Bowen v. Young

37 Misc. 547, 75 N.Y.S. 1027
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 15, 1902
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 37 Misc. 547 (Bowen v. Young) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bowen v. Young, 37 Misc. 547, 75 N.Y.S. 1027 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1902).

Opinion

Weight, J.

It appears by the complaint that, in October, 1895, Macintosh & Booney, who were copartners under the firm name of The Niagara Clip Co.” in the manufacture and sale of paper clips, at Buffalo, N. Y., entered into a contract with Dennis J. & John F. Gaynor, who were copartners under the name of “ Gaynor & Mitchell Manufacturing Co.,” whereby the latter agreed to make and deliver to the Niagara Clip Co., at Bridgeport, Conn., 8,000 pounds of Niagara ” clips of spring brass wire, at the agreed price of twenty-one dollars ($21) per hundred pounds, and also to make the necessary tools therefor and to perform services in and about the making of the same, for which the said Macintosh and Booney agreed to pay the sum of one hundred dollars ($100). And that when the said four tons or 8,000 pounds of clips had been completed and paid for, that then the said Gaymors should refund the said one hundred dollars ($100) to the said Macintosh & Booney; and that said four tons or 8,000 pounds of clips should not all be made and delivered at one time, but that the same should be made and delivered as required and in such quantities as should from time to time be ordered, the same to be paid for as .ordered, provided however that the whole quantity contracted for should be taken within a reasonable time, reference being had to the development of the business of “ The Niagara Clip Co.” .

That in September, 1896, said Macintosh & Booney sold to the defendant Young their interest in said contract' subject to the liability therein to take the said 8,000 pounds of Niagara clips, and the said Gaynors assented to said substitution and ratified the contract and accepted the defendant as the purchaser in the [549]*549said contract in the place of Macintosh & Rooney; and that defendant Young after his purchase of the interest of Macintosh & Rooney in the said contract, continued under the said name of The Niagara Clip Co.” to place orders with the Gaynors under said contract, for Niagara clips, until February 16, 1897, that being about four months after his purchase of the Niagara Clip Co.

That before the 1st day of January, 1896, the said Gaynors made the tools mentioned in the contract; and from time to time down to and including the 16th day of February, 1897, made and delivered as ordered to Macintosh & Rooney and to the defendant, 946 pounds of clips, under said contract.

It further appears from the complaint that ever since February 16, 1897, the defendant has refused and neglected and still refuses and neglects to take any more of said Niagara clips, or to place his order for the same or carry out the contract in any respect; and that said Gaynors have at all times been willing and ready to carry out said contract, but have been prevented from so doing by the defendant refusing to take and pay for said clips.

That after such refusal to perform by the defendant and before the commencement of this action said contract, with all claims for the breach thereof, were assigned by the said Gaynors to the plaintiff, and the plaintiff demands $1,292.72 damages for the loss of profits on the 7,054 pounds that being the balance of the 8,000 pounds contracted for after deducting the 946 pounds delivered prior to and inclusive, on the 16th day of February, 1897.

The defendant demurs to the complaint on the ground (among others) that the complaint does not show that a “ reasonable time, reference being had to the development of the business of the Niagara Clip Co.,” was given the defendant by the Gaynors as required by the contract within which to order and take the said balance of the clips contracted for.

The term reasonable time is a relative one, and the meaning depends entirely upon the attendant circumstances. 19 Am. & Eng. Ency. of Law, 1089, and cases cited.

In this case the question of reasonable time being dependent upon special and peculiar circumstances, to wit, the development of the business of the Niagara Clip Co.,” as stated in the contract, it becomes a question for the jury to determine, in view of all the facts in the case as they may be proved on the trial, whether or [550]*550not the defendant had a reasonable time within which to order and take the clips prior to the assignment by the Gaynors of their interest in the contract to the plaintiff. O’Brien v. Phœnix Ins. Co., 76 N. Y. 459, 19 Am. & Eng. Ency. of Law, 642, and cases cited.

Under the complaint it is proper to show that the Gaynors were ready and willing to carry ont the contract at all times up to the date of their assignment of their interest therein; and from the allegation that the Gaynors “ are still ready to fulfill ” it is reasonable to infer that the assignment was made immediately before the commencement of the action, which was about December 19, 1901, and that the defendant had up to that date since February 16, 1897, in which to order and take the clips and in which to develop the business. The defendant could not by neglecting to develop the business of the Niagara Clip Go., release himself from fulfilling his obligation in the contract; but he was entitled to have a reasonable time in which to develop the business. And whether or not he had a reasonable time for that purpose prior to the assignment by the Gaynors of their interest in the contract, is a question for tiie jury.

A further ground of demurrer is that it does not appear in the complaint that the Gaynors had tendered a performance of the contract by offering to deliver the said balance of 7,054 pounds of the clips.

In determining whether a complaint should be sustained as sufficient, we have.to consider not only the facts alleged, but also all that can by reasonable and fair intendment be implied from them; and averments which sufficiently point out the nature of the pleader’s claims are sufficient, if under them he would be entitled to give the necessary evidence to establish his cause of action. Coatsworth v. Lehigh Valley R. Co., 156 N. Y. 451.

Under the contract it appears that the clips were to be manufactured from time to time in such quantities as ordered. And it appears that the defendant since February 16,1897, up to the time of the assignment, refused to order any of the clips.

The word “ refuse,” as defined by the Gent. Dictionary means to deny, as a request, demand, or invitation; to decline to accept; reject; as to refuse an offer.”

Therefore under the complaint it is proper to show that the Gaynors at any time or times since February 16, 1897, down to the time of their assignment to the plaintiff, offered to manufae[551]*551ture and deliver to the defendant clips, and that such offer or offers were declined by him. Under.those circumstances it was not necessary to make a tender of the goods themselves, as it would have been an idle ceremony.

In Canda v. Wick, 100 N. Y. 127, the plaintiffs agreed to deliver to the defendant 400,000 brick at an agreed price. The brick were to be delivered in quantities from time to time at the plaintiffs’ convenience. After the plaintiffs had delivered 2,000 brick the defendant refused to receive the residué. On several occasions thereafter, the plaintiffs expressed a willingness to go on with the contract, but the defendant refused to receive the brick. Judge Andrews delivering the opinion of the court says: “ It was not necessary that the plaintiffs should tender the whole 400,000 brick in order to put the defendant in default.

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Bluebook (online)
37 Misc. 547, 75 N.Y.S. 1027, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bowen-v-young-nysupct-1902.