Wisconsin Lumber Co. v. Pacific Tank & Silo Co.

76 Wash. 452 | Wash. | 1913

Morris, J.

Appellant commenced this action to recover an amount claimed1 to be due on account of lumber sold respondent. Respondent answered, admitting the delivery of lumber of the value of $2,172.46, of which amount $1,201.71 was upon a contract for the delivery of silo stock, and the balance upon an open account. Counterclaim was then pleaded, setting forth a contract for the delivery of silo stock, quantity, grade, size, and price of the stock, with time of delivery, and alleging a breach of the contract in the failure to deliver within the time called for, and the resulting damage. Appellant, by way of reply, admitted the making of the contract, denied it had breached its terms, and alleged a breach by respondent in refusing to pay for deliveries of stock as provided for in the contract. The breach being admitted by both parties, the question for the court to decide, a jury having been waived, was which of the parties breached the contract, and the damages if any. This issue was found in favor of respondent. Appellant, attacking the findings as unwarranted by the evidence, appealed.

The first complaint is made of a finding that respondent was given sixty days’ credit for certain trade discounts. The order as prepared by respondent was silent as to the time of payment. Appellant, however, in its acknowledgment of the order, stated the terms under which payment should be made, and in its reply further alleged the terms aa found by the court. Its general manager likewise testified that these were the terms of the sale. This it seems to us is sufficient to justify the finding. Appellant, having alleged and proved the terms of payment, can hardly now say the court was in error in so finding.

The next contention is error in charging appellant with the breach of the contract and in the award of damages. Without a more specific reference, there is ample evidence tfo justify the conclusion reached by the court in these particulars. It is probably true that the evidence would sustain a different finding, but the court below having reached its conclusion upon contested facts with ample supporting evidence, and the evidence to the contrary not so preponderating as to justify us in saying the court was in error, we refuse to say such findings are not supported by the evi-1 dence. We find no question of law in the case, unless it be appellant’s contention that respondent waived the default of appellant in failing to deliver the silo stock within the time and in the quantities called for by the contract. We find no facts upon which such a waiver can be predicated. The mere fact that subsequent to the time fixed for the delivery,the respondent received a portion of the stock, does not of itself destroy its right to recover damages for delay. Dignan v. Spurr, 3 Wash. 309, 28 Pac. 529. There- might be circumstances under which such a receipt might be held a-waiver, but we find none of them present here. On the contrary, it clearly appears that respondent, on- different occasions,' called appellant’s attention to the damages sustained by reason of the failure to deliver promptly.

Finding nothing'to call for a reversal of the judgment, it is affirmed.

Crow, C. J., Parker, Mount, and Fullerton, JJ., concur.