Giffert v. West

33 Wis. 617 | Wis. | 1873

Dixosr, O. J.

The action is to recover damages for the breach of an express warranty that Halloway-was an indorser of the note, that proper steps had been taken to charge him as such,- and that he was bound and legally liable in that capacity at the time of the transfer of the note by the defendant to Bisbop, as whose assignee of the note and of tbe contract of warranty tbe plaintiff brings suit. Sucb is tbe cause of action stated in the complaint, in which the plaintiff avers “that for the purpose of effecting such sale and transfer, and to induce the said Bishop to accept and purchase said note, the said defendant represented, promised and agreed to and with said Harry Bishop, that said indorsement of the said Nathan Hallo-way was a good and valid indorsement; that he, the said defendant, had- taken the proper steps in law to fix the liability of said Nathan Halloway as such indorser; and that he, the said Nathan Halloway, was then and there bound and legally liable as an indorser of the said note; which representation was relied and acted upon by the said Harry Bishop, and without the making of which representation and promise, he, the said Harry Bishop, would not have taken the same; whereas, in truth and in fact, the said indorsement of the said Nathan Hal-loway was then and there usurious and void,” etc. This agreement and representation is averred to have been made when the contract of sale was consummated; and it is a well settled principle of law, that an affirmation made by the vendor at the time of the sale amounts to an express warranty, if it appears, on the facts stated or proven, to have been so intended and received. Coolidge v. Brigham, 1 Met., 547, 552, and Thrall v. Newell, 19 Vt., 202, 208, and authorities there cited.

The suit being thus upon an express warranty, the question is presented, whether a recovery can be had for the breach of one which was implied, the express warranty being in whole or in part unproved, but the facts shown being such as to establish an implied one of the same effect as that which is alleged to have been expressly made. We are inclined to think that in such case the variance should be disregarded, or an immediate amendment allowed, if objection is taken on the trial. See Leopold v. Van Kirk, 27 Wis., 155 ; Same v. Same, 29 id., 549, 556. In this case, the alleged express warranty was in part unproved, and we think the court was right in allowing tbe trial to proceed, and in instructing tbe jury that tbe plaintiff might bave a verdict for tbe damages sustained by reason of a breach of the implied warranty, in case tbe jury so found under tbe instructions given- And especially do we think tbe court was corrrct in thus disregarding tbe variance, since no objection of tbe kind was taken upon tbe trial, nor until after verdict, and after a motion for a new trial had been made and overruled. The objection was first taken, as we understand it, upon the motion in arrest of judgment. It was then too late to make tbe objection. Supervisors etc. v. Decker, 30 Wis., 628, 629, and authorities there cited ; Sherman v. Johnson, 56 Barb., 59. In tbe latter case, where the defendant had sold to the plaintiff an account in his own favor against the government, and the complaint was that he had made certain false and fraudulent statements to the plaintiff at the time of sale, it was held that the plaintiff could still recover, if, upon the evidence taken without objection, he proved enough to sustain an implied warranty, though no fraud was shown. It frequently happens, as was held in Neff v. Clute, 12 Barb., 466, that the same state of facts will support an action in either of two or more different forms, as in that case one for the original consideration, or one for the damage sustained by the fraud. But if, in such or a supposed similar case, the plaintiff fails to make the proofs, or is mistaken about the facts, and so does not establish his right in the form of action adopted, yet if he is permitted to proceed with his evidence, and, without objection, to a verdict upon a good cause of action shown in some other form arising out of the facts set forth in the complaint, or the transaction complained of, no good reason is seen why such verdict should be set aside or the judgment arrested, unless it be under some peculiar circumstances, or for causes like those existing in Anderson v. Case, 28 Wis., 505.

And with respect to the question of irñplied warranty, we are of opinion that the circuit court was correct in the general principle laid down in the instructions. It has sometimes been beld in doubt, whether, upon the sale or assignment of a bill, note, or other chose in action or contract or obligation evidenced by writing, the implied warranty extends beyond the genuineness of the instrument itself, or the mere fact that it is not a forgery, or whether it also embraces the capacity of the contracting parties to make the contract, and their liability upon it as valid and binding in law according the purport of the instrument on its face, and as the same is presented by the seller to the purchaser. The question is not new in this court, but was considered in Hurd v. Hall, 12 Wis., 112, 135, where it was said that in the assignment of an instrument or other contract in writing, even not negotiable, for a full and fair price, the assignor impliedly warrants that it is valid, and that the maker or obligor is liable upon it, unless it clearly appears that the parties intended to the contrary. Numerous authorities were cited in support of the rule as there stated, and the same was followed and affirmed in Lawton v. Howe, 14 Wis., 241, 250, and in Costigan v. Hawkins and Paul v. Kenosha, 22 id., 74, 266. We still see no reason to doubt its correctness, but find our views strengthened and confirmed by further examination made at this time. The following cases also clearly sustain or tend to sustain them : Sherman v. Johnson, supra; Thrall v. Newell, 19 Vt., 202 ; Lobdell v. Baker, 1 Met., 193; The Same v. The Same, 3 Met., 469; Delaware Bank v. Jarvis, 20 N. Y., 226. See also Coolidge v. Brigham, 1 Met., 547, 551, and Polhill v. Walter, 3 Barn. & Adolph., 114. In Lobdell v. Baker, last case, Chief Justice Shaw says: “ Whoever takes a negotiable security is understood to ascertain for himself the ability of the contracting parties; but he has the right to believe, without inquiring, that he has the legal obligation of the contracting parties appearing on the bill or noté. Unexplained, the purchaser of such a note has the right to believe, upon the faith of the security itself, that it is indorsed by one capable of binding himself by the contract which an indorsement by the law imports. It is an averment to that effect, on the part of him who procures sucb indorsement and puts the note bearing it into circulation.”

