Junkin v. Hargrove

196 Iowa 1387
CourtSupreme Court of Iowa
DecidedOctober 19, 1923
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 196 Iowa 1387 (Junkin v. Hargrove) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Junkin v. Hargrove, 196 Iowa 1387 (iowa 1923).

Opinion

Faville, J.

Both parties to this action are breeders of pure-blood Holstein-Friesian cattle. On February 13, .1919, the appellants purchased certain cows from the appellee. A written contract was entered into between said parties, the material portion of which is "as follows:

“Both parties of the second part also agree to purchase of the first party for a price of at least $500.00 each two bull calves dropped by above mentioned cows.last season, and to take them not later than January 1, 1920, this is contingent on whether the cows above mentioned pass the test as provided above.”

Said contract was signed by both parties; and on the same instrument, and below the signatures, was added the following, in writing:

‘ ‘ Signature of the party of the second part is placed hereon with the understanding that the bull calves mentioned in Paragraph 4 above are to be delivered on or before January 1, 1920, in sound physical condition, and free from tuberculosis. From this date, the bull calves mentioned are to receive first-class care and feed so that they will show good growth. ’ ’

This action is brought to recover on a promissory note given as part of the purchase price of the animals purchased by the appellants. The appellants file a counterclaim under the written contract, and contend that one of the bull calves therein referred to, known in the record as Ideal Beets Burke, was tested for tuberculosis about a month after it was delivered to the appellants, and was condemned and killed by Federal authorities, and that the post-mortem revealed the animal to be seriously afflicted with tuberculosis. Damages were sought by appellants for the difference between the reasonable value of said animal [1389]*1389as a pure-bred Holstein bull, suitable for breeding purposes, and the amount secured for the animal under condemnation.

I. Upon the trial of the ease, the appellee, as a witness in his own behalf, testified that the contract in question was signed by the parties before the writing above set forth was added thereto, and before the said contract, which was in duplicate, had been delivered, and testified that, at said time and under such conditions, the ~rrjtte11 addition to the contract was made. Referring to one of the appellants, he was then asked, “What did he say to you was necessary to comply with that contract, if anything, at that time?” Objection was interposed to this interrogatory as being “incompetent, irrelevant, and immaterial, the statement below itself is perfectly clear and self-explanatory, and seeking to vary the terms.” The objection was overruled, and the witness answered:

“He said that to be free from tuberculosis here was the term I had reference to what it meant.”

He was then asked :

“Did you particularly ask him about that?”

The same objection being interposed and overruled, the witness answered:

“Yes, sir. He said if the calves were tested before they were shipped and passed a clean test before they were shipped, he would accept them and pay for them. ’ ’

Appellee’s son, who was present at the time, testified:

“Q. What was said by your father to Mr. Arnold in regard to that extra on the bottom? (Objected to as incompetent, irrelevant, immaterial, not the best evidence, the writing itself is the best evidence, being clear, and the question seeking to vary, modify, and change the terms of a written contract. Overruled. Exception saved.)
“A. My dad asked him what it meant. Q. What did he say? (Same objection. Same ruling.) A. He told him they had to pass the tuberculosis test. Dad asked him if they had to pass it, and he said they did. He asked him if one test would do, and he said, ‘Yes.’ ”

The court instructed the jury on this subject, as follows:

“You are further instructed, however, that, if the parties [1390]*1390to said contract, after same was written below the signatures, had an agreement or understanding as to the meaning of said_ provision of said contract, in substance and to the effect that, if plaintiff would have said calves tested for tuberculosis, and that they stood the test, that the ■ defendants would receive said bulls as a full compliance with the provisions of said contract that said calves were free from tuberculosis at the time they were to be delivered, on or about January 1, 1920, such construction is binding on said parties. ’ ’

It was appellee’s contention that the animal'in question was tested for tuberculosis by a veterinarian, immediately prior to the time it was shipped to the appellants, and that it did not react to said test-at said time, and that this indicated that it was then free from tuberculosis, and that this was all that was required under the oral “understanding” between the parties. Appellants’ contention was that the condition of the animal as shown by the post-mortein examination was such as to strongly indicate that it must have been diseased at the time it was shipped, and appellants offered evidence of expert witnesses to sustain this contention.

Appellants’ contention at this point was that, if the animal in fact was affected with tuberculosis at the time of shipment, the contract was breached.

Appellee’s contention was that the only question was whether or not the animal reacted to a test for tuberculosis at that time. Appellee’s version of the matter is expressed in his own testimony, wherein he says, on cross-examination, respecting the alleged oral agreement and his understanding thereof:

“Even if he had tuberculosis, if he passed a clean test, I was to ship him and receive my money. If he did not pass a clean test, he was my calf. Q. You mean to say you were to get your money regardless of the condition of the animal, and wholly on what the test showed? A. That is exactly what I mean. Q. That is what you are telling the court and jury? A. Yes, sir.”

It is apparent that appellee’s contention respecting the oral “understanding” between the parties differs radically from the terms of the written contract.

[1391]*1391Should the court have sustained the appellants’ objection to this testimony in behalf of the appellee ?

The rule that prohibits the introduction of evidence of a contemporaneous parol agreement to change, vary, or contradict the terms of a written instrument is too well founded in the law to require citation of authorities to support it. Appellee’s claim is, however, that the rule is avoided in this case, because of his contention that the written contract had been signed by both of the parties before the addition was made thereto respecting the condition of the animal in regard to tuberculosis, and that he was entitled to prove the oral understanding at the time said written addendum or modification of the original contract was made.

The difficulty with appellee’s position at this point is that all of this took place before the contract was delivered, and that the alleged oral “understanding” wras contemporaneous with the written addition that was made to the contract. True, this was made after the contract as originally drawn had been signed, but it was all part of the same transaction, and pertained to the same subject-matter, and took place before the contract as amended was delivered.

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Related

Housman v. Geiman
213 N.W. 19 (South Dakota Supreme Court, 1927)
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213 N.W. 274 (Supreme Court of Iowa, 1927)
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Bluebook (online)
196 Iowa 1387, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/junkin-v-hargrove-iowa-1923.