Hinsdell & Pitcher v. Weed

5 Denio 172 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1848

McKissock, J.

I shall first examine this case as if the action xvere brought by O. B. Brackett, the original carrier and owner of the boat. The bill of lading virtually directed the delivery of the flour to the consignee, he paying the freight; for though there was no such condition in the body of the bill, the order of the shippers at the bottom, on the defendant, xvho was the consignee, to collect and pay the freight, gave it that character. The consignee, therefore, on the receipt of the property, became liable to pay the freight by implication of law. (3 Kent, 221, 3d ed.; Abbott on Shipping, by Story, 284, § 4.) This doctrine is carried so far as to raise an implied contract to pay against the assignee of the consignee. (Cock v. Taylor, 13 East, 399; Dugal v. Kembell, 3 Bing. 383.) ^(a.)

It is however argued, on the part of the defendant, that the promise, if any, was to pay from a particular fund, and that fund having failed the obligation to pay ceased. But the obligation to pay did not depend upon the existence or adequacy of the fund. The reference to John Thomas merely indicated the source from which the consignee was to reimburse the money advanced. And if the whole flour had been delivered, there can be no doubt but the consignee would have been bound to pay the whole freight; though Thomas, of whom he was directed to get the money, had totally failed or refused to pay him. Again, it is said that the delivery of the whole flour is a condition precedent to the right to demand the freight, and as there was a deficiency of nineteen barrels that there was nothing due. The words in the order at the foot of the bill of lading are “ on delivery of all the above flour, E. Weed will please to collect of John Thomas freight and charges, and pay eighty-two to O. B. Brackett or order.” Now I consider that the word “ all” does not in any degree alter the meaning, and that the interpretation is to be the same as if it had read “ on safe delivery of the above flour.” The legal purport of the order is— on acceptance of the whole you will pay $82,44, and on receipt and acceptance of part you will pay less in proportion. In the case of a general ship, freight to be according to the quantity of the goods, it is payable on what is delivered. (Abbott on Ship, by Story, 300, § 9 ; 3 Kent, 227, 3d ed.) So also where the charter was to carry a full freight and the ship brought but half a cargo. (Ritchee v. Atkinson, 10 East, 295.) Even the acceptance and the receipt of any value binds the acceptor to pay the whole freight though the goods may have been greatly damaged. (Shields v. Davis, 6 Taunt. 65; Cook v. Jennings, 7 T. R. 381, per Lawrence, J.) Besides, in cases of vessels chartered for a particular sum, though there can be no recovery on the charter party without performance still on voluntary acceptance of part performance freight is recoverable' pro rata. (Post v. Robertson, 1 John. 24,27; Welch v. Hicks, 6 Cowen, 504.)

In the present case, the flour was received by the defendant without a word of objection on account of the deficiency, till demand is made of the freight; and then the refusal is not put upon the ground that no freight was due because of the nondelivery of the whole flour, but on the claim set up of a right to have the value of the lost flour applied in the adjustment of the freight. The result is, that the defendant having voluntarily accepted a portion of the property was bound for the freight pro rata.

Keeping in mind that we are still looking at the matter as though the original carrier were the plaintiff, let us inquire whether the defendant should have been permitted to recoup his damages for the loss of the flour against the freight. The plaintiff claims compensation for his services. To this the defendant replies, you have failed in the performance of your part of the contract, by which I have sustained loss. Deduct that and you shall forthwith have the balance, if any. This proposal of the defendant is according to the plainest, dictates of reason and equity, and conformable to the law applicable to similar cases. The claims of both parties should be adjusted in one action. (Reab v. McAllister, 8 Wend. 109; Batter-man v. Price, 3 Hill, 171.) It has been said that the defendant has no interest in the damages for not delivering the flour, and therefore cannot set them up against the claim for freight. This can only be on the assumption that he is a mere agent to receive the property. This proves too much, for if it be true, then there is no implied promise to pay the freight arising out of the fact of receiving the flour. The answer, however, is not well founded, for the defendant as the consignee of the flour became bound to pay the freight, and had a right to bring against it the damages occasioned by the breach of the contract of the carrier.

