Morrison v. American Developing & Mining Co.

47 P. 94 | Idaho | 1896

SULLIVAN, J.

This action was brought to recover the sum of $658.80, claimed to be due upon the contracts — one for cutting and delivering two hundred thousand feet of logs at four dollars and twenty-five cents per one thousand, and one for cutting and delivering four hundred stulls at forty-five cents each. Both causes of action were set up in one count. The cause was tried by the court and a jury, and verdict and judgment were in favor of the plaintiff. Defendant’s motion for a new trial was denied. This appeal is from tbe order denying the motion for a new trial and from the judgment.

Several errors are assigned, one of which is that the evidence is insufficient to sustain the verdict. After a careful consideration of the evidence, we find that the evidence is sufficient to sustain the verdict and judgment on the log contract. It Is also-contended that the evidence is insufficient to justify the verdict of the jury on the stull contract, and under that head it is contended that the complaint contains no allegation of damages on the stull contract, and that the evidence fails to show that plaintiff sustained any damages or injury on -account of that contract. Paragraphs 5 and 6 of the complaint contain the allegations touching said stull contract, and are as follows: “That plaintiff and defendant entered into a verbal contract, on or about the seventh day of October, 1894, whereby plaintiff was to deliver at the mine of said defendant four hundred stulls, at the contract price of forty-five cents each; and that said-plaintiff cut said four hundred stulls, and delivered thirty-two of said stulls at the mine of said defendant; and that said defendant then notified the plaintiff that said defendant did not want said stulls.” “That the value of said stulls so delivered to the mine of said defendant is fourteen dollars and forty cents; and that *79the amount of labor expended on the balance of said four hundred stulls was $110.40.” Said allegations do not aver that plaintiff sustained any damages by reason of the defendant company refusing to accept said stulls. It simply alleges that the amount of labor expended on the balance of said four hundred stulls (after deducting thirty-two stulls, which had been delivered to and accepted by defendant company) was $110.40. For aught the record shows, plaintiff may have sold the three hundred and sixty-eight stulls for more than defendant company had agreed to pay for them. No damage for breach of the contract is pleaded, and no injury proved. Unless plaintiff shows that he has sustained injury by reason of the breach upon the part of defendant, he cannot recover. (Geiss v. Wyeth Mfg. Co., 37 Kan. 130, 14 Pac. 463.) The cause is remanded to .the court below, with instructions to grant a new trial unless the plaintiff consents to a reduction of $110.40 on said judgment; and, if such consent is given, the court is authorized to reduce said judgment in the sum of $110.40. Costs awarded to appellant.

Morgan, C. J., and Huston, J., concur.