But tbougb we think the learned judge wbo presided at tbe trial was so- far right in his conclusions, we are, notwithstanding, of opinion that he was in some other respects wrong, both in the instructions given and in the requests to charge refused, as well as in the exclusion of evidence.

To speak first of the evidence which was improperly excluded, it seems very clear to our minds that the testimony offered for the purpose of showing the insolvency of Halloway should have been received. It was admissible, if the insolvency was established, to reduce the damages which the plaintiff would otherwise be entitled to recover. The value of a chose in action, like a note or other promise or obligation in writing for the payment of money, is intrinsically nothing. It cannot be estimated as we estimate that of a horse, an acre of land, or other article of visible, tangible property. Its value depends on the pecuniary condition, or ability to pay, of the parties liable thereon; and hence the proper inquiry, where the value is in controversy, always is, Are the parties to it solvent and able to pay their debts ? The value of the note here, or rather of Halloway’s indorsement upon it, supposing such in-dorsement to have been valid, is dependent on his solvency or pecuniary ability to pay the sum for which it was given ; and such value was in controversy, and the proper subject of investigation, because therein consisted the loss or damage sustained by Bishop, or the plaintiff as his assignee, in consequence of the contract of indorsement being void on the ground of usury. If Halloway then was and still is pecuniarily worthless, so that he could pay nothing, and nothing could then have been or now be collected from him in satisfaction of the note, then it is clear that neither Bishop nor the plaintiff as his assignee has lost anything by reason of the invalidity of the indorsement, save only the costs and expenses incurred by the plaintiff in his action against Halloway to charge him as indorser, or to test and determine tbe validity of bis supposed contract of in-dorsement Evidence was received on tbe part of tbe plaintiff, by tbe return of tbe' sheriff on tbe execution issued upon tbe judgment obtained on tbe note against Noyes and Blivin, tbe makers of it, of tbeir insolvency, or of tbe inability of tbe sheriff, after diligent search, to find any property belonging to them out of which to make tbe execution. Had Noyes and Blivin been possessed of property and able to pay, and bad tbe sheriff made tbe amount of tbe execution out of their property, no doubt tbe defendant could have shown tbe fact in ■ diminution of tbe damages claimed by tbe plaintiff. In that case, it would have been apparent that no damages bad been suffered by tbe plaintiff in consequence of tbe breach of the implied contract of warranty, except only such as he. had sustained by tbe payment of the costs and expenses of the suit against Halloway. It is hardly less apparent, supposing tbe promise or legal liability of Halloway to have been and still to be of no pecuniary value, that neither Bishop nor the plaintiff has sustained any loss by reason of not having obtained it. The implied warranty is limited to tbe validity of tbe contract or chose in action sold, and to tbe liability of tbe persons appearing as parties to it. Such warranty does not include the pecuniary responsibility of the parties to tbe contract, or tbeir ability to discharge its obligations or to furnish satisfaction out of tbeir property. The pecuniary condition and ability of the contracting parties are things which tbe purchaser is supposed to ascertain and know for himself, and for which be does not hold tbe seller responsible, except upon special agreement required and entered into for that purpose. Tbe pecuniary responsibility of the indoi’ser, Halloway, was not a matter embraced in any implied warranty arising upon tbe facts of tbe present case.

