T. B. Scott Lumber Co. v. Hafner-Lothman Manufacturing Co.

91 Wis. 667 | Wis. | 1895

Marshau., J.

There are three questions only presented on this appeal, and they will be considered in their order.

1. Was it intended that the respondent should sell and appellant should buy lumber to the amount designated in the contract, to be taken from the piles in respondent’s yards, rejecting only worthless mill culls?

The intent of the parties at the time of making the contract must govern, and that must be sought out from the instrument itself. The question is, What is the meaning of the words used? Weiseger v. Wheeler, 14 Wis. 101; Farmers L. & T. Co. v. Comm. Bank, 15 Wis. 424; Johnson v. W. W. Nat. Ins. Co. 39 Wis. 87. This is subject, however, to another rule,— that, if the terms of the contract are uncertain, resort may be had to the situation’of the parties and the circumstances at the time of making the contract, to enable the court to determine the proper construction to be given to it. Wilson v. Morse, 52 Wis. 240. Now, the instrument in question, though in the form of an order accepted, constitutes a written contract, subject to all the rules governing such instruments. Defendant agreed to buy and plaintiff agreed to sell a certain amount of lumber, “ piled for C select and better,” and “for shop and flat.” Now, it is a rule of construction, to be observed, that the contract should be so construed, if possible, as to give effect to all its parts. Jacobs v. Spalding, 71 Wis. 177. The words, “piled for C select and better,” and “ for shop and flat,” are significant. They were not inserted without some definite purpose. If the lumber was sold strictly on grades, as defendant claims, then no effect is to be given to those words whatever. We think that, considering the words in connection with the circumstance that before the contract was made there was some discussion over whether the sale should be made “ pile run” or strictly “ on grades,” and that defendant’s agent had seen the lumber in piles, and there made to- some extent an inspection of it, and defendant had actually received two car loads, which, so far as appears, were a fair sample of the whole, the conclusion is easily reached that such words refer to lumber as piled in the yard, or “ pile run,” except as otherwise specified in the agreement; that the contract does not call for “ C select and better,” and “ shop and flat,” but for the lumber piled for snob classes, which defendant’s agent Green had looked over in plaintiff’s yard at Merrill. If there could otherwise be anjr doubt on this point, such doubt would be easily resolved in plaintiff’s favor from the use of the words, “it also being understood that worthless mill cull lumber is not to be accepted on this order.” These significant words, evidently used for a definite purpose, would have no meaning if the preceding portion of the contract called for classes known as “ C select and better,” and “ shop and flat.” But, considering that the preceding part of the contract called for the lumber piled for the classes mentioned, and that the words were added so that worthless mill culls found in the piles might be rejected, then their importance is readily understood.

It follows that the contract called for the amount of lumber mentioned therein, “ pile run,” from the piles that had been pointed out to defendant’s agent in the yards at Merrill, Wis., exclusive of worthless mill culls, and defendant was bound to receive the same, subject only to inspection in respect to the dimensions mentioned in the contract, and the rejection of such culls, and that the interpretation of the agreement by the trial court was correct.

2. The next question is, Was there an implied warranty that the lumber should be merchantable for defendant’s use at its factory?

It is undoubtedly the rule, as contended for by defendant, that where manufactured articles are sold for a particular purpose, and the purchaser does not have an opportunity for inspection, but trusts to the judgment of the seller, there is an implied contract that such articles will come within the description of those contracted for, and be merchantable for the particular purpose intended. Merriam v. Field, 24 Wis. 640; Benj. Sales, § 657. But when, as in this case, the purchaser has had a fair opportunity for inspection, having seen the property and actually received two car loads of the same kind, and in making the purchase relies on his own judgment, and there is no fraud, the doctrine of implied warranty has no application. Hight v. Bacon, 126 Mass. 10, 30 Am. Rep. 639; Bragg v. Morrill, 49 Vt. 45; Barr v. Gibson, 3 Mees. & W. 390; Jones v. Bright, 5 Bing. 533.

3. Bid the court err in allowing as damages $1 per thousand on the lumber which defendant refused to take ?

The proper rule of damages in such cases is the difference between the contract price and the market price at the time of the breach. Richardson v. Chynoweth, 26 Wis. 656; Hill v. Chipman, 59 Wis. 211; Osgood v. Bauder & Co. 75 Iowa, 550; Brownlee v. Bolton, 44 Mich. 218. It is often said that, in case of a resale within a reasonable time, the measure of damages is the difference between the price obtained and the contract price; but this is upon the ground that the price so obtained is evidence against the original vendee of the market value, and that, if the sale is properly conducted, it fixes, as against him, the amount of the vendor’s damages. It is more properly said that the price obtained at the resale is evidence of the market value. Bigelow v. Legg, 102 N. Y. 653; Case v. Simonds, 7 N. Y. Supp. 253. So the true rule is that, in an action for damages for the refusal on the part of the vendee to accept goods as agreed in his contract of purchase, the measure of damages is the difference between the market value of such goods at the time of the breach, ■and the price the vendee agreed to pay; and when a resale is made within a reasonable time, though made at auction, as in the case of Bigelow v. Legg, supra, the price obtained is evidence to be considered on the question of the market value at the time of such breach; and if a resale is made, .and the evidence shows that all reasonable efforts were made to secure the best price obtainable, or that the price obtained was a fair one, it settles the question of the market •value, so that- the damages become liquidated. Pollen v. Le Boy, 30 N. Y. 549. It follows that the trial court in this case was not bound to be governed by the evidence of resale. Neither was the plaintiff bound to prove the market value by evidence of the resale. The evidence produced of that character was competent and proper for consideration, but, inasmuch as it was not definite, the trial court very properly refused to be governed by it. Presumably, the true rule was kept in mind,— that the controlling question is: What was the market value at the time of the breach.? and, in that view, we think that the finding of $1 per thousand, as a difference between the contract price and such market value, is fairly supported by the evidence. It is certainly not against the clear preponderance of the evidence.

It follows that the judgment of the circuit court should be affirmed.

By the Court.— The judgment of the circuit court is affirmed.