Howe Machine Co. v. Reber

66 Ind. 498
CourtIndiana Supreme Court
DecidedMay 15, 1879
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 66 Ind. 498 (Howe Machine Co. v. Reber) 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
Howe Machine Co. v. Reber, 66 Ind. 498 (Ind. 1879).

Opinion

Howk, J.

In this action, the appellant sued the appellee, [499]*499in a complaint of two paragraphs,' each counting upon a promissory note executed by the appellee to the order of the appellant, and each alleged to be due and unpaid.

To the appellant’s complaint, the appellee answered in four paragraphs, in substance as follows :

1. Payment in full before the commencement of this suit.

2. That the notes in suit were given without any consideration.'

3. The appellee said, in answer to the second paragraph of the complaint, that he admitted the execution of the noté set out in said paragraph, but said that the consideration thereof had wholly failed, in this, that at the time of the execution of said note, and as the consideration thereof, the appellee received from the, appellant a certain sewing machine, which, the appellant said, was in good order and perfect in all its -parts and machinei’y; that, if it did not do good work, the appellant would have it repaired and made to work properly and to the satisfaction of the appellee, or. put in another machine of the same price and pattern, that would work right; that the machine was not properly constructed and was imperfect in its machinery, and that the appellant had failed and refused to have the same repaired or corrected; that said machine was so imperfect as to be of no value at all for the purposes for which it was intended, and for which the appellee purchased it, and the appellant has refused to furnish the appellee a good machine in its place, as it agreed to do; that, at the time the appellee purchased said machine, he relied on the promises and representations of the appellant and its agent, that if the machine should not work properly, they would repair it or furnish the appellee another, which they had failed to do. Wherefore the appellee said, that the consideration for said note had wholly failed, and as to so much of its cause of action the appellant ought not to recover.

[500]*5004. Ry way of counter-claim to the second par-graph of the complaint, the appellee admitted the execution of the note set out in said paragraph, and said that he was the owner of a Howe sewing machine, which was in good running order and of the value of fifty-five dollars ; that the appellant, by its agent, was desirous of trading to the appellee a higher priced Howe machine, and did exchange machines with the appellee, taking from him the note in suit for the difference, which the appellant represented there was between the machines ; that the appellant, by its agent, represented the machine received by appellee to be in good running order and perfect in all its parts; that, if it were not so, the appellant would have it fully repaired, and readjusted, so as to do any and all kinds of sewing for the appellee’s family, or, if the machine could not be made to do good work, the appellant would take it away, and in its place give the appellee one of the same pattern and price, that would be in good order; that the appellant further agreed to furnish the appellee, as a part of the consideration of the trade, certain attachments, to wit, one embroider and tucker, of the value of seven dollars and fifty cents ; that the appellee, relying upon the representations and promises of the appellant, that the machine was perfect and in good order, or, if not so, the appellant would cause it to be so made or furnish him another and good machine, and would furnish the afoi'esaid attachments, delivered to the appellant the machine he then had, and executed the note set out in the second paragraph of the complaint, and received from the appellant the high-priced machine; that said machine was so imperfect, that it did not then, nor had it since been repaired by the appellant so that it would, do any kind of sewing; that the appellee had often requested the appellant to have the machine repaired, and at one time sent it to the shop for that purpose, but that it was in no better order when it was returned, than when he sent it; that he had [501]*501notified tlie appellant, that the machine was not a perfect one and had requested the appellant to deliver him a perfect one, as agreed by the parties, which the appellant had failed and refused to do; that the appellant had never furnished the attachments, as agreed, although often requested so to do; that the machine furnished the appellee was of no value whatever : and that, by reason of the appellant’s failure to fulfil its promises and agreements, the appellee had been damaged in the sum of seventy-five dollars, for which he demanded judgment.

To the appellée’s answer, and each paragraph thereof, the appellant replied by a general denial. The issues joined were tried by a jury, and a general verdict was returned for the appellee, assessing his damages in the sum of thirty-two dollars and fifteen cents. With their general verdict, the jury also returned their special findings on particular questions of fact, submitted to them by the parties under the direction of the court; but, as no question is presented to this court in regard to the special findings, we need not set them out in this opinion.

The appellant’s motions for a new trial, and in arrest of judgment, in the order named, having each been overruled, and its exceptions entered to these decisions, judgment was rendered for the appellee on the general vei'dict, from A\diich judgment this appeal is now here prosecuted.

In this court, the appellant has assigned, as errors, the folloAving decisions of the court below :

1. In overruling its motion for a new trial; and,

2. In overruling its motion in arrest of judgment.

We Avill first consider and decide the question presented by the second alleged error, namely, the sufficiency of the facts stated in the appellee’s counter-claim to constitute a cause of action in his favor and against the appellant.

It is said that the “ motion in arrest of judgment [502]*502reaches auy defect in the pleadings not cured by the verdict or the statute of amendments, or waived by failing to demur.” Adamson v. Rose, 30 Ind. 380. Waugh v. Waugh, 47 Ind. 580, and Gander v. The State, ex rel., 50 Ind. 539.

The defect in the pleading complained of must, therefore, be a substantial defect, affecting materially the merits of the cause, and neither cured by the verdict nor waived by the failure to demur; or it will not be reached by a motion in arrest of judgment. In the case at bar, the argument of the appellant’s counsel, in discussing the alleged insufficiency of the counter-claim, is founded and proceeds altogether upon a misapprehension of the facts stated therein. Counsel says, “ There is no allegation of the value of either machine,” and after stating that the counter-claim counted upon a “ breach of contract,” he enquires, “ What would be the measure of damages under such considerations ? ”

In his counter-claim, the appellee alleged in express terms, that his old machine was “of the value of fifty-five dollars,” and that the new machine, which he received from the appellant, was “ of no value whatever.” Under these allegations, if sustained by the evidence, there certainly would be no difficulty in ascertaining the correct “ measure of damages.”

• In our opinion, the court committed no error in overruling the appellant’s motion in arrest of judgment.

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66 Ind. 498, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/howe-machine-co-v-reber-ind-1879.