Miamisburg Twine & Cordage Co. v. Wohlhuter

71 Minn. 484 | Minn. | 1898

START, O. J.

Action on a promissory note for $660, given for a part of the purchase price of twine. The answer set up a counterclaim to the effect that the twine was represented and warranted to the plaintiff to be of good material, of pure Manila, of first-rate quality, and in accordance with the sample exhibited to the defendants at the time of the sale; that there was a breach of the warranty, whereby the defendants sustained damages in the sum of $1,200. The reply denies that there was any warranty- or sale by sample. Verdict for the defendants for $220. The plaintiff appealed from an order denying its alternative motion for judgment or a new trial.

1. The plaintiff claims that the sale was by sample, - and not by warranty, or, if it should be held that there was an express warranty, that it applies only to defects which were not apparent in the sample, and would not survive the acceptance, except as to such defects. The evidence was sufficient to establish the warranty claimed, and a breach ’thereof, but the plaintiff claims that the answer alleges only a sale by sample, and that there is no evidence that the twine delivered did not correspond with the sample.

The allegations of the answer in this respect are in these words:

“That, to induce the said defendants to purchase the said twine, the said plaintiff represented that the said twine was of good material, and was of the same quality and material as the sample which was exhibited to said defendants; and that, the defendants, relying upon the statements of said plaintiff that the said twine was of pure Manila of first-class quality, and in accordance with the sample exhibited to said defendants at the time that they were so induced to purchase the same, gave an order for the said twine, and agreed that, in case the said twine was of pure Manila, and was in accordance with the sample exhibited to said defendants, at said time, that they, the said defendants, would pay therefor the full sum of twenty-three hundred and one and 40/100 dollars ($2,301.40).

“That, relying upon said representations of said plaintiff, and not otherwise, the said defendants gave an order for said twine, and, in case the same fulfilled all of the conditions and representations of the said plaintiff, who warranted and agreed that the said twine should be as represented, and in accordance with said sample, that they, the said defendants, would pay therefor the sum of twenty-three hundred and one and 40/100 dollars ($2,301.40).”

These allegations are to the effect that the twine was not only sold by sample, but by description as well, with an express warranty that it should correspond with both the description and the sample. In such a case it is not sufficient that the bulk of the goods corre-' sponds with the sample, if the goods do not also correspond with the description, for there is a twofold warranty of conformity to sample and quality; and the vendee may retain the goods, and rely upon his warranty as to description. 1 Parsons, Cont. 578; Day v. Raguet, 14 Minn. 203 (273); Mandel v. Buttles, 21 Minn. 391; Wood v. Michaud, 63 Minn. 478, 65 N. W. 963; Josling v. Kingsford, 13 C. B. (N. S.) 447; Gould v. Stein, 149 Mass. 570, 23 N. E. 47; Morse v. Moore, 83 Me. 473, 22 Atl. 362; Northwestern v. Rice, 5 N. D. 432, 67 N. W. 298.

There being evidence in this case that the twine delivered did not correspond with the warranty as to quality, a prima facie case in favor of the defendants on their counterclaim was established, although no direct evidence was given that the twine did not correspond with the sample, or as to the character and’ quality of the sample.

2. The plaintiff further claims that all differences between the parties as to the quality of the twine were compromised and settled by plaintiff extending the time of payment for the twine, when it accepted the defendant’s promissory notes, including the one here in question, for the purchase price of the twine. The evidence on this question made it one for the jury, and tends to show that there was neither a waiver nor a settlement of defendants’ claims under the warranty, but that the notes were given upon an express reaffirmance of the warranty. True, the evidence on this point was conflicting, but the weight of it was for the jury.

3. The last claim made by plaintiff is that the damages allowed by the jury on the defendants’ counterclaim were excessive. The purchase price of the twine was $2,301.40, and the damages allowed were $880, made up of the note, $660, and the affirmative verdict in defendants’ favor of $220.

The measure of damages in this case was the difference between the value of the twine if it had been as represented and warranted and its actual value with its defects. In the absence of other evidence, the purchase price is prima facie its value, if it was as warranted. Minneapolis v. Bonnallie, 29 Minn. 373,13 N. W. 149; Merrick v. Wiltse, 37 Minn. 41, 33 N. W. 3. This rule is not changed where the purchaser of a warranted article resells it for an equal or greater price than that which he paid for it. Brown v. Bigelow, 10 Allen, 242; J. I. Case v. Niles, 90 Wis. 590, 63 F. W. 1013. It does not appear in this case whether or not the defendants sold the twine without warranty, but it does appear that they in many instances took back the twine they had sold to farmers, and gave them other twine in its place. The evidence in this case tends to show that fully one-half of the twine in question was worthless. The evidence reasonably sustains the damages as assessed by the jury.

Order affirmed.