Brown v. Howard, 285 S.W.2d 752

Brown v. Howard

285 S.W.2d 752

Tex. App.

1955

Check Treatment

*753 NORVELL,- Justice.

-[1-3] The question posed by this appeal is whether or not -the rule of “implied warranty” set forth in Decker & Sons v. Capps, 139 Tex. 609, 164 S.W.2d 828, 142 A.L.R. 1479, has application to one formulating chemicals for use as a cattle spray. In the case cited it was held that a non-negligent processor could be held liable in damages to. one Tnsjured from eating contaminated foodstuffs prepared, by him, although no privity of contract between the processor and the consumer was shown. As pointed out in the opinion, the “implied warranty” which is made the basis of liability is' hardly the creature of contract but has its basis in a public policy' which demands that such an obligation be imposed for the protection of the public health. This type of warranty actually sounds in tort (action upon the case) and was known to the law prior to the development of the action of assumpsit. Williston on Sales, § 195. It should1 not be confused with the contractual warranty,' either expressed or implied, in which privity of contract is an essential element of recovery. Davis v. Ferguson, Téx.Civ.App., 255 S.W. 655, contains the generally accepted statement of the rule applying, to implied contractual warranties. Turner & Clayton, Inc., v. Shackelford, Tex.Com.App., 288 S.W. 815; Baylor v. Eastern Seed Co., Téx.Civ.App., 191 S.W.2d 689; Donelson v. Fairmont Foods Co., Téx.Civ.App., 252 S.W.2d 796; Blessington y. McCrory Stores Corp., 279 App.Div. 806, 109 N.Y.S.2d '719, affirmed 305 N.Y.,140, 111 N.E.2d 421, 37 A.L.R.2d 698. _ ' ⅛ ; '

In..the-.present case it appears that appellants, C. M. Brown and,B..A.-Lay, employed appellee Troy Howard to spray certain Brahman cattle owned ..by them. For this purpose Howard used a gallon of “Green Light” concentrate manufactured by the appellee W. J. Klauss. The label upon the gallon container gave the chemical composition of the concentrate as follows: D.D.T. 26.5%, Technical Chlordane, 24.5%, solvent, 33.2%, emulsifier,' 15.8%. The‘directions on the label called -for’ai mixture of one gallon of concentrate to 220 gallons . of water. Howard testified, that he used this approximate mixture in spraying appellants’ cattle. There is evidence in the record that while D.D.T. and chlordane are both well-known toxic substances, they are not necessarily of a dangerous nature, and are harmless to cattle even when used in much higher concentrations than that recommended 'by ' .the manufacturer’s .label. .There ‘was evidence, however, that sprays containing chlordane are not recommended for dairy cows because of the danger of milk contamination, and ¡that Brahman cattle, by reason of their having sweat glands ■ in the .skin are more susceptible to chlordane poisoning than are other species of cattle. . The jury found that a. number of appellants’ cattle .died and others were injured-as a result of poisoning from- the chlordane contained in. the Green Light spray used by the appellee Howard. The court below rendered judgment for the appellees non obstante veredicto.

- Appellants make.no complaint of the judgment in favor of Howard but ¡urge that the judgment as to Klauss, the manufacturer or formulator of the Green Light concentrate should .be reversed. In their brief it is stated that, “the case does not admit of the element of negligence because such was not in appellants! pleadings- * * * nor does-the case admit the, ele-; ment-of privity ;of contract,, because it‘was without dispute that the appellee manufactured' the product and sold- it to the dealer for the purpose of being sold t'o the user,-as it was in-this case.” ,.No-contract-, was-ever, entered into between Klauss ¡and appellants Or between Klauss and Howard fof that matter. It iS not clear when:the particular concentrate was. manufactured nor its manner of passage from jobber to retailer to consumer. There can be no question of implied contractual warranty in the case. ■ Baylor v. Eastern: Seed Co., Tex.Civ-.App., 191 S.W .2d 689.

No one disputes th.e proposition-that' a! processor .of chemicals ,.-for cattle, spraying'purposes should.be held liable for the proximate -results 'of his negligence, but appellants by their .pleadings, in effect *754 place Klauss in the position of a non-negligent manufacturer and the case must be viewed from that standpoint. In a sense then an attempt is- being made to affix liar bility without fault. Such rules of liability have been described as onerous and require a strong public policy to support them. Race v. Krum, 222 N.Y. 410, 118 N.E. 853,- 854, L.R.A.1918F, 1172. The only authority cited by appellants in support of their position, other than the Decker case, is International Milling Co. v. Jernigan, Tex.Civ.App., 191 S.W.2d 526, a plea of privilege case in which the rule was apparently' extended to include animal foodstuffs. Cf. F. A. Piper Co. v. Oppenheimer, Tex.Civ.App., 158 S.W. 777; Williston on Sales, § 242. The acceptance of appellants’ theory in the present case would require a further extension which is not sanctioned by any Texas case called to our attention and one we feel unauthorized to make. A careful reading of the Decker case and the authorities therein cited disclose an emphasis upon “food for human consumption.”

Williston points out that “importance is also attached to the fact that the buyer is buying for immediate consumption” and' cites the Decker case as being in accord with the text statement. Wil-liston on Sales, § 242. The chemicals here involved were not intended as a foodstuff for either man or animal but as an insecticide, the label of which showed plainly that it contained toxic substances. It required further processing, mixing or diluting before it could be used, and in this case, as must necessarily be the situation in most instances of sales to jobber, retailer and spraying contractor, there -is some uncertainty as to the length of the period of time between manufacture and use. It is “the prevailing rule that the mere resale of a warranted article does not give the subpurchaser a right to sue the original seller for damages caused by defects either in the title or quality of the goods. Wil-liston on Sales, § 244. See also, 77 C.J.S., Sales,'§ 305, p. 1121; Am.Jur. 487, Sales, §§ 306, 307; A.L.R. Annotations, Liability of Manufacturers for Injuries, to Consumers, particularly the cases cited under the subheading “Liability on theory of implied warranty,” ‘ 17 A.L.R. 709, 39 A.L.R. 1000, 63 A.L.R. 349, 88 A.L.R. 534, 105 A. L.R.T511, 111 A.L.R. 1251, 140 A.L.R. 250 and 142 A.L.R. 1494.

We feel unauthorized on the basis of the Decker case to recognize a further exception to the general rule and impose liability in this case absent privity of contract. Baylor v. Eastern Seed Co., Tex. Civ.App., 191 S.W.2d 689.

In our opinion, the trial, judge followed the law as declared by the decided cases and his action in granting the motion for judgment non obstante veredicto is accordingly affirmed.