But it is contended that whatever might have been the law between Brackett, the original owner of the boat, and the defendant, the plaintiffs are not answerable for the lost flour, as it never came to their possession. This position rests on tha assumption that their agreement was simply to carry the flour that was on board the boat at Syracuse from that place to Albany for a specific freight, and that this was an original contract entirely independent of, and disconnected with, the one with Brackett under which the flour was shipped. But this is by no means correct. The plaintiffs took possession of the boat and cargo at Syracuse, and having thus deprived Brackett of the means of fulfilling his engagement, they propose to the shippers, not to carry the cargo to Albany if they would pay to them a freight, but according to the very nature of the case declare “ we cannot deliver this load on account of O. B. Brackett. If you will give us an order to collect the freight on delivery in Albany we will forward the flour with all reasonable despatch.” This they say with the bill of lading in their hands, showing that Brackett had already received all the freight but $82,44. This proposal the shippers accept, sending at the same time an order on the defendant, stating the circumstances and saying to the defendant “we wish jmu therefore to pay tó the order of the plaintiffs the balance of the freight to be paid on the delivery of said flour with the original bill of lading.” It will be perceived at once that there is no possibility of separating the undertaking of the plaintiffs from the whole of the obligations of Brackett. They were substituted in his place, and were to have their compensation when they should have performed his original engagement. It follows either that the delivery of the whole flour was a condition precedent, or that the claim for compensation should be subject to a deduction to the amount of the damages for non-fulfilment, without respect to the question whether the part missing was lost before or after the plaintiffs took charge of the boat and cargo. Having already shown that the recoupment of these damages would have been the proper mode of adjusting the matter in a suit for the freight by the original carrier, it should have been allowed in the present case. I am of opinion, therefore, that the report of the referee should be set aside.

Whittlesey, J.

The usual bill of lading accompanying goods sent by ship directs that the goods shall be delivered to A. B. or his assigns, he or they paying freight for the same at a specified rate, according to the bill of lading. Under such a. document it is held that the person receiving the goods, whether the consignee or his assigns, shall, if he accept the same, be liable in assumpsit for the freight. (Cock v. Taylor, 13 East, 399; 3 Bing. 383; Story on Bailment, § 589 ; Abbott on Shipping, 285.) The party so receiving the goods is held liable because it is provided in the bill of lading that he shall pay freight whether he be- the consignee himself or the assignee of the consignee.

The bill of lading in this case is not precisely in that form. The contract for the freight seems to have been made by the consignors or shippers. They advanced the greater amount to the owner of the boat, leaving only a small balance due to the carrier. For the payment of this balance they drew upon the defendant at the foot of the bill of lading, requesting him, upon the delivery of all the flour, to collect of another person, and pay to the carrier, the balance which would be due for the freight. This bill of 'lading with this order came to the possession of the plaintiffs. They could perceive at once by it the nature of the contract; and they were willing to continue the voyage which had been begun, if this balance could, at the end of the voyage, be paid to them instead of the former owner of the boat. They wrote to the consignors expressing their willingness so to do, who in return in efiect accept their proposition and give them an order upon the defendant in substantially the same terms as that they had previously given in favor of the former owner of the boat. The defendant was directed to collect and pay upon the safe delivery of all the flour. It seems to me apparent from the bill of lading that the defendant was but- a mere agent to perform the directions of the consignors. It seems to me also that the plaintiffs should have understood that he acted in this capacity alone. What then was the defendant’s duty? He was directed to pay the balance of freight upon delivery of all the flour. This had not all been delivered, and he could not therefore, in pursuance of the directions, pay the freight. Is he then therefore liable to the plaintiffs in this action because he accepted the flour ? It seems to me that this is different from the common case which makes the consignee liable, because the bill of lading requires him to pay. In this case, the original owner of the boat made, it is evident, a contract with the consignors for the transportation of the" flour. As a mode of payment of part of the freight they drew upon the defendant to pay, upon a certain contingency, to wit, the delivery of all the flour. The defendant could not honor the draft unless the contingency had happened, to wit, the delivery of all the flour. It would be at the master’s option to retain the flour by virtue of his lien as carrier, or to deliver it and look to the consignors for payment, because their draft upon the defendant had not been honored. But I cannot perceive any assumpsit, express or implied, to pay this freight unless the whole flour is delivered.

The plaintiffs made a new contract of precisely the same character with the consignors, whom they also treated as the owners of the flour, contracting for its transportation. The result to the plaintiffs must be the same. They must either detain the flour for the freight, or, having delivered it, look to the consignors. The consignors in such case are liable. (Barker v. Havens, 17 John. R. 234.) As the flour was lost before this new or second bargain was made, it is probable that as between the plaintiffs and the consignors the latter must sustain the loss. But that question is to be settled between those parties, and not with this defendant. I do not consider him liable in this action to the plaintiffs, and for that reason I think the report of the referee should be set aside.

Report set aside.

(a.) <?) See also Merian v. Funde, (4 Venio, 110.)