127 Mo. App. 320 | Mo. Ct. App. | 1907
This is an ordinary action in assumpsit for a balance alleged to- be due on coal sold and delivered to the defendant by plaintiff. The balance
No doubt the evidence tended to prove there Avas a bona fide reclamation by defendant on account of inferior coal. As to the difference in value of lump and mine-run coal, the evidence is conclusive; and if plaintiff delivered the inferior sort, when the contract of purchase was for lump coal, defendant was entitled to be reimbursed the difference in the price. Plaintiff’s counsel contends that as defendant had sold the coal to its customers it sustained no loss. There is no proof that it has sustained no loss, and for aught we know its customers may have demanded and obtained reclamation. However, we regard that matter as irrelevant and not to be investigated in the present cause. Plaintiff had sold lump coal and if it delivered an inferior grade, defendant had a just demand against it for the difference in the price of the two articles. [Joplin Water Co. v. Bathe, 41 Mo. App. 285; Long v. Armsby, 43 Mo. App. 253.]. It ought to be said in justice to plaintiff that it contends the coal it sold had been purchased from other dealers1 and plaintiff supposed it was getting lump coal.- But even if inferior coal was furnished by mistake, that did not relieve plaintiff from its liability to defendant. The question then is whether, as plaintiff’s demand is of a liquidated character, payment by defendant of a less amount in settlement of the controversy AAdiich had arisen between the parties, Avould constitute a valid accord and satisfaction. Under the authorities Ave think there can be no doubt that it would be. As defendant’s claim was made in good faith and apparently based on actual occurrences, the circumstance that plaintiff’s demand was for a liquidated indebtedness, did not render invalid as an accord and satisfaction, the settlement made in February. What is essential in such cases is to find a consideration for the
It is further claimed in behalf of the plaintiff that the declaration of law given by the court shows the court misconceived the facts in assuming * there was evidence of a dispute between the parties as to the amount due plaintiff for coal sold and delivered by plaintiff during the months of December and January. The substance of this contention is that the undisputed evidence shows defendant put forward no claim that inferior coal had been delivered in January. What the evidence shows is that Schmiek said none of the eighty-five cars of mine-run coal which he had positive proof were received by defendant, were delivered in January. It does not show that he admitted there was no bad coal delivered during that month, but on the contrary, that he claimed the same proportion ran through all the months. However, at most, this wording of the instruction is immaterial. What the court had to find and did find, was that there was a substantial controversy between the parties as to what defendant owed plaintiff, and that this disagreement arose in consequence of a bona fide and plausible claim by defendant that it ought to be reimbursed for inferior coal, delivered to it under its contract for screened coal. The court found there was such a controversy, and as the evidence supported
The judgment is affirmed.