Advanced Systems Laboratories, Inc. v. Data General Corp.

1985 Mass. App. Div. 65, 1985 Mass. App. Div. LEXIS 20

This text of 1985 Mass. App. Div. 65 (Advanced Systems Laboratories, Inc. v. Data General Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Massachusetts District Court, Appellate Division primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Advanced Systems Laboratories, Inc. v. Data General Corp., 1985 Mass. App. Div. 65, 1985 Mass. App. Div. LEXIS 20 (Mass. Ct. App. 1985).

Opinion

Larkin, J.

This appeal centers on a dispute over money owed for goods sold and delivered by the plaintiff, Advanced Systems Laboratories, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as the “seller”) to the defendant, Data General Corporation (hereinafter referred to as the “buyer”) in which the seller seeks to recover $8,896.60 interest and costs from the buyer.

Neither party contests that on July 16, 1979 the buyer ordered over the telephone 250 transformers from the seller referencing a “Purchase Order No. 10513.” The crux of the instant appeal lies in the resolution of the following factual dispute. The seller introduced business records and evidence of a previous course of dealing between the parties which, in its view, tended to show that the buyer had actually ordered 250 transformers, denominated buyer’s part “#900064.” In opposition, the buyer introduced both its own business records and the testimony of a former Data General employee, one Donald Pachico, the individual who made the critical phone call, indicating that part “009697” was the one which was actually ordered.

At trial, the buyer produced a written confirming order issued to the seller on or about August 1,1979 which specifically refers to “250 transformers, part #009697; date ordered July 16,1979;” “DO NOT DUPLICATE” and “Purchase Order No. 10513.”The seller does not contest the existence of its receipt of the written confirmation.

The seller produced evidence through its President, Dr. Vladimir Horvat, seeking to explain that although the aforementioned written purchase order was also numbered 10513, it had a different part number, price term and “ship-to-location” than the seller’s business record of the July 16, 1979 oral order. In addition, Dr. Horvat admitted that his company kept different model numbers than the buyer which could have contributed to the confusion. Additional evidence was presented indicating that the buyer did not always confirm oral orders with a writing, but that it did occasionally place orders by way of the confirmation memorandum. There was further evidence that it was also not unusual for the buyer to change order numbers. Proceeding upon the written confirmation as if it were an offer to buy additional transformers, the seller filled the order. In short, from the seller’s viewpoint, two contracts existed — one for the purchase of250 transformers part “#900064” and one for [66]*66250 transformers part “#009697" and therein lies the essence of the confusion and the resultant litigation.

Both sides produced conflicting evidence concerning the original telephone conversation. Dr. Horvat produced the seller’s own business records which indicated that the phone order of July 16, 1979 from Don Pachico was for purchase order “#10513,” 250 transformers “#900064” Revision F for shipping to Southboro, Mass. “Revision F” identified the fifth change in production of part “#900064.” Significantly, part “#009697” was not accompanied by a revision letter because it had never been modified. The seller also presented evidence of the buying history with respect to the parts in issue. Part #900064” was generally ordered in much larger quantities than part “#009697” and the buyer had never purchased as many as 200 of the 0p9697’s previously.

The two transformers were both custom designed by the seller for us in the buyer’s New Jersey subsidiary (formerly Digital Computer Controp). It was undisputed that the buyer would have no further use for these product lines after October 1, 1979, when the New Jersey subsidiary would become independent. For his part, Pachico maintained that he orally ordered part “#009697” when he made the critical telephone call. He argued that the aforementioned written confirmation supported his recollection.1

From approximately August 31,1979 to October 4,1979 the seller shipped the buyer 250 transformers part “#900064,” purchase order “#10513.” No “#009697” transformers were ever shipped. Pachico testified that shortly after the buyer’s receipt of the “#900064” transformers he telephoned the buyer to notify it of the improper delivery. A letter from Dr. Horvat dated October 17, 1979 recognized that a problem concerning the order existed. In response, Pachico mailed a letter dated October 31,1979 indicating that the buyer would not accept the shipment. A letter dated November 5,1979 confirmed that the seller received notice of the disputed shipment during October 1979. Thereafter, on November 29, 1979, a letter from Pachico was received by the seller cancelling purchase order “#10513.” The seller considered this letter as cancelling the “second” order of the “#009697” parts. Of course, according to the buyer, both in legal contemplation, as well as reality, this was the only order which had been made.

The buyer, through Pachico, attempted to obtain authorization to return the 250 transformers part “#900064.” No authorization was granted until late 1980 when the seller notified Dun & Bradstreet that it was willing to accept the return of the transformers. According to the buyer, since this authorization did not arrive until somewhere between twelve and fourteen months after its rejection of the goods, it had been previously forced to dispose of the transformers as scrap.

Following the events outlined above, the plaintff-seller filed suit in the District Court on July 30,1981 seeking payment on an account annexed. A trial was held in the District Court on October 18, 1982. Following the trial, judgment was entered for the plaintiff-seller in the amount of $8,896.00 plus interest and costs. At the request of the seller, the court entered the following rulings of law:

1. The said letter was not a timely rejection made with areasonable amount of time in accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 106, Section 2-602 (1). (Reference is to the October 31,1979 letter from buyer to seller).
2. The Defendant has not made any payments for the said goods [67]*67accepted and received from the Plaintiff in accordance with his legal obligation as stated in M.G.L. Chapter 106, Section 2-301.
3. The oral contract between the parties is enforceable and is not barred by the Statutes of Frauds as stated in M.G.L. Chapter 259, Section 1 and M.G.L. 106, Section 2-201.
4. The parties are merchants according to the terms of M.G.L. Chapter 106, Section 2-104 (1).
5. The Defendant was under a duty to return, resell or store the goods received from the Plaintiff in accordance with M.G.L. Chapter 106, Section 2-603 and 2-604.
6. The Defendant breached his above described duties with respect to the goods delivered to the Defendant.
7. The Plaintiff has suffered damages as a result of thé Defendant’s breach and these damages.

These rulings generate the issues here on appeal which we now proceed to consider seriatim.

The defendant maintains that no contract arose in the present case due to the parties’ failure to agree on the subject matter of the agreement. In approaching this issue, we accord deference to the trial court which saw and heard the witnesses, had the opportunity to evaluate their testimony and had the option of what evidence to credit. Kaplan v. Bessette, 357 Mass. 233, 257 N.E. 2d 926 (1970). See also New Boston Garden Corp. v. Board of Assessors of Boston, 383 Mass. 456, 420 N.E. 2d 298 (1981).

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Kaplan v. Bessette
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420 N.E.2d 298 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1981)

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1985 Mass. App. Div. 65, 1985 Mass. App. Div. LEXIS 20, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/advanced-systems-laboratories-inc-v-data-general-corp-massdistctapp-1985.