Baltimore Roofing & Asbestos Mfg. Co. v. Rubber Roofing Mfg. Co.

160 N.Y.S. 1006

• Court: Appellate Terms of the Supreme Court of New York
• Decided: October 17, 1916
• Status: Published

Opinion

SHEARN, J.

[ 1 ] The alleged contract set out in the counterclaim consisted of the acceptance of the following written order:

“Enter our blanket order for approximately 8,000 to 10,000' squares of your various roofings, which we will sell under our brand at prices as indicated in this communication, in mixed and less car shipments.”

In this order eight brands of roofing, with various weights and prices for different brands, are specified, but the number of squares of any particular brand which defendant might require is not stated in the order. In my opinion, this accepted order is too indefinite to constitute a valid and enforceable contract. Nowhere is there any term or duration of the alleged contract specified. During what period of time was the appellant to have the right to demand deliveries from the respondent? During what period of time could the respondent have insisted upon the appellant’s accepting or taking deliveries under the alleged contract? These questions at once suggest themselves, but the writings between the parties leave them unanswered.

Neither can it be determined from the alleged contract what would have been the respondent’s rights if the appellant had refused to order or take a single item of merchandise. The seller could not put aside merchandise and sue for the purchase price, because no purchase price is specified, and it is impossible to say what kind or quality of material could have been put aside. If a particular kind had been put aside, appellant might have refused to take it, claiming that it was not the kind or quality which it was intended to order. Neither could the respondent have sold the merchandise and sued to recover the difference between the contract price and the selling price, for it would not have known what priced squares to sell, or how much to sell. Neither could the respondent have maintained an action for damages to recover the difference between the contract price and the market price, because no contract price is specified, and no one could tell the market price, as the kind of goods in question are impossible of specification. It is not clear why appellant’s counsel cites so conspicuously the case of Velleman v. Blumenthal, 172 App. Div. 331, 158 N. Y. Supp. 393, which has absolutely no bearing upon the point at issue. There the preliminary order was a blanket order, but when a sample was sent a specific order was given and accepted.

[2] Even if the contract were valid, the counterclaim should have alleged a demand for certain goods and a refusal to furnish them. This is not covered by a general allegation that defendant was ready and willing to perform.

Judgment affirmed, with costs. All concur.