Piowaty v. Sheldon

132 N.W. 517, 167 Mich. 218, 1911 Mich. LEXIS 618
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedOctober 2, 1911
DocketDocket No. 48
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 132 N.W. 517 (Piowaty v. Sheldon) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Piowaty v. Sheldon, 132 N.W. 517, 167 Mich. 218, 1911 Mich. LEXIS 618 (Mich. 1911).

Opinion

Stone, J.

The plaintiff, a jobber of fruits and vegetables, residing in the city of Chicago, brought this suit against the defendant, a buyer and jobber of produce, residing at Lexington, in the county of Sanilac, in this State, to recover damages for the alleged breach of and a claimed penalty withheld by the defendant, under a contract in the words and figures following:

“Lexington, Sept. 13, 1907.
“W. Sheldon, of Lexington, Michigan, sold to M. Piowaty, of Chicago, 111., the whole output of all winter and fall apples for this season.
“The No. 1 apples should be packed free from worms and smooth stock, packed down to 2J inches. The No. 2 apples packed down to two inches with blow worms and not any small scabby apples. Should be put in uniform barrels.
“M. Piowaty paid on this contract $500.00 and pays for each car by presentation of B. of L. and bill to Lexington State Bank where the bank pay to Sheldon. The $500.00 [220]*220stays for deposit until the last car shipped and Mr. Sheldon stands to this agreement.
“If we cannot get through rates in ten to 25 days this contract is void.
“M. Plow AT Y.
“W. H. Sheldon.”

It is undisputed that the price of the apples was $3 per barrel.

Shortly after the date of the contract the defendant began shipment to plaintiff of certain apples, which were shipped to customers of the plaintiff in St. Paul, Kansas City, and Minneapolis. Immediately upon the arrival of these apples at the various points of destination, complaints were made by the purchasers to the plaintiff touching the character of the apples, and refusing to accept them. Plaintiff claims that he investigated these various complaints, and, finding them to be well founded, notified defendant immediately, and refused to accept further apples. Plaