Libke v. Craig

216 P.2d 189, 35 Wash. 2d 870, 1950 Wash. LEXIS 521
CourtWashington Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 15, 1950
Docket31030
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 216 P.2d 189 (Libke v. Craig) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Washington Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Libke v. Craig, 216 P.2d 189, 35 Wash. 2d 870, 1950 Wash. LEXIS 521 (Wash. 1950).

Opinions

Beals, J.

Plaintiffs in this action brought suit against defendants for three hundred thirty-five dollars, alleging that that amount was due them from defendants for a load of hay (one hundred eighty-five bales) sold and delivered early in February, 1946.

By their answer, the defendants alleged that, at about the time stated, they purchased four loads of hay from the plaintiffs and paid the agreed price for three loads of the four delivered, further alleging that they accepted the hay without inspection thereof as to condition and quality; that a considerable portion of the hay was in bad condition, having been wet, and, consequently, was caked and molded, with the result that defendants suffered a fifty per cent loss in reselling the hay, and that other portions of the hay were so badly damaged that defendants suffered a total loss thereon.

By way of a cross-complaint, defendants alleged that Mr. Craig was engaged in the business of purchasing hay for [872]*872resale; that the hay which he purchased from plaintiffs was represented to be in good condition; that he paid the plaintiffs, on account of the purchase price of four loads of hay, one thousand five dollars, and that, because of the damaged condition of the hay, defendants had suffered damage in excess of seven hundred dollars.

By their reply, plaintiffs denied the allegations of the defendants’ cross-complaint, and asked for the judgment they originally demanded.

After a trial before the court, sitting without a jury, the court orally announced that judgment would be rendered in favor of the defendants, and, after overruling plaintiffs’ motion for judgment in their favor notwithstanding the court’s oral decision or, in the alternative, for a new trial, findings of fact and conclusions of law in favor of the defendants were entered by the court, followed by a judgment in favor of the defendants and against the plaintiffs for the sum of $462.58, together with costs, from which judgment plaintiffs have appealed.

Appellants assign error upon the refusal of the trial court to enter judgment in their favor at the close of respondents’ case; upon the refusal of the trial court to enter judgment in favor of appellants at the end of the trial; upon the alleged failure of the findings of fact to support the judgment rendered, and upon the entry of certain findings of fact which, appellants argue, are not supported by the evidence.

We shall refer to appellant Lloyd L. Libke as though he were the sole appellant, and to respondent Arnold Craig as though he were the sole respondent in the action.

Appellant has been engaged in farming operations near Ellensburg for over twenty-five years, raising and selling hay, which is baled prior to sale.

Respondent had been purchasing hay from appellant, as he needed it, for seven years, reselling the hay in and around Seattle to riding academies and some other customers.

On the trial, respondent contended that the four loads of hay which he purchased from appellant during the months of January and February, 1946, and which averaged one [873]*873hundred eighty-five bales a load, contained hay that was wet and had caked and molded, and that the hay was, consequently, of poor quality and unmerchantable.

Of the four loads of hay which respondent purchased after January 1st, one was resold to three or four different persons, two were resold to riding academies, and the fourth was delivered to another riding academy, three of the four loads, then, having been disposed of to be fed to horses.

Respondent frequently drove his own truck to appellant’s ranch and assisted in loading the hay. An average bale of good dry hay weighs about one hundred thirty-five pounds. If the hay contains water, the weight of the bale increases, even to two hundred pounds, depending, of course, upon the amount of water contained in the hay. Appellant was present when respondent purchased the four loads referred to, and assisted in loading the bales on the truck. Testimony was introduced to the effect that it is generally impossible to tell from inspection whether or not the interior of a bale of hay has become waterlogged. Some bales were rejected by appellant and some by respondent. From the evidence, it clearly appears that a considerable quantity of the four loads of hay purchased was in bad condition, being moldy and caked. Apparently, this damage extended to approximately one half of the hay.

Witnesses called by appellant testified as to the damage to hay which is caused by mold and caking, and concerning the method by which a bale of good hay can be told from a bale of inferior hay. A witness called by appellant testified that he was present when the last hay purchased by respondent was loaded. The witness testified that respondent rejected some of the bales, but that, when the witness suggested to respondent that one particular bale was overweight, respondent said nevertheless to load the bale on the truck. The witness also testified that the hay making up the load in question weighed from one hundred twenty to one hundred forty pounds per bale.

The testimony is often confused and indefinite.

[874]*874Respondent introduced in evidence three certificates of inspection of hay, signed by P. K. Peterson, a representative of the United States department of agriculture. The certificates state that the hay examined, consisting of four hundred fifteen bales, was inspected at three different places at respondent’s request. Under the heading “Remarks,” the certificates, referring to the hay, state “caked and mouldy” or “Mould and Musty.” Respondent testified that the hay inspected was a portion of his purchases from appellant, and that the inspection certificates were made by Mr. Peterson in respondent’s presence. The inspection certificates were admitted in evidence. Apparently, Mr. Peterson had died prior to the trial.

Appellant argues that the hay inspected by Mr. Peterson and examined by other witnesses, who testified on behalf of respondent that the hay was caked and moldy, was not hay purchased from appellant. As observed by the trial court in its oral opinion, testimony concerning Mr. Peterson’s inspection of the hay and the certificates which he signed were received in evidence without objection.

In its oral opinion, the trial court discussed the evidence at length, stating that the witnesses who testified on behalf of respondent were worthy of belief, and that, in the courts opinion, the hay in question, sold by appellant to respondent, was not merchantable hay because of its caked and moldy condition. The trial court embodied its ruling in appropriate formal findings of fact. Appellant does not meet the burden resting upon him of overturning findings of fact made by the trial court upon disputed evidence, the findings being amply supported by evidence introduced on behalf of respondent.

Respondent testified that the greater portion of the hay that he purchased from appellant was for resale to riding academies, to be fed to horses. The evidence also discloses that hay that is wet, moldy or caked is not such hay as should be fed to horses, although cattle and goats eat it and suffer no injurious effects. The trial court found that appellant knew that respondent was purchasing hay for resale [875]*875to riding academies to be fed to horses. Appellant assails this finding, assigning error thereon as follows:

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Rothing v. Kallestad
2007 MT 109 (Montana Supreme Court, 2007)
Frickel v. Sunnyside Enterprises, Inc.
725 P.2d 422 (Washington Supreme Court, 1986)
Borman v. O'DONLEY
364 S.W.2d 31 (Missouri Court of Appeals, 1962)
Bradford v. Moore Brothers Feed and Grocery
105 So. 2d 825 (Supreme Court of Alabama, 1958)
Libke v. Craig
216 P.2d 189 (Washington Supreme Court, 1950)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
216 P.2d 189, 35 Wash. 2d 870, 1950 Wash. LEXIS 521, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/libke-v-craig-wash-1950.