Bluegrass Canning Co. v. Steward

175 F. 537, 99 C.C.A. 159, 1909 U.S. App. LEXIS 4941
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
DecidedDecember 14, 1909
DocketNos. 1,956, 1,957
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 175 F. 537 (Bluegrass Canning Co. v. Steward) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bluegrass Canning Co. v. Steward, 175 F. 537, 99 C.C.A. 159, 1909 U.S. App. LEXIS 4941 (6th Cir. 1909).

Opinion

LURTON, Circuit Judge.

This was an action for damages by the vendee for the breach of a contract for the sale of 750,000 Steward’s sanitary cans, suitable for packing tomatoes, and a counterclaim by the vendor. There was a judgment for plaintiff for part of its claim, less a part of the defendant’s counterclaim. Each party has sued out a writ of error.

On February 12, 1904, the Blue Grass Canning Company signed in duplicate a written order in these words:

“Columbus, O., February 12, 1904.
“L. & J. A. Steward, Rutland, Vt.
“Gentlemen: Please enter our order for seven hundred and fifty thousand (750,000) tin cans as follows:
“About 305 M. Standard three-pounds at $20.75
“About 375 5’/¿ in. tall cans at 23.00
“Freight equalized with Hoopston, Ill.
“Usual allowance made by us of two cans per thousand for leaks and all can leaks over that to be paid for cans and contents as usual caused by defective manufacture.
“Shipments in car load lots, one car in June and two cars in July and other. shipments as hereafter specified during August, September and October. Four [539]*539machines to bo furnished (soamers) us at $330.00 each, to be paid for half October first after packing season and before January 1, 1905.
“Usual terms sight draft against bill of lading.
“Biue Grass Canning Company,
Accepted, .T. N. Grant, Manager.’1
“B. & J. A. Steward.”

This was accepted by the vendor, L. & J. A. Steward, in writing, as shown above, and one copy retained by each.

The parties will hereafter be designated simply as vendor and vendee.

Under this order 86,140 cans were shipped and received and used by the vendee. Some 8,000 of these cans proved defective lor some reason, either because the cans were badly made or because the seaming machines supplied under the same contract were not capable of making them airtight. Some 200,000 other cans were shipped, but, failing to get a definite guaranty in respect to them, they were rejected. Thereupon this shipment was attached by the vendee, in the hands of the carrier, and this action for damages begun. The damages averred to have been sustained were of two kinds: First, actual damages resulting from the loss of 8,000 cans, with their contents, aggregating some $'100; and, second, damages alleged to have been sustained through the failure of the vendor to supply them with the full number of sanitary cans up to the contract and with seaming machines fit to make the cans airtight when filled. The latter kind of damages were said to amount to some $14,000. There was a judgment for the plaintiff for some $600 on account of the first kind of damages, offset to the extent of $350 by a counterclaim set. up by the vendor for the price of one seaming machine, which had been delivered, but not paid for.

The court excluded evidence of an alleged oral contract made antecedent to the writing set out heretofore. This oral agreement was declared upon as the complete contract between the parties; the writing of February 12,1904, being treated as a mere order made in pursuance of and under the prior oral contract.

The alleged complete oral agreement, as stated in the petition, differs from the agreement as reduced to writing and signed by both parties only, in that it is stated that:

“It was understood and agreed between the plaintiff and defendants that an allowance of two cans out of each thousand of said cans should be expected and deducted for all imperfections in all said cans, and That the remainder of said cans should be perfect and should be so made by defendants as to be airtight and perfect and when sealed would be airtight and prevent the atmosphere from entering and perfectly preserve the tomatoes and contents therein.”

Upon this matter the writing says:

“Usual allowance of two cans per thousand for leaks and all can leaks over that to he paid for cans and contents as usual caused by defective manufacture.”

In respect of the seaming machines, the oral contract is thus stated:

“And defendants further agreed with the plaintiff that said four seaming machines should be so constructed as that said cans could be perfectly sealed and made airtight therewith.”

[540]*540The contract of sale as reduced to'writing included no representations, warranty, or guaranty as to these machines. All that is said about them is:

“Four machines to be furnished (seamers) us at $350.00 each to be paid for half October first after packing season and before January 1, 1003.”

The material difference between the preceding parol negotiations and the written contract or order which resulted is that something was said in the nature of a warranty that the seaming machines to be supplied should answer the purpose intended by the buyer, and perfectly seal and make airtight the cans to which they should be applied. This warranty was not embodied in the writing, which evidently'- was intended by both parties to include the terms and conditions of the sale. The machines purchased are specifically designated in the order accepted. They were delivered and put into operation. It is not claimed that any 4efect in their operation was known to the vendor and unknown to the vendee. They were adapted to perform the work expected to be done. That the results may have proved unsatisfactory, because some of the cans proved leaky after being filled and subjected to high pressure in the cooking operation, is as much as is averred in the pleadings. But that a warranty results from the mere sale of •> definite article upon a specific order for a particular article, even when the thing is required for a particular purpose, is not supported by the settled rules of law. In Seitz v. Brewers’ Refrigerating Machine Co., 141 U. S. 510, 518, 13 Sup. Ct. 46, 48, 35 L. Ed. 837, the rule is thus stated:

“Where a known, described, and definite article is ordered of a manufacturer, although it is stated by the purchaser to be required for a particular purpose, still, if the known, described, and definite thing be actually supplied, there is no warranty that it shall answer the particular purpose intended by the buyer.”

If the buyer desired a warranty that these machines would make airtight, without regard to other conditions, every can sealed through their use, it should have demanded it and included it in the final agreement of purchase.

That .the written contract fully expressed the final agreement is apparent. It was complete and perfect upon its face, and wholly without ambiguity. It was not error to exclude evidence of a warranty by parol which would operate as an addition to the written contract. The case is governed by Seitz v. Brewers’ Refrigerating Company, cited above, and Huntington v. Toledo, etc., Railroad Co., 175 Fed. 532, where the subject of adding a new term, by parol, to a written agreement, is fully considered by Judge Warrington, speaking for this court.

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Bluebook (online)
175 F. 537, 99 C.C.A. 159, 1909 U.S. App. LEXIS 4941, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bluegrass-canning-co-v-steward-ca6-1909.