Hargous v. Ablon

3 Denio 406

• Court: Court for the Trial of Impeachments and Correction of Errors
• Decided: December 15, 1846
• Status: Published

Opinion

Lott, Senator.

It is clear that the goods in question were sold by the defendants under a mutual mistake of both parties, as to the actual quantity sold. This mistake originated in the mutual assumption that the measurement was in French, whereas in fact it was in Brabant measure, and the contract was entered into on that basis. The difference in price between the actual and estimated quantity has since been refunded by the defendants to the plaintiff. It appears, however, that the goods were entered at the custom-house in Mexico, and duties paid" on the number of yards specified in the invoices estimated in French measure, and that the Mexican government refuse to refund any portion thereof, “ such being the usual custom of that government.” The plaintiff has also paid commissions according to the quantity of goods supposed to have been contained in the packages. The only question, then, to be considered is whether the plaintiff is entitled to recover the amount of duties and commissions so paid by him on the difference between the estimated and actual quantity.

It appears tobe settled that parties entering into an agreement with the understanding and on the basis that certain facts exist, but as to which they are mutually mistaken, are, on a discovery of their mutual error, remitted to their original rights. Cox v. Prentice, ,(3 M. & S. 344,) was determined on this principle. A bar of silver had been purchased by the plaintiffs, of the defendant, and paid for according to. the number of ounces calculated by an assayist; but it being afterwards ascertained that a mistake had been made by which they had paid more than its value, they brought their action and recovered the excess. Lord Ellenborough said it was a case of mutual innocence and equal error, and a proper case for an action to recover the excess. The same rule was recognized and adopted in Wheadon v. Olds, (20 Wendell, 174.) There it appeared that a contract had been made for the sale and delivery of oats, and the parties upon a mistake of facts, estimated the quantity at a certain number of bushels, for which the stipulated price was paid. Upon a discovery of the mistake, it was held that the purchaser was enti tied to recover back the money paid for the difference between the estimated and real quantity. (See also Mowatt v. Wright, 1 Wend. 355.) In Cripps v. Reade, (6 T. R. 606,) Lord Kenyon held that when money was paid under a mistake of facts, an action for money had and received would lie to recover it back. (See 1 Wheat. Sel. N. P. 77, ed. of 1831.)

The present suit is an action on the case, but no question of term is raised, the bill of exceptions containing a stipulation that “ the plaintiff’s right of action should be deemed to depend upon the question whether he was entitled to recover the said duties and commissions, or any part thereof.”

Under the rule above referred to,,the plaintiff was entitled to be refunded what has been paid to him, but it appears to me to afford no ground for the recovery of the duties and commissions. The defendants, if they could be held liable therefor, would stand in a situation very different from that in which they originally stood. They would, in such a case, instead of being remitted to their original rights, be charged for damages growing out of the transactions and dealings of the plaintiff. It was insisted, however, on the part of the plaintiff,"and indeed it appears to have been conceded on the trial, that the defendants were to be considered as warrantors of the quantity charged in the bill. Assuming this position to be true, (as to which I express no opinion,)

(a) I do not think that the warranty would give any right to the damages claimed. The goods were to be delivered to the plaintiff at New-York, and if he had discovered the error in the quantity there, all he could have required of the defendants would have been to make their contract good. (See Blanchard v. Ely, 21 Wend. 342, 347.) The purchaser was. entitled to have the article made equal in quantity to what the warranty assumed it to be, and the measure of damages in such cases would have been the difference in price between the estimated and real quantity, no increase in value being shown between the sale and delivery. (See Voorhees v. Earle, 2 Hill, 288, 291; Long on Sales, Rand's 2d ed. 477, 479.) The knowledge by the defendants that the goods were purchased for the Mexican market, cannot alter their rights or increase their obligations. The expenses incurred at the custom house there were not the direct and immediate consequence of the vendors’ default, but resulted from the plaintiff’s own act. The defen. dants had no agency or control over him. or the goods, after their delivery. The over-payment of the duties was totally distinct from, and foreign to, the contract of purchase. It is no ground of claim, that it is the usual custom of the Mexican government not to refund duties overpaid under'a mistake. The defendants can be held liable only for their own acts, not for the fraud or injustice of a foreign government. The claim for commissions stands on the same principle. The nonsuit below was, therefore, properly granted, and the judgment of the supreme court ought to be affirmed.

On the question being put, “ Shall this judgment be reversed V all the members of the court present, who had heard the argument, viz: The President, and Senators Backus, Burnham, Denniston, Deyo, Emmons, Hand, Hard, Jones, Lott, Porter, Sanford, J. B. Smith, S. Smith, Talcott and Wheeler, (16,) voted for affirmance.

Judgment affirmed.

See Long on Sales, Rand's ed. 202.