Gimbel v. Kuntz

286 N.W.2d 501, 28 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 7, 1979 N.D. LEXIS 342
CourtNorth Dakota Supreme Court
DecidedDecember 12, 1979
DocketCiv. 9657
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 286 N.W.2d 501 (Gimbel v. Kuntz) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering North Dakota Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Gimbel v. Kuntz, 286 N.W.2d 501, 28 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 7, 1979 N.D. LEXIS 342 (N.D. 1979).

Opinion

ERICKSTAD, Chief Justice.

This is an appeal from a judgment granted in favor of the defendant whereby the plaintiff had sought to revoke and rescind a contract to purchase a tractor on the ground that the tractor was unfit for the purpose for which it was purchased. We reverse and remand.

In June of 1978, the plaintiff, Andy Gim-bel, entered into negotiations with the defendant, John Kuntz, doing business as Southside Implement in Linton, North Dakota, to purchase a new Model 285 Massey-Ferguson tractor. Gimbel operates a body shop in Hazelton during the winter months, and conducts a custom baling operation in the summer. One of Kuntz’s salesmen, Steve Hoffer, was sent to see Gimbel at his body shop, and on June 6, 1978, the two entered into an agreement whereby Gimbel agreed to purchase a new Model 285 Massey-Ferguson tractor, complete with- a cab, for the price of $13,884. He traded in a 1977 Model 265 Massey-Ferguson tractor, receiving credit towards the purchase of the new tractor in the amount of $9,600. The balance of the purchase price, therefore, amounted to $4,284, which Gimbel has paid.

A new 1977 Model 285 Massey-Ferguson tractor was delivered to Gimbel sometime around June 20, 1978, with approximately two hours of operating time on the engine meter. Gimbel alleges that at all times he thought he was negotiating for, and did in fact purchase, a 1978 tractor. After approximately two hours of use by Gimbel, the tractor broke down on July 3. It was taken to Southside Implement in Linton on July 5, inspected, repaired through the installation of a new PTO plate drive and hub, and road tested. The evidence indicates that the breakdown was due to a piece of bolt that had wedged into the transmission gears.

On July 15, 1978, the tractor was returned to Gimbel, and he used it for his baling operations on July 16, 17, and 18. On July 18, with approximately 20 hours of operating time on the engine meter, the tractor broke down a second time. The following day, Kuntz’s employees picked up the tractor and took it to their main shop in Napoleon for repairs. Gimbel testified that when they came to pick up the tractor, he told Southside Implement’s truck driver that he no longer wanted the tractor.

On July 21, 1978, Gimbel verbally informed Kuntz and Steve Hoffer that he did not want the same tractor back, but instead, he wanted either a new 285 Massey-Ferguson tractor or a refund. Kuntz offered to go to Fargo to pick up the same type of tractor for Gimbel to use, free-of-charge, while the repairs were being made, but Gimbel refused the offer, stating that he wanted a new tractor or his money back.

Kuntz testified that the tractor was repaired within five days after it was brought into the shop the second time. All the transmission parts were replaced at a cost of approximately $1,362.49. The tractor is *504 presently located at Kuntz’s Southside Implement shop in Napoleon because of Gim-bel’s indication that he would not accept it if it were returned.

Gimbel executed a written notice of rescission on July 27, 1978, seeking to rescind the purchase agreement in accordance with Section 51-07-07, N.D.C.C. This notice was received by Kuntz on July 28, but he contends that Gimbel has no basis for rescission.

On November 28, 1978, Gimbel commenced this action by service of a summons and complaint upon Kuntz. Gimbel sought to revoke and rescind the contract to purchase the tractor on the ground that it was unfit for the purpose for which it had been purchased, namely, to pull a large, round baler. In the alternative, he sought damages equivalent to the difference in value between a new 1977 Model 285 Massey-Ferguson tractor and a new 1978 model, plus costs and disbursements. In his answer, Kuntz denied that Gimbel was entitled to rescission under the terms of Section 51-07-07, N.D.C.C., and alleged that the tractor was fit to pull Gimbel’s new round baler.

After a change of venue, the action was tried without a jury in Logan County District Court on April 5,1979. The trial court issued its findings of fact, conclusions of law, and order for judgment on April 13, 1979. The relevant parts of the conclusions of law read:

“1.
“The defendant did make the necessary repairs to the tractor purchased by the plaintiff at no cost to the plaintiff and did act expeditiously in making said repairs.
“2.
“Plaintiff refused the use of a new tractor for operating his round baler when the tractor he purchased was in the shop for repairs.
“3.
“The tractor purchased by- the plaintiff from the defendant did prove to be reasonably fit for the purpose for which it was purchased when the tractor was in good operating condition. [Emphasis added.]
“4.
“Repairs which were made by the defendant were made promptly and at no cost to the plaintiff.
“5.
“Plaintiff failed to submit evidence to substantiate his complaint as to the difference in value of a 1977 or a 1978 model 285 tractor.
“6.
“Rescission is denied and the plaintiff’s complaint should, therefore, be dismissed without costs.”

Judgment was entered in favor of Kuntz on April 16, 1979, and Gimbel appeals to this court from that judgment.

The issue to be determined is whether or not Gimbel is entitled to rescission pursuant to Section 51-07-07 of the North Dakota Century Code. More specifically, the issue is whether or not the tractor purchased by Gimbel was “reasonably fit for the purpose for which it was purchased.”

Section 51-07-07, N.D.C.C., provides:
“Any person purchasing any gas or oil burning tractor, gas or steam engine, harvesting or threshing machinery, for his own use shall have a reasonable time after delivery for the inspection and testing of the same, and if it does not prove to be reasonably fit for the purpose for which it was purchased, the purchaser may rescind the sale by giving notice, within a reasonable time after delivery, to the parties from whom any such machinery was purchased, or the agent who negotiated the sale or made delivery of such personal property, or his successor, and by placing the same at the disposal of *505 the seller. Any provision in any written order or contract of sale, or other contract, which is contrary to any of the provisions of this section, hereby is declared to be against public policy and void.”

In Jackson v. Advance-Rumely Thresher Co., 62 N.D. 143, 241 N.W. 722 (1932), the constitutionality of this statute was challenged. In upholding the statute, this court set forth at length the conditions which precipitated the enactment and the purposes of the enactment of the statute. The decision was affirmed by the United States Supreme Court in Advance-Rumely Thresher Co. v. Jackson, 287 U.S. 283, 53 S.Ct. 133, 77 L.Ed. 306, 87 A.L.R.

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Bluebook (online)
286 N.W.2d 501, 28 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 7, 1979 N.D. LEXIS 342, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gimbel-v-kuntz-nd-1979.