Alexander Marketing Co. v. Medford

170 S.W.2d 809, 1943 Tex. App. LEXIS 304
Court of Appeals of Texas·Decided March 25, 1943·No. No. 5986·Published·Cited by 7 cases

Opinion

HALL, Justice.

The following is the agreed statement of the case: “The appellant was sued by the appellee on a stated account alleging the liability therefor against appellant because of goods, wares and merchandise furnished one E. Cannon, as the agent of appellant; and, in the alternative sought to allege agency in the said E. Cannon by estoppel. The estoppel allegations were based on the similarity of operations by E. Cannon during the period the account accrued, to previous years operations by E. Cannon while he was the agent of the appellant. The appellant denied E. Cannon to be its agent during the period the account accrued, either in fact or by estoppel. The case was submitted to a jury on special issues and on the answers of these issues by the jury, the court rendered judgment in favor of the appellee on the 29th day of August, 1941, in the sum of Eleven Hundred, Twenty-Six & 07/100 Dollars ($1126.07).”

Appellant’s 10th and 11th points are:

“10. All the positive testimony showed conclusively that E. Cannon was a member of the partnership composed of himself and L. Cannon, operating under the firm name of Cannon & Cannon, and not as agent for Alexander Marketing Company. The court erred in submitting special issue No. 4.”

“11. The positive testimony showing E. Cannon’s employment with Alexander Marketing Company had terminated on or before June 6, 1940, the court erred in submitting special issue No. 5 to the jury.”

Special issue No. 4 is: “Do you find from a preponderance of the evidence that E. Cannon in purchasing said merchandise was acting as agent of the Alexander Marketing Company at the time plaintiff (appellee) sold and delivered said merchandise to E. Cannon during 1940?” Jury answer: “Yes.”

Special issue No. 5 is: “Do you find from a preponderance of the evidence that E. Cannon’s employment with Alexander Marketing Company terminated on or before June 6, 1940?” Jury answer: “No.”

These points present the controlling question in the case. The town of Avery, Red River County, Texas, and outlying communities such as Box Elder and Lydia, lie in a large tomato-growing section. The marketing season for tomatoes there begins June 10th to 15th, and continues until about July 1st. Large quantities of tomatoes are grown, wrapped, and packed in lugs or crates and shipped out in truck and carload lots. Appellant, with headquarters at San Benito, Texas, is a dealer in tomatoes and vegetables, and was engaged in buying tomatoes at Avery and surrounding territory during 1936, 1937, 1938 and 1939, with E. Cannon as its agent. Before shipment the tomatoes are inspected and wrapped under large sheds. An agent [811] representing both Federal and State Departments of Agriculture inspects all shipments and issues an “inspection certificate” showing the owner, brand or trade mark, grade and number of lugs. Appellee is engaged in the general mercantile business in Avery and the items of merchandise forming the basis of this suit were sold and delivered by him to E. Cannon as the alleged agent of appellant, and were used in preparing for shipment tomatoes bought by Cannon at Avery, Box Elder and Lydia during the last half of June, 1940. Appellant admitted the agency of Cannon during the tomato season at Avery for the years 1936 to 1939, both inclusive, but denied any connection with him during 1940. It is contended that during 1940 Cannon was buying tomatoes at Avery and surrounding communities on his own account; and appellant’s secretary testified that Cannon’s connection with appellant was severed June 6, 1940, although Cannon testified that his agency was terminated about May 15, 1940.

The correct rule to be applied when testing the probative force of testimony is stated by the late Chief Justice Brown in the case of Wininger v. Ft. Worth & D. C. Railway Co., 105 Tex. 56, 143 S.W. 1150: “If, discarding all adverse evidence, and giving credit to all evidence favorable to the plaintiff, and indulging every legitimate conclusion favorable to the plaintiff which might have been drawn from the facts proved, a jury might have found in favor of the plaintiff,” that the evidence is sufficient to support the verdict. See, also, Underwood v. Security Life & Annuity Co. of America, 108 Tex. 381, 194 S.W. 585; Pennsylvania Fire Ins. Co. v. W. T. Waggoner’s Estate, Tex.Civ.App., 41 S.W.2d 340, affirmed, Tex.Com.App., 39 S.W.2d 593. Guided by above rule we shall discuss the facts and circumstances in this record favorable to appellee and which support the verdict of the jury in his behalf. As said before, it is admitted that E. Cannon during the tomato season of 1936 to’ 1939, both inclusive, acted as agent of appellant in purchasing tomatoes at Avery and outlying communities, and that during said seasons he purchased for and on behalf of appellant certain items of merchandise similar in character to those forming the basis of this lawsuit. May 21, 1940, the following telegram was received by D. D. Burden at Avery:

“San Benito, Texas 4:28 P. M. 5/21st ’40

“D. D. Burden, Avery Texas

“Hold New Gin Company Shed For Me If Possible Get Rent Down To $125 Wire Confirmation

“Alexander Marketing Company, Tubby.”

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Alexander Marketing Co. v. Medford, 170 S.W.2d 809, 1943 Tex. App. LEXIS 304 (Tex. Ct. App. 1943).

170 S.W.2d 809 (Alexander Marketing Co. v. Medford) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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