston,, in which he says that he and his
If the .defendant’s liability had been definitely established at $367.98, the value fixed by the plaintiffs, acceptánce of the check for $250.75 as in full, and retention of the same, would not have concluded them from recovering the difference (Ryan v. Ward, 48 N. Y. 204; Miller v. Coates, 66 id. 609; Williams v. Carrington, 1 Hilt. 515); but such is not this case, for the defendant disputed the extent of its liability. In Brooks v. Moore, 67 Barb. 395, the court said: “ If there is a bona fide dispute as to the sum actually due, or a bona fide doubt or controversy as to whether anything is due, then an accord and satisfaction, or more properly speaking a compromise, may be established and held binding, although there is a payment of a sum less than was claimed by the creditor, or even a sum less than by an actual computation might be found due to the creditor; ” citing the.language of Bockes, J., in Farmers’ Bank of Amsterdam v. Blair, 44 Barb. 652, as follows: “ In such case it is not admissible to go behind the settlement with a view to determine which of the parties was right. Compromises are to be encouraged, because they promote peace, and where there is no fraud, and the parties meet on equal terms and adjust their differences, the court will not overlook the compromise, but will hold the parties concluded by the settlement.” See, also, People ex rel. McDonough v. Board of Managers, 96 N. Y. 640; Pardee v. Wood, 8 Hun, 584; Nassoiy v. Tomlinson, 148 N. Y. 326.
The plaintiff, Bernard, explained the reason for not returning the check in this way: “ Mr. Werner had made certain statements to us in regard to this transaction which didn’t pan out, and we instituted inquiries respecting him and considered that a check of $250 was something toward the amount that was justly due us, and we had so much less to fight for, if we had to fight; in other
In Looby v. Village of West Troy, 24 Hun, 78, the court, in referring to a check given under somewhat similar circumstances, said: “ The plaintiff was bound to accept this money on the terms upon which it was offered, or not to accept it at all. * * * Nor. could'the plaintiff by a, notice served subsequently * * * alter the effect of his acceptance of the order. If he was not willing to ' take it in settlement, he should have returned it.”
In Fuller v. Kemp, 138 N. Y. 231, the plaintiff,- a physician, sent defendant a bill of $670 for professional services. Defendant on receiving it sent a letter, not disputing the services, but questioning the justice of the charges, and inclosing a check for $400 which he stated was in full satisfaction of plaintiff’s claim; also that he hoped plaintiff would look at it in the same spirit, which was “ to fix a figure that would be entirely just to both parties.” The plaintiff retained and collected the check, and again sent a bill charging the same amount as before, and crediting the $400. The defendant thereupon replied that the check was sent in full satisfaction, that he did not recognize plaintiff’s right to retain it and repudiate the condition, and requesting him either to return the money or retain it on the condition named. To this letter plaintiff • made no answer, and subsequently brought action to recover the balance of his account. It was held that there was in law an accord and satisfaction of plaintiff’s claim, and no recovery thereon could be sustained; that upon receipt of defendant’s last letter plaintiff had simply this alternative — the prompt restoration of thé money or the extinguishment of the debt by its retention; and having retained the money his claim was satisfied. See, also, Lestienne v. Ernst, 5 App. Div. 373; Brown v. Symes, 83 Hun, 159.
For these reasons the judgment of the justice in favor of the plaintiffs for the balance claimed by them is erroneous, and rnust be reversed and a new trial ordered, with costs to the appellant to .abide the event.
Daly, P. J., and Bischoef, J., concur.
Judgment reverséd and new trial ordered, with costs to appellant to abide event. . ‘