Parker v. Advance Thresher Co.

135 P. 229, 75 Wash. 505, 1913 Wash. LEXIS 2238
CourtWashington Supreme Court
DecidedSeptember 24, 1913
DocketNo. 10917
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 135 P. 229 (Parker v. Advance Thresher Co.) 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
Parker v. Advance Thresher Co., 135 P. 229, 75 Wash. 505, 1913 Wash. LEXIS 2238 (Wash. 1913).

Opinion

Main, J.-

This action was brought for the purpose of recovering damages for personal injuries. The facts, so far as necessary to an understanding of the questions here to be determined, are substantially as follows: On June 30, 1910, the Walla Walla Iron Works, as the agent of the Advance Thresher Company, by written contract, sold to the plaintiff and one George W. Daniel an Advance separator. The contract provided for an initial payment, and three subsequent payments falling due October 1, 1910, October 1, 1911, and October 1, 1912, which were to be evidenced by promissory notes secured by a chattel mortgage upon the machine. Thereafter, the separator was delivered and the notes and mortgage executed. The separator was used during the season of 1910 by the plaintiff and Daniel. In the fall of that year, it was returned to the Walla Walla Iron Works for storage. After being placed in storage, it appears that the plaintiff desired to remove the machine, or a part thereof, to his farm; but owing to the fact that he and Daniel were owing the Walla Walla Iron Works for repairs, permission to remove it was denied. The plaintiff then desired to remove the drive belt, but this' permission was refused him by the president and manager of the iron works unless he should get permission from one Cowan, the general agent of the thresher company. Subsequently this permission was obtained. At this time the plaintiff.had' met his obligations t.o the thresher company, but Daniel was in default and apparently had neither the inclination nor the ability to make his [507]*507portion of the payments. Some discussion took place between the plaintiff and the president of the iron works and Cowan as to, how the situation should be adjusted. On November 16, 1910, the plaintiff and the thresher company, through Cowan, entered into a written contract whereby the plaintiff was to pay the thresher company certain small payments prior to the 15th day of May, 1911; and when those payments were completed, a new contract and notes were to be made out and signed by the plaintiff, he being released from the notes given together with Daniel. The payments, as required by the contract of November 16th, having been made, a new contract of sale was made between the plaintiff and the thresher company, dated May 22, 1911. This contract was similar to the first contract, which was made on the 30th of June, 1910. It provided for notes and mortgage and that the payment of the notes should fall due on October 1, 1911, October 1, 1912, and October 1, 1913. The notes and mortgage were executed by the plaintiff.

There was no change in the possession of the separator until about the first of August, 1911, when the plaintiff took it away. When the plaintiff went to get the separator, he was informed that the cap over the cylinder was gone. The plaintiff then, as he testifies, saw Broughton, the manager of the iron works, who said he had taken the cover for another advance separator and would have a cover put on. An employee of the iron works put on a new cap in the absence of the plaintiff. This cap was not lined with sheet iron- or steel, and after being used about eight days, became so worn and thin that, when the plaintiff stepped on it while the machine was in operation, it gave way, letting his foot into the rapidly revolving cylinder, with the result that a portion of one foot was cut off. The negligence claimed is the failure to line the cylinder cap with sheet iron or steel to prevent it wearing as the grain would beat against it when passing through the cylinder.

The written contract by which the iron works was consti[508]*508tuted the agent of the thresher company for the season of 1910 terminated, according to its terms, on November 1, •1910. Subsequently another agent was appointed and the iron works became a subagent. During the years 1910 and 1911, the thresher company’s machinery was stored with the iron works. The plaintiff had no notice or knowledge of the termination of the agency. The facts as above stated are briefly as contended for by the plaintiff.

The defendant thresher company contends that, at the time the cap which broke and caused the injury was put on by the iron works, the iron- works was not then its agent, and consequently, it is not liable.

The iron works denied negligence on its part and contends that the plaintiff was guilty of contributory negligence which was the proximate cause of the injury. The alleged contributory negligence consisted in the plaintiff’s stepping upon the cap over the cylinder while oiling the machine. It is claimed that he might either have done the oiling by stepping upon a cross-timber, or by standing upon the ground. Upon the question as to where was the proper place for him to be while oiling the machine, the evidence is conflicting.

The cause was tried to the court and a jury, and a verdict for the plaintiff returned' in the sum of $3,500. At appropriate times on the part of the thresher company, motions for nonsuit, for a directed verdict, for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, and for a new trial, were made and overruled. On behalf of the iron works, a motion for new trial was made and overruled. Judgment was entered upon the verdict. Both defendants appeal.

The questions which are chiefly material are: First, was the Walla Walla Iron Works the agent of the Advance Thresher Company at the time the cap was supplied? Second, if it was the agent, then was the supplying of the cap within the scope of its agency? Third, what was the effect of the contract of May 22, 1911? Fourth, was the plaintiff [509]*509guilty of contributory negligence? Fifth, was there error in the instructions ?

I. It must first be determined whether, at the time the Walla Walla Iron Works put the cap over the cylinder, it was the agent of the Advance Thresher Company. It is not questioned that, during the year 1910, such agency existed by virtue of a written contract which, however, as specified in the contract, was to expire on November 1, 1910. The respondent takes the position that the agency once established, and he having dealt with the agent, such agency, as to him, will be presumed to continue until he has notice, either express or implied, of its termination. The rule is that where a general agency is once established, as to third persons who have dealt with the agent, it will be presumed to continue until there is notice of revocation. In 31 Cyc. 1639, the rule is stated in this language:

“If a general agency for any purpose be shown the presumption as to third persons previously dealing with the agent is that it continues until notice of revocation.”

Numerous other authorities might be cited in support of this proposition, but it is so' well established that the cumulative citation of authority here would add nothing to its force. The undisputed fact being that the respondent, in his first transaction, purchased the machine from the iron works as the agent of the thresher company, such agency as to him would continue in the absence of notice of its termination. The respondent testified that he had neither notice nor knowledge that the agency had been terminated. The facts and circumstances which surround the entire transaction subsequent to the time specified in the written contract for the termination of the agency are not such as to enable us to say, as a matter of law, that they would impute knowledge to the respondent that the agency had been terminated. The question then became one of fact for the jury under proper instructions from the court.

[510]*510II.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
135 P. 229, 75 Wash. 505, 1913 Wash. LEXIS 2238, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/parker-v-advance-thresher-co-wash-1913.