Giant Mfg. Co. v. Yates-American Mach. Co.

111 F.2d 360, 1940 U.S. App. LEXIS 3642
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
DecidedApril 22, 1940
DocketNo. 11501
StatusPublished
Cited by20 cases

This text of 111 F.2d 360 (Giant Mfg. Co. v. Yates-American Mach. Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Giant Mfg. Co. v. Yates-American Mach. Co., 111 F.2d 360, 1940 U.S. App. LEXIS 3642 (8th Cir. 1940).

Opinion

STONE, Circuit Judge.

This is an action by a seller for a balance due on sale of “coils”. The answer admitted the sale, prices and balance as alleged. It further pleaded violation of implied warranties as a set-off and counterclaimed for damages because of violation of the warranties. At the close of testimony for defendant, the court sustained a motion by plaintiff for a directed verdict for the full amount sought. From a judgment entered on the directed verdict, defendant appeals.

The contentions appellant makes here are (1) there was sufficient evidence of an implied warranty to require submission to the jury1; and (2) certain material evidence was improperly excluded.

I. Implied Warranty.

Appellant claims violation of implied warranty (a) because of reliance on the judgment of appellee (who had knowledge of the use to which it intended to put the coils) to furnish coils suitable therefor; and (b) lack of merchantable character of the coils because of leakage. Sometimes, suitability for the use intended by the buyer and suitability for the use intended by the seller — the general use for which the article was made— coincide. See Parsons Band-Cutter & Self-Feeder Co. v. Mallinger, 122 Iowa 703, 98 N.W. 580; Kelsey v. J. W. Ringrose Net Co., 152 Wis. 499, 140 N.W. 66; Keenan v. Cherry & Webb, 47 R.I. 125, 131 A. 309, 311.

We consider next the evidence (favorable to defendant) bearing on the existence of warranty.

Defendant manufactured specialties— various lines of equipment, including playground apparatus and flood light projects used for sports — prior to 1937 it had no experience with manufacture of air cooling units.2 In the spring of 1937, it employed Arthur Collins. He had been engaged in the manufacture of an air cooling unit during 1935 and 1936. He had constructed part of the unit himself. In his cooling unit, he had used coil units bought from plaintiff. Early in April, 1937, he negotiated with defendant for the manufacture of this cooling unit with the result that it took over [362]*362such, manufacture and employed him in connection therewith.

The negotiations for a coil unit for this manufacture of a cooling unit by defendant began with a wire from Collins to plaintiff, of April 19, 1937, asking “new quotations on 15 x 15 and 20 x 20, 3-pass coils, in lots of 25 or more.” Having received no wire answer by afternoon of that day, Collins wrote a letter quoting his wire and asking quotations also on “10 x 10, 3-pass coils and the 30 x 30 2-pass coil.” Further, he set forth his connection with defendant, its intention to take up cooling and heating manufacture, its financial standing, and requesting prompt submission o.f quotations asked.

Shortly after this letter and before reply thereto, Collins visited the plant of plaintiff. While there, he talked with various officers and men of plaintiff. He outlined the business intentions 'of defendant concerning sale of the cooling unit and the use of the coil unit therein. Another matter discussed was improvements (reinforcements) recently made by plaintiff to eliminate leaks in the coil — a matter of occurrence to Collins in use of such coils in 1936. A test was made of three of the improved coils in his presence. They sustained pressure of 45 pounds without leaking.3

April 23, 1937, after return of Collins, plaintiff. wrote, attaching quotation' price sheets. Therein, it called attention to higher prices “than last season” due, in part, to “several changes in the coils to strengthen theih against pressure. The gauges of the water tanks have been changed from No. 20 to No. 18 gauge and we have also added No. 16 gauge coated steel reinforcements which we believe will eliminate the trouble experienced last year with leaks.” The letter stated,also, “We liave been given'a pretty clear picture, of what you are setting about to do in the line of cooling for this season, and the writer is' taking care of the various requests that you made while at our plant. It is deeply regretted ’ that Mr. Birdsell [general manager of .plaintiff] was not at the plant when you arrived so -as to discuss the matter of cooling coils with you personally and obtain information first hand.” The quotation sheet quoted prices, respectively, on “Air conditioning coils to our drawing RD-1580 with our No. 956 tubular core, which is our 10” x 10” three pass type”, “Air conditioning coils to our drawing RD-1304 with our No. 956 tubular core, which is our 15” x 15" three pass type” and “Air conditioning coils to our drawing RD-1313 with our No. 956 tubular core, which is our 20” x 20" three pass type.”4 April 27, 1937, Mr. Birdsell wrote a short letter regretting missing Mr. Collins and stating: “I believe Mr. Evans told you about the improvements we have made in our air conditioning coils for the coming year so as to give them a greater factor of safety against accidental pres- . sure.”

April 26, 1937, defendant sent order for 50 of the 15 x 15 coils and 25 of the 20 x 20 coils. April 29th the order was acknowledged and plaintiff wrote “Your order has been entered and work started on these coils * . * * we will make every effort to expedite delivery of cooling units covered by your order.” On May 12th, 22nd and 26 th and on June 2nd there were further orders.

May 11, 1936, Birdsell wrote Collins of going to a dentist office and seeing there “a home made air conditioner similar to -the Collins Air Cooler.”

Shipment of these orders began June 8th and continued (18 shipments) at intervals up to July 22nd.

Shortly after making up the cooling units, defendant encountered complaints and trouble from leakage in the coils. On . July 2nd, defendant wired plaintiff as follows: “Your Coils are Leaking Badly Test All Before Shipment. Letter Follows.”

■ The letter of the same date was as follows:

“We have run into a most serious and appalling difficulty with your coils. During the past week we, have had two serious claims for damages which have occurred because of the leakage of your coils in our equipment

[363]*363“Immediately upon receipt of word from oúr customers indicating that they were having leaky coils, we made up a test tank to test what we have on hand, and we find that over 25 per cent are leakers. That makes an exceedingly serious state of affairs. Some of those leakers we will be able to repair in our shop. The balance of course, will have to be returned to you because we cannot get at the holes with the equipment that we have.

“Of course the damages that fall on us by reason of leaky coils will all have to be passed on to you. Mr. Collins tells us that he had your absolute assurance that every one of those coils was tested with air in a water tank before they were passed at your plant. We would like to know what you have to say for the situation.”

July 7th, defendant wrote:

“We are today shipping you four coils which are such bad leakers that we cannot make the repairs here in our own plant. We did repair quite a number, and have a repair bill of about $25.00 for the rechecking of all of this shipment.

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Bluebook (online)
111 F.2d 360, 1940 U.S. App. LEXIS 3642, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/giant-mfg-co-v-yates-american-mach-co-ca8-1940.