In an action for breach of warranty on a contract of sale of chattels, the measure of damages is tbe difference between the value of tbe chattels, if they had corresponded with the warranty, and their actual value, to which may be added, in proper cases, the reasonable expenses incurred by the purchaser in consequence of such breach. No reason is perceived, all other circumstances being equal, why this familiar rule is not as applicable to a breach of warranty on the sale of a chose in action as to one on the sale of goods or other personal property. By restoring to the purchaser all ihat he has lost on account of the breach, it seems to be the rule best calculated to do justice in either case. In case of the sale of goods, the damage is arrived at by direct proof óf the difference in .value. But where the thing sold is a contract or chose in action for the payment of money or delivery o£ other article of specified value, the loss is ascertained by proof of the pecuniary responsibility of the person supposed to have been the debtor, or promisor, or party otherwise appearing to have been liable 'upon the contract. If the contract or obligation assigned be of some different kind, then other evidence may be resorted to according to circumstances, as in Hurd v. Hall, where the value of the school land certificates was said to be governed by the value of the realty which they concerned, and. to which they were supposed to be annexed.

For convenience in judicial proceedings, it is a presumption generally indulged, that the maker of a promise or obligation is pecuniarily responsible and able to fulfill his promise or agreement. It has been said that insolvency is never presumed, but that an ability to meet all his engagements will be presumed in favor of every man. Prima facie, therefore, the value of a note or other contract in writing, the validity or due execution of which is shown, is the amount for which it was given, with interest; from which it follows that the burden of proving the insolvency of the maker or person otherwise liable thereon, rests on the party placing his defense on that ground. This presumption has most frequently been indulged in the action of trover, where the property sued for was a chose in action, as a bill, note, bond or other security for the payment of money where tbe validity of the instrument has been shown or admitted ; though it has sometimes also been indulged in other actions. It is not improbable that the same presumption arises here with respect to the solvency of Halloway, notwithstanding he was not in law an indorser of the note or legally liable thereon. The defendant voluntarily assumed the burden of showing his insolvency, which saves all necessity for investigating the question, if indeed there can be any question about it.

And the rule of damages above laid down, if not sanctioned by any direct adjudication, is at least sustained by numerous decisions in other very similar cases. It is the rule which obtains in actions of trover for the conversion of choses in action, as notes, bills, bonds and the like, and in other kindred actions. Sedgwick on the Measure of Damages (4th ed.), 569, and authorities cited; Sherman v. Johnson, Thrall v. Newell, and Coolidge v. Brigham, cited above; Neff v. Clute, 12 Barb., 466; Walrod v. Ball, 9 id., 271; Potter v. Merchants' Bank, 28 N. Y., 641; Jansen v. Ball, 6 Cow., 628; Patterson v. Westervelt, 17 Wend., 543; Kellogg v. Manro, 9 Johns., 300. In Coolidge v. Brigham, where, upon the sale of goods by the plaintiff to the defendant, the latter delivered a note with a forged indorsement, the court said: “ The plaintiff was at liberty either to restore the note to the defendant, or to retain it and resort to his action on the warranty. In the latter case, the measure of damages will be the difference between the amount of the note and its actual value, whatever that may be.”

And in the present case, the note remaining uncollected against the'makers, the measure of damages will be the difference between the actual value of the note without the indorsement of Halloway, and what its value would be if it had been so validly indorsed, together with the reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the plaintiff in his attempted collection of it in the suit against Halloway. It was ruled, and as we think correctly, in j ust such a case, Delaware Bank v. Jarvis, ubi supra, that the party accepting the transfer of a chose in action is at liberty to act upon tbe implied assertion of tbe validity of tbe paper, and to bring an action for its collection; and' when defeated, be is entitled to recover tbe costs incurred by him from his assignor.

Tbe defendant requested tbe court to instruct the jury as follows : “ That if tbe jury find from tbe evidence that on the sale and transfer of tbe note in question from West to Bishop, Bishop asked of 'West to warrant tbe note, on the ground that Halloway was holden to him as indorser, and that West replied and said it was doubtful whether he was holden, and refused to warrant the note, in such case there was no implied warranty that Halloway was holden as indorser.” The court refused to grant the request, for the reason, as stated, that there was no evidence to authorize it, and said to the jury: “I judge that the meaning of the defendant was, that he was asked to indorse the note generally, and not to warrant that the note was not void for usury.”

From the evidence as reported to us (and the bill of exceptions is certified to contain it all), we can not resist the conclusion that the court was wrong, both in the refusal to instruct as requested, and in the remarks subsequently made to the jury. We can not understand the testimony of the defendant as the learned judge did ; and although such testimony was in some respects contradicted by that of the plaintiff and of Bishop, yet it was quite sufficient to justify the request to instruct which was made, and to take the case to the jury upon the proposition of fact involved in, or which was assumed as the basis of, such request. The testimony was such as to forbid the court from withholding it from the consideration of the jury, whose duty it was, under the circumstances, not only to construe it, but to decide upon its weight and credibility, and thus to settle the question of fact as between the different and somewhat conflicting statements of the several witnesses.

We see no other errors in the trial and proceedings; but for these the judgment must be reversed, and a new trial awarded.

By the Court. —It is so ordered.