75 W. Va. 52 | W. Va. | 1914
This action of assumpsit was brought by the Fruit Dispatch Company against George Ellis to recover $264.68, the price of a car load of bananas alleged to have been purchased by him on the 16th of June, 1910. There was a judgment for defendant and plaintiff brings error.
Defendant was engaged in buying and selling fruit in the city of Moundsville in the name of the Moundsville Produce Company. He had been agent and buyer for that company from 1904 to 1907, when he purchased the business, and continued it ip the original name, but paid his bills by individual check. From 1904 to the bringing of this suit he ivas a cus
Plaintiff contends that the bananas were sold, in this instance, according to the terms of printed instructions entitled “Uniform Conditions Governing Sales,” which it furnished-to its customers. A booklet containing them and a telegraphic code was furnished to defendant in 1904. He admits receiving it, but denies that he knew its contents, and says he cannot read English. A witness for plaintiff testified that he explained them to him, but defendant denies it. Clauses 1, 11 and 12 of said printed conditions read as follows:
“1. All bananas and fruit are sold by the Dispatch Company delivered f. o. b. freight cars at the seaboard, with the exception of special sales provided for in clause No. 11 hereof. After delivery to the carrier at the seaboard all bananas and fruit are .at the sole risk of the purchaser. Every order for or sale of bananas or fruit given or made after the same shall have been shipped at the seaboard, shall relate back to the time of such shipment and shall have the same force and effect ■ in every respect as if given or made prior to such shipment.
“1. Special sales may be made, after arrival of bananas or fruit at the final destination, to purchasers personally inspecting and accepting the same on the spot.
“12. Every order given to or for the Dispatch Company whether by telephone, telegraph, in writing, or otherwise shall be regarded as being made under and subject to the terms and conditions herein contained. Every purchase from the Dispatch Company of bananas or fruit, and every sale thereof by it, shall be upon and subject to all the terms, conditions, and provisions herein contained in every respect, unless waived in a writing signed by the president or general manager of the Dispatch Company, it being expressly stated and understood that no officer, employee, or representative of the Dispatch Company, except only the president or the general manager, has any authority to make any 'contract or sale of bananas or fruit except upon and subject to-the said terms, conditions and provisions.”
It is proven and not denied that J. S. Crutchfield, resident manager of the Fruit Dispatch Company at Pittsburg, called
“Private instructions to a general agent circumscribing his power will not avail to shield the principal from liability to parties dealing with him in ignorance of the limitation.” 1 A. & E. E. L. (2nd ed.), 994, and numerous cases cited in note 2; .1 Clark & Skyles on Agency, 470; Story on Agency, Secs. 73, 126, and 133.
Mr. Crutchfield’s authority as plaintiff’s agent was limited by the written conditions above quoted. He could riot bind the Fruit Dispatch Company by agreeing to deliver the bananas in Moundsville if defendant had 'notice of the limitation upon his implied authority to do so. The written conditions had been placed in defendant’s hands as early as 1904, and a witness testifies that he explained them to him, but he denies it. However, he admits having them, and granting that he was ignorant of- the English language, it was nevertheless his duty to inform himself as to the contents of the paper, and he was in a situation to do so, for it appears that he had in his employ a girl who could read English. He testifies that on receipt of the letter of June 16th from Mr. Crutchfield, he handed it to the girl, and that she told him it
Clause 1 of the conditions says delivery shall be made at the seaboard f. o. b. of all fruit sold, except special sales provided for in. clause 11, and that clause has no application here. It only applies to sales made after fruit has reached its final destination, and has been inspected by the buyer. Clause 12 provides that every sale shall be made “subject to all’the terms, conditions, and provisions herein contained in every respect, unless waived in a writing signed by the president or general manager of the Dispatch Company.” That clause also expressly denies to any other officer, employee or representative of said company authority to make any other contract of sale of fruit or bananas than is provided for in said conditions. Mr. Crutchfield was neither the president or general manager of the plaintiff company, and, therefore, did not have the authority to bind it by such sale as defendant claims'he made.
It appears from the instructions given by the court that the
The judgment is reversed, the verdict set aside and the case remanded for a new trial.
Reversed and Remanded.