Edwards Manufacturing Co. v. Stoops

102 N.E. 980, 54 Ind. App. 361, 1913 Ind. App. LEXIS 110
CourtIndiana Supreme Court
DecidedOctober 29, 1913
DocketNo. 8,027
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 102 N.E. 980 (Edwards Manufacturing Co. v. Stoops) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Edwards Manufacturing Co. v. Stoops, 102 N.E. 980, 54 Ind. App. 361, 1913 Ind. App. LEXIS 110 (Ind. 1913).

Opinion

Ibach, J.

Appellant, the Edwards Manufacturing Company, manufacturer of metal shingles, commenced this ac[364]*364tion before a justice of the peace on an account for a quantity of such shingles sold and delivered by it to defendant. The trial in that court resulted in a judgment for defendant. An appeal to the Fayette Circuit Court followed, where defendant filed an amended answer of set-off in two paragraphs. A separate demurrer to each paragraph of the answer was overruled. Upon the issues formed there was a trial by jury resulting in a verdict for defendant; plaintiff’s motion for new trial was overruled and judgment was rendered on the verdict.

The errors assigned for reversal and argued are: Overruling the demurrers to the first and second paragraphs of the answer, and the refusal to grant a new trial.

The first paragraph of the answer was drawn upon the theory that the shingles were sold to appellee on an implied warranty that they were reasonably fit and suitable for the particular purpose for which they were to be used, that is, for the construction of a roof of a particular kind, and that the shingles proved worthless, and appellee was damaged more than their cost. The second paragraph is substantially the same as the first except that it relies on the execution of a written guaranty.

1. 2. [365]*3653. [364]*364The first question is, Do the facts averred in the first paragraph of the answer show an implied warranty of fitness accompanying the sale of the shingles? It is settled • law that when an article of merchandise is to be supplied to a purchaser thereof by the manufacturer for a definite use or purpose and that .particular use is known to the seller, there is an implied warranty that it will be reasonably suitable for the purpose intended by the purchaser. Benjamin, Sales (Bennett’s 7th ed.) §§645, 686; Oil Well Supply Co. v. Watson (1907), 168 Ind. 603, 608, 80 N. E. 157, 15 L. R. A. (N. S.) 868; Poland v. Miller (1883), 95 Ind. 387, 48 Am. Rep. 730; Zimmerman v. Druecker (1896), 15 Ind. App. 512, 44 N. E. 557. And in such cases the purchaser is not required to [365]*365return the goods purchased and rescind the contract when the breach of the warranty is discovered but he may, when sued for the purchase price, set up his damages in his answer, as was done in this action. A. D. Baker Co. v. Cornelius (1911), 47 Ind. App. 1, 93 N. E. 686, and cases there cited; Glucose Sugar, etc., Co. v. Climax Coffee, etc., Co. (1907), 40 Ind. App. 182, 81 N. E. 589, and cases there cited. It is averred in the first paragraph of the answer in substance that the shingles in question were sold by the manufacturer for the special purpose of being used in the construction of the roof on the building in question, the pitch of which was four and one-half inches, which fact was known to the seller, and the purchaser had no knowledge of the fitness and suitability of the shingles for that particular purpose. These together with the remaining averments relating to the warranty of the shingles, the specific defects and unfitness constituting the breach of the warranty, and the damages resulting therefrom, we think, make this paragraph sufficient to withstand demurrer.

4. As to the second paragraph of the answer based upon an express warranty in writing, it is sufficient to say that the writing is in the following words and figures:

“Order No......Date Nov. 8, 1906. The Edwards Manufacturing Company. Ship to Thos. H. Stoops at Connersville, Ind. (description of shingles and quality) Ship by Big 4. When? Dec. 1, but wait notification. Thomas H. Stoops.”

This writing is in itself an incomplete and uncertain memorandum or order. But when it is coupled with the allegation that the order was marked “wait notification,” with the intent and purpose to make it conditional on the giving by appellant of an express warranty, and with appellee’s letter to appellant relating to the order and asking for an express warranty of the goods referred to therein for the particular purpose for which they were intended, and appel[366]*366lant’s letter in reply warranting them, all of which must be construed together as forming one transaction, we have a complete and definite written agreement between the parties and these averments, together with the further ones showing the breach of the warranty, the making of the proper test and the damage resulting from such breach, we have all the averments essential to an answer on the theory on which it was drawn. Thames Loan, etc., Co. v. Beville (1884), 100 Ind. 309, 313.

5. 6. The insistence of appellant that the court erred in permitting witnesses to testify as to the contents of the two letters which were conclusively shown to have been lost cannot be sustained. The original order in its uncertain condition and the letters written by the respective parties in explanation thereof, formed the entire contract, and the originals having been lost, their contents were properly shown by oral testimony. That there was no error in this is too plain to require further discussion or citation of authorities. There is also some evidence tending to show that appellee was damaged by reason of the breach of warranty complained of and that such damages exceeded the cost of the shingles in question. There is also some evidence tending to prove the contrary, but since there is some legal evidence supporting the verdict, it is not for this court to weigh the same, and we are bound to hold that this branch of the case, for the purposes of this appeal has been fully established by the verdict of the jury.

7. [367]*3678. 9. 10. 11. [366]*366Appellant next contends and argues in its brief that the court erred in submitting of its own motion to the jury instructions Nos. 4-7, inclusive, and in giving instruction No. 2 tendered by appellee. Instruction No. 4 is not subject to the criticism urged against it, for by it the court told the jury that for defendant to recover on his set-off he must prove by a fair preponderance of the evidence all of the damage charged or some part thereof. This is a fair and reasonable interpretation to be given this in[367]*367struction, and no doubt the jury so understood it. By instruction No. 5 the jury was told that there were two kinds of warranty in relation to the sale of personal property but this instruction defines only one express warranty. This is not harmful error, for in the following instruction the court defined the conditions and circumstances which would create an implied contract of warranty. True, these two instructions are not models of exaetness, but if appellant desired further instructions on this branch of the case they should have been tendered to the court with its request that they be given. We are satisfied that this instruction in view of the issues and' the evidence sufficiently informed the jury upon the law applicable to this branch of the case. By instruction No. 6 the court informed the jury on the law relating to new appliances.

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Bluebook (online)
102 N.E. 980, 54 Ind. App. 361, 1913 Ind. App. LEXIS 110, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/edwards-manufacturing-co-v-stoops-ind-1913.