Cardinell v. Bennett

52 Cal. 476

• Court: California Supreme Court
• Decided: July 1, 1877
• Docket: No. 5208
• Status: Published

Opinion

The agreement between Carpenter and Cardinell was not a sale, but an agreement to sell—an executory, not an executed, contract. Cardinell never owned or acquired the title to the horse. It never was transferred to him, and he never had the right to its possession. (Civil Code, secs. 1661,1721, 1726-8; Story on Sales, secs. 1 and 274.) An action of this kind cannot be maintained, unless the plaintiff, at the time of the conversion, is the owner of the property, and entitled to its immedíate possession. (1 Chitty on Pleadings, 148-9 ;z 2 Greenl. on Ev. sees. 561-3.) Replevin or trover was not the plaintiff’s remedy, but an action for damages. (Story on Sales, secs. 430, 450; McDonald v. Hewitt, 15 Johns. 349.)

Thomas V. O'Brien, for the Respondent.

Plaintiff was entitled absolutely to the possession of the horse, as against either Carpenter or Bennett, on payment or tender. (Civil Code, secs. 1748, 1822, 2905, 1504, 1512; Tngersoll & Boride v. Emmerson, 1 Smith’s Ind. 77; Batters v. Everest, 20 Wend. 267; Roland v. Gundy, 5 Ohio, 202, and ■cases ; Story on Bailments, sec. 102.) As to the effect of tender, see Kirtright v. Cady, 211ST. Y. 343.)

By the Court :

Plaintiff had no property, either general or special, in the horse “ Chief Crowley ” at the time of the alleged conversion, or when this action was commenced. The transaction did not amount to a sale on credit from Carpenter to Cardinell, but a -contract whereby it was agreed that the latter should acquire the property'on the performance of certain conditions promised by him to be performed.

Judgment and order reversed and cause remanded.