Howe v. Michelsen

225 P.2d 735, 119 Utah 196, 1951 Utah LEXIS 124
CourtUtah Supreme Court
DecidedJanuary 2, 1951
DocketNo. 7397
StatusPublished

This text of 225 P.2d 735 (Howe v. Michelsen) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Utah Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Howe v. Michelsen, 225 P.2d 735, 119 Utah 196, 1951 Utah LEXIS 124 (Utah 1951).

Opinion

McDonough, justice.

Plaintiff sued defendants to recover $2139.32 as the alleged purchase price of livestock feed. By separate answer, defendant Maurice R. Michelsen denied that plaintiff owned the full amount claimed to have been sold, and said defendant alleged that he owed only $556 which he tendered into court. He further alleged that plaintiff was liable for attorney fees for an attempt to deprive him of hay and grain sold under a prior contract involving the sale of land and personalty. Defendant June M. Michelsen denied that she made any contract to purchase the livestock feed allegedly sold, and the action was dismissed as to her. Judgment was granted in accordance with the prayer of the answer of Maurice R. Michelsen. Plaintiff appeals from such judgment as rendered.

On September 4, 1947, plaintiff and wife, as sellers, and [198]*198defendants as buyers, executed a preliminary contract for the sale and purchase of a dairy ranch and certain personalty situated in Wasatch county. Among the properties to be included in the sale were the following: “50% of all hay and grain produced (Estimate total 150 tons of hay) Approximately 1250 bushels of grain (Total 2500 bushels).”

A final contract of sale was executed by the parties under date of November 7, 1947, which includes in the description of properties:

“One-half of all hay and grain produced on the above described farm during the year 1947, estimated at total hay raised, 150 tons; total grain so raised, 2500 bushels.”

The final contract further provides:

“(b) That the hay and grain aforesaid shall be equally divided between the seller and the buyer immediately upon and following the execution of this agreement, and delivery of the same shall be mutually made.”

The bill of sale executed by plaintiff and his wife in connection with said final contract of sale, dated November 7, 1947, recites that sellers

“hereby sell, assign and transfer unto Maurice R. Michelsen and June H. Michelsen, his wife, all our right, title, and interest in and to the following personal property, to-wit: * * * one-half of all hay and grain produced on the farm described in said contract during the year 1947, estimated at 150 tons of hay and 2500 bushels of grain; * *

On November 9 and 16, 1947, the parties met for the purpose of segregating the crops, and on measurement found that instead of 150 tons of hay there were then only 85 tons, and instead of 2500 bushels of grain there were then only 1600 bushels. On January 5, 1948, defendant Maurice R. Michelsen orally agreed to purchase plaintiff’s portion of the feed. Plaintiff thereupon prepared the memorandum in question which was subsequently signed by defendant Michelsen. Said memorandum shows the unit prices per ton and per bushel, and the quantities of hay and grain found on the premises in November 1947. On the basis of those quantities plaintiff [199]*199extended the unit prices, and included one-half thereof in the final computation of $2129.32. There are some items of feed which were owned by plaintiff and which defendant Michelsen agreed to purchase, which had no connection with the 1947 crops.

According to defendant’s testimony the list was prepared by plaintiff and submitted to defendant who signed it with the understanding that it be presented to his father who would check it with the contract, and if correct, payment would be made. Plaintiff contradicted such testimony in part, but admitted that he did take the memorandum to defendant’s father who was an officer of a bank and asked for payment; that the father promised to make payment, although he later said the amounts were not correct and did not conform to the contract. The elder Michelsen testified that he informed plaintiff that the items would have to be checked with the contract; that when plaintiff later returned he told plaintiff the list was not in accordance with the contract for the sale of real estate and personal property; and that at the time the preliminary contract was made in September 1947 plaintiff had assured him and defendants that there would be 150 tons of hay and 2500 bushels of grain, and one-half thereof would be included in the sale to defendants.

Plaintiff left the bank and did not return for further computation, but began suit for $2129.32, claiming that there was a definite contract with defendants whereby they agreed to pay plaintiff said sum. On this appeal, plaintiff complains of the refusal of the trial court to enter judgment for the full amount claimed. He argues that the evidence requires a finding that defendant Maurice R. Michelsen became indebted in the sum of $2129.32 on January 5, 1948. Plaintiff also alleges error for allowance of $250' attorney’s fees for defending the suit.

We find substantial competent evidence in the record [200]*200to sustain the judgment as to the amount defendant Michelsen owed plaintiff for the balance of hay and grain not included in the prior contract of sale. Defendants pleaded the contract for the sale of land and personalty, including preliminary sale agreement, on the theory that they were entitled to approximately 75 tons of hay and 1250 bushels of grain as part of the subject-matter of the contract for the sale of land and personalty. The memorandum which plaintiff contends is a written contract, sets out the price per ton and price per bushel, so it is clear that defendant Michelsen did not agree to pay any greater unit price. The memorandum contains no promise to pay, nor any promise to purchase.

The question is, How much hay and grain did plaintiff own and have a right to sell when the memorandum was made? On January 5, 1948, when plaintiff prepared said memorandum, defendants apparently did not have their copy of the land contract with them. The evidence indicates that the elder Michelsen had it at the bank where payments were to be made. Even if there had been a specific agreement to purchase the number of tons of hay and the number of bushels of grain shown on the memorandum, defendant Michelsen could not be required to pay for any more than plaintiff actually owned. If plaintiff owned less than the amount he attempted to sell, there would have been a partial failure of consideration, in the event there had been an express contract for the amount specified by plaintiff, inasmuch as the computation was based upon a unit price per ton and a unit price per bushel. How much plaintiff then owned or had a right to sell would necessarily depend on how much hay and grain defendants were entitled to receive under the agreement for the sale of land and personalty hereinabove mentioned.

The preliminary sale agreement contains the following, as above indicated: “50% of all hay and grain produced [201]*201(Estimate total 150 tons of hay) Approximately 1250 bushels of grain (Total 2500 bushels).” The final contract of sale specifies: “One-half of all hay and grain produced on the above described farm during the year 1947, estimated at total hay raised, 150 tons; total grain so raised, 2500 bushels.” Plaintiff contends that such statements constitute mere estimates and had nothing to do with the actual consideration for the sale of land and personalty. He stresses the words “estimated” and “approximately,” and he argues that the use of such words does not amount to a promise to furnish those quantities, but merely indicate a guess as to how much might be produced during 1947.

We believe that the argument of plaintiff is unsound.

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Bluebook (online)
225 P.2d 735, 119 Utah 196, 1951 Utah LEXIS 124, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/howe-v-michelsen-utah-1951.