Southern Gas & Gasoline Engine Co. v. Adams & Peters

227 S.W. 945 | Tex. Comm'n App. | 1921

SPENCER, J.

Plaintiffs in error, a corporation, sued defendants in'error to recover the balance due upon the purchase price of a traction engine sold and delivered to plaintiffs in error; the agreed purchase price of the engine being $1,750.

Defendants in error answered that the engine was not as represented, but was defective, requiring numerous repairs and frequent overhauling, which delayed them in the harvesting 'of their potato crop, which resulted in damage to the same. In a cross-action, they asked damages; (1) For the difference, with interest, between the contract price of the engine- and its value as delivered to them; (2) for the amount expended for repairs, with interest; and (3) for the difference between the market value of the potato crop had it been harvested without delay and its value as depreciated by reason of such delay.

The case was submitted to the jury upon special issues, and the findings in response thereto placed the value of the engine at $1,423.45 and the damages to the potato' crop at $1,734.30. The court entered judgment for defendants in error for the sum of $836.31, and in arriving at this figure considered the items found by the jury, as well as payments made by defendants in error and other items about which there was no dispute.

Defendants in error filed a motion to have judgment entered in their favor for $863.23, with interest thereon from October 19, 1912, until the date of trial. The court declined to allow interest upon the $836.31 from June 15, 1912, to date of trial, upon the theory that there was no basis in the pleadings for its allowance. Upon appeal, the Court of Civil Appeals overruled all assignments of plaintiffs in error, but sustained the cross-assignment of defendant in error; and reformed the judgment, allowing defendants in error interest on $863.23 from! October 19, 1912, until paid. 198 S. W. 676.

In an action of this character the correct measure of damages for the loss of the potato'crop would be the difference between the market value of the potato crop as harvested and its value had the harvesting not been delayed, with interest from the date of the accrual of the cause of action until the date of trial. T. & P. Ry. Co. v. Tankersley, 63 Tex. 57.

When interest, as damages, is sought, it need not be specially pleaded to be recovered, but “the damages claimed in the pleadings must be laid in a sufficient amount to cover the loss at the time of the accrual of the cause of action, and the interest * * * from that date to the time of the trial.” S. A. & A. P. Ry. v. Addison, 96 Tex. 61, 70 S. W. 200.

The pleadings alleged the loss as the difference between the amount which defendants would have realized from the potato crop Tad it been harvested without delay and the amount actually realized on account of the delay resulting from the misrepresentations by plaintiffs in error as to the work the engine would do. The charge of the court made no reference to interest as an element of damage, but followed the general allegations of the pleadings. Defendants in error did not object to the charge as given, nor di(J they request a special charge embodying interest as an element of damage. It was the duty of the defendants in error to have requested a charge informing the jury to include interest from the date of the accrual of the cause of action up to the time of trial as an element of damage in the event that they found defendants in error had suffered damages, and, not having done so, they waived their right thereto. Galveston Oil Co. v. Malin, 60 Tex. 645.

We recommend, therefore, that the judgment of the Court of Civil Appeals reforming and- affirming the judgment be reversed, and .that the judgment of the trial court be affirmed.

PHILLIPS, C. J.

The judgment recommended in this case by the Commission of Appeals is adopted, and will be entered as the judgment of the Supreme Court.