New York Central & H. R. R. Co. v. James Butler, Inc.

145 N.Y.S. 918

• Court: Appellate Terms of the Supreme Court of New York
• Decided: January 8, 1914
• Status: Published

Opinion

LEHMAN, J.

The goods were consigned under the bill of lading by George Cole to his own order, with instructions to* notify James Butler. The terms of the agreement of sale between the said George Cole and the defendant were that the said shipment would be delivered by the said George Cole to the defendant f. o. b. at plaintiff’s Thirty-Third Street Station, New York City. Under these circumstances, I fail to see that the defendant was under any contractual liability to pay the plaintiff any charges for their transportation.' It paid the charges demanded, merely to relieve the goods from the lien of the plaintiff’s charges, or as agent for Cole, who was under a contractual liability both to the carrier and to itself to pay these charges.

The defendant derived no benefit from the transportation at a cheaper rate than was lawful, and, in the absence of contractual liability to the company,‘cannot be held for the excess amount. I can see no distinction in principle between this case and the case of Pennsylvania R. Co. v. Titus, 156 App. Div. 830, 142 N. Y. Supp. 43; and the judgment should be reversed on authority of that case.

Judgment reversed, with costs, and complaint dismissed, with costs. All concur.