Falker v. Chrysler Corp.

119 Misc. 2d 375, 463 N.Y.S.2d 357, 1983 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 3517
CourtCivil Court of the City of New York
DecidedApril 15, 1983
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 119 Misc. 2d 375 (Falker v. Chrysler Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Civil Court of the City of New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Falker v. Chrysler Corp., 119 Misc. 2d 375, 463 N.Y.S.2d 357, 1983 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 3517 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1983).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

William D. Friedmann, J.

Plaintiff, an attorney appearing pro se, brought this small claims action seeking “$1,500.00 — May 4, 1981. Defective engine serial #8005, Loss of Use” (should be No. 3305).

CONTENTIONS

He contends that the boat engine, because of its defective design and assembly, from the time of purchase, would not operate at full power and flooded regularly. That the double warranties of section 2-314 (subd [2], par [c]) (implied warranty; merchantability; usage of trade) and section 2-315 (implied warranty; fitness for particular purpose) of the Uniform Commercial Code apply without limitation based upon the provisions of section 2-316 of the Uniform Commercial Code (exclusion or modification of warranties).

Defendant manufacturer counters by maintaining that in this vertical distributive relationship (plaintiff pur[376]*376chased from defendant’s dealer) no privity existed between it and plaintiff, that in any event, plaintiff failed to prove the existence of any oral or written warranty, and moreover, that if any actionable relationship did exist it was governed and limited by defendant’s express limited warranty which exclusively disclaims all implied warranties, as well as the imposition of consequential damages (Uniform Commercial Code, § 2-316).

RELEVANT FACTS

Plaintiff purchased a Chrysler 7.5 horsepower (h.p.) outboard engine from defendant’s authorized dealer, Leisure Products Marketing Systems, Inc., of Roslyn, New York, for $504, on May 4, 1981. The purchase transaction was “out of box” and did not entail “predelivery service”. At purchase a “Chrysler Outboard Corp. Temporary Registration Card” was issued to plaintiff stating the purpose of purchase as “Pleasure Use”. Thereafter, a “Chrysler Marine Owners Registration Card” was forwarded to plaintiff by defendant. From the inception of use the engine was difficult to start, would not run at full power, chronically malfunctioned and flooded. It was taken for repair to various Chrysler dealers and others, one such service facility upon advice of defendant. Plaintiff testified as to the chronic malfunction of the engine, and the consequential and incidental damage incurred in connection therewith (repair, vacation interruption, inconvenience, etc.). Plaintiff’s expert, Paul Miranda, a qualified marine mechanic, testified that based upon his examination of the engine, that it could not be repaired, that it contained certain design defects familiar to defendant’s dealers and had incorporated thereon the wrong propeller. Defendant’s witness, D. C. Elliott, employed in its marine division was not permitted to rely upon, in his testimony, defendant’s outboard owner’s guide for the 25 and 35 h.p. motor, which guide was offered at trial and not admitted into evidence. The engine in question being 7.5 h.p., and there being no evidence concerning what guide or documentation if any, that plaintiff received at purchase. The owner’s guide for the 25 and 35 h.p. was however admitted as a court exhibit. Plaintiff was requested as a posttrial submission to furnish a copy of the Chrysler outboard owner’s guide and Chrysler [377]*377outboard operator’s manual that he received at the time of purchase. Defendant was requested to forward a copy of its 1981 owner’s guide for the 7.5 h.p. engine. Defendant’s posttrial submission “Owner’s Guide” contained a limited warranty. Plaintiff’s submission, however, consisted of a different Chrysler outboard owner’s guide and Chrysler outboard operator’s manual obtained at purchase. Plaintiff’s guide was not the same guide, or manual as forwarded by defendant. Defendant’s limited warranty did not appear in any form in the owner’s guide and operator’s manual forwarded by plaintiff.

SMALL CLAIMS PRACTICE

The New York City Civil Court Act directs in the context of simplified practice (CCA 1802) that “substantial justice * * * according to the rules of substantive law” (CCA 1804) be done. However, while the rules of procedure and evidence in small claims may be greatly relaxed, the substantive result should not be different than in any other court. ((Javeline v Long Is. R.R., 106 Misc 2d 814; Hanbridge v Catholic High School Assn. of Archdiocese of N. Y., NYLJ, March 11, 1982, p 6, col 6.)

Certain aspects of a cause of action for breach of warranties under the Uniform Commercial Code as effected by simplified small claims procedure will be initially discussed.

Although to properly state a warranty-breach cause of action certain essential elements should be pleaded (Craig v American Dist. Tel. Co., 91 Misc 2d 1063), such specified pleading requirements do not apply at small claims, where an action can be commenced “except by special order of the court, without the service of any pleading other than a statement of his cause of action by the claimant * * * who shall reduce the same to a concise, written form” (CCA 1803). Faced with concise notice pleading, it should be additionally' noted that discovery in small claims is not available “except upon order of the court on showing of proper circumstances” (CCA 1804). Discovery being rarely granted, a caveat to all small claims defendants in breach of warranty cases, or other commercial matters, would be to seek discovery, or, in any event, to anticipate all possible evidentiary contingencies and be prepared.

[378]*378Here, the testimony of plaintiff’s expert as to engine deficiency and assembly was not countered by any competent evidence. Any posttrial supplementation, concerning design or construction, by way of letter or affidavit, etc., in the absence of a motion to reopen the proceeding must be disregarded. Even at small claims, with its relaxed rules of procedure and evidence, the fundamental right to confront a witness by cross-examination must be preserved. (Ziehm v State of New York, 270 App Div 876.)

BREACH OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES

Plaintiff seeks recovery as an ultimate consumer through a vertical distributive chain. He purchased his outboard engine from one of defendant manufacturer’s authorized dealers. (See Liability of Manufacturer or Seller or Injury Caused by Automobile or other Vehicle, Aircraft, Boat, or other Parts, Supplies, or Equipment, Ann., 78 ALR2d 460-588; Products Liability: Defective Vehicular Gasoline Tanks, Ann., 96 ALR3d 265.)

Defendant initially contends that in order for plaintiff to prevail for breach of warranty, that he must be in direct contractual privity with it. Defendant relies upon Martin v Dierck Equip. Co. (43 NY2d 583). This court’s reading of Martin, indicates that although privity has not been abandoned in New York, the Court of Appeals has reconstructed privity to only those instances of direct contact between purchaser and seller. The court in Martin v Brackett Prods. Co. (100 Misc 2d 728, 732) after reaching a similar interpretation went on to comment pertinently upon the amendment to section 2-318 of the Uniform Commercial Code, effective September 1, 1975.

“The amendment is thus both contractive, in its deletion of the absolute waiver of privity barriers for certain designated persons, and expansive, in its redefinition of the extension of horizontal privity.

“In so holding, we do not mean to imply a legislative intent to lessen the seller’s responsibility as he directs his product into the distributive chain of commerce.

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Bluebook (online)
119 Misc. 2d 375, 463 N.Y.S.2d 357, 1983 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 3517, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/falker-v-chrysler-corp-nycivct-1983.