Massey-Ferguson, Inc. v. Evans

406 So. 2d 15, 32 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 424
CourtMississippi Supreme Court
DecidedOctober 7, 1981
Docket52865
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 406 So. 2d 15 (Massey-Ferguson, Inc. v. Evans) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Mississippi Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Massey-Ferguson, Inc. v. Evans, 406 So. 2d 15, 32 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 424 (Mich. 1981).

Opinion

406 So.2d 15 (1981)

MASSEY-FERGUSON, INC., and Massey-Ferguson Credit Corporation
v.
Bernie EVANS.

No. 52865.

Supreme Court of Mississippi.

October 7, 1981.

*16 Powell & Thrash, Roy D. Powell, Jackson, for appellants.

Zuccaro, Riley, Pintard, Brown & Carby, J. Walter Brown, Jr., Natchez, for appellee.

Before ROBERTSON, P.J., and WALKER and LEE, JJ.

WALKER, Justice, for the Court:

This is an appeal from the Chancery Court of Wilkinson County involving two cases consolidated by the Court for the purpose of trial. The first case was on bill of complaint of Massey-Ferguson Credit Corporation against Bernie Evans to recover a deficiency judgment on three installment contracts covering agriculture equipment purchased by Bernie Evans from Massey-Ferguson, Inc. of Yazoo City. The second case was by Evans against Massey-Ferguson, Inc. for damages, both actual and consequential, arising from defects in the equipment purchased and breach of express and implied warranties.

The three installment contracts sued on by Massey-Ferguson Credit Corporation involved a new Massey-Ferguson grain drill, a used Massey-Ferguson combine, a water tank and trailer and a used disc harrow.

In the suit by Massey-Ferguson Credit Corporation against Evans, the chancellor awarded a deficiency judgment in the amount of $732.03 resulting from the repossession and sale of the water tank and trailer and disc harrow but did not award a deficiency judgment arising out of the repossession and sale of the grain drill or combine for reasons hereinafter discussed.

In the case of Bernie Evans v. Massey-Ferguson, Inc., the court awarded a judgment to Evans for $9,989.11 resulting from *17 a breach of express and implied warranties with respect to said equipment.

The chancellor found that because of the two appellants' similarity of interest, characterized by their interlocking directorates, Massey-Ferguson Credit Corporation was not a holder in due course and that Evans was entitled to raise any defenses against Massey-Ferguson Credit Corporation that he could have raised against the original seller, Massey-Ferguson, Inc.

We have carefully and meticulously considered the record in this case and are of the opinion that neither the grain drill nor the combine were in operable condition when they were delivered to Evans and were never thereafter put in operating condition during the time that Mr. Evans had possession of the equipment. The chancellor's finding in this regard was not only supported by the record but was eminently correct.

In view of the chancellor's finding, it goes without argument that Massey-Ferguson breached its new equipment warranty that the equipment would be free of defects in material and workmanship at time of delivery to Evans, the first retail purchaser. We are of the opinion that there was also a breach of the implied warranty of merchantability found in Mississippi Code Annotated section 75-2-314(2)(c) (Supp. 1980) in that neither the grain drill nor the combine were fit for the ordinary purpose for which such goods are used.

We are of the further opinion that there was a breach of the implied warranty as provided for in Mississippi Code Annotated section 75-2-315 (Supp. 1980) which states:

Where the seller at the time of contracting has reason to know any particular purpose for which the goods are required and that the buyer is relying on the seller's skill or judgment to select or furnish suitable goods, there is an implied warranty that the goods shall be fit for such purpose.

With regard to the last warranty, ordinarily referred to as "Fitness for particular purpose," Massey-Ferguson's salesman, John Warren, who was called as a witness for Massey-Ferguson, testified that he knew Bernie Evans had never farmed before and that Evans intended to use the equipment purchased to farm 200 acres in Wilkinson County. Mr. Warren further testified that he explained to Mr. Evans all that he knew about farming and assisted Mr. Evans in selecting the equipment that he would need in his farming operation. He testified that he assured Mr. Evans the combine would be in "field ready" condition and would be ready to cut soybeans. The evidence is clearly to the effect, along with reasonable inferences to be drawn from it, that Mr. Evans relied on Mr. Warren's skill and judgment to select suitable equipment for Evans' soybean operation. Although Massey-Ferguson attempted to repair the equipment, it failed to ever place the machinery in operating condition. Thus, Massey-Ferguson's liability to Evans for breach of warranty was clearly established.

A warranty by a seller that goods will be repaired or replaced if found to be in defective condition implicitly provides that the seller has the capability of making such repairs or replacement within a reasonable time. This capability means that the seller has reasonably available personnel qualified to make the repairs and that any parts necessary for such repairs are readily available.

The appellants contend that the written contract, i.e., the purchase orders and the express limited warranties which are attached to this opinion as Exhibit "A", limited the buyer's remedy to repair or replacement of the new machinery at the option of the seller, and which provided that the used equipment was sold "as is without warranty of any character, express or implied, unless buyer has received from seller a separate written warranty executed by seller," and which further provided "that in no event shall the owner be entitled to recover for incidental or consequential damages, ... other commercial losses, inconvenience or cost of rental or replacement equipment."

*18 In this regard, the appellants contend, citing much authority, that the trial court erroneously allowed oral testimony that at the time of the parties' negotiation for the equipment and at the time the sale was consummated, the seller assured Mr. Evans that the equipment would be delivered in "field ready condition." Appellants argue that this violates the rule against allowing oral testimony to change the terms of a written contract. However, this argument overlooks the fact that the new grain drill was covered by the Massey-Ferguson new agricultural equipment warranty which warrants new agriculture equipment to be free of defects in material and workmanship at time of delivery to the first retail purchaser. We are of the opinion and so hold that such a warranty encompasses the proposition that the equipment would be in "field ready" condition. "Field ready" condition simply means that the equipment is ready to be used in the field and is consistent with Massey-Ferguson's warranty that the machinery is free of defects in material and workmanship at the time of delivery.

Massey-Ferguson's argument with respect to the contract as it relates to the used equipment, i.e., that it was purchased on an "as is" and "where is" basis without any warranty, express or implied, must also fail because of two statutory enactments. First, Mississippi Code Annotated section 75-2-719(4) (Supp. 1980) provides that:

Any limitation of remedies which would deprive the buyer of a remedy to which he may be entitled for breach of an implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose shall be prohibited.

And, Mississippi Code Annotated section 11-7-18 (Supp. 1980) which further emphasizes this prohibition states:

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Bluebook (online)
406 So. 2d 15, 32 U.C.C. Rep. Serv. (West) 424, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/massey-ferguson-inc-v-evans-miss-1981.