Marx v. White Co.

143 N.Y.S. 1036

• Court: Appellate Terms of the Supreme Court of New York
• Decided: November 13, 1913
• Status: Published

Opinion

BIJUR, J.

This action was brought to recover for the price of 20 automobile bodies.

[1] One decisive point in the case requires a reversal of the judgment. It appears, without contradiction, that after a prolonged dispute as to the amount due from defendant to plaintiff, defendant wrote:

“We inclose our check for $132.59, together with statement showing our entire indebtedness to you on the Gimbel bodies. This statement is in accordance with the contract. * * * ”

The check inclosed was indorsed:

“In full settlement as per contract.”

The check was deposited and used by the plaintiff, and two days later plaintiff.wrote defendant:

“Tour check for $132.59 received, for which we will credit your account. * * * ”

There can be no doubt that this would have constituted an accord and satisfaction as pleaded, were it not for the point raised by the plaintiff respondent to the effect that he himself never saw the check, Tut that it was indorsed by his son, who had authority “to indorse for him,” and who was authorized “to sign for him,” and who was his bookkeeper. He also said of his son:

“He has only a right to indorse checks for deposit; that is all.”

Even if the authority of the son was not so extensive that the plaintiff was bound by his acceptance of the check with the qualifying indorsement, the accompanying letter which the plaintiff received sufficiently indicated that the check was in settlement of the account after a dispute. On familiar principles, an accord and satisfaction was thus established.

[2] Respondent’s further claim that he is, at all events, entitled to recover for a further sum for “extra work,” is disposed of by the conceded fact that the so-called “extra work” was only a modification of the contract, changing the character of some of the work to be done, and that such modification was made before the contract was accepted.

Jádgment reversed, and new trial granted, with costs to appellant to abide the event. All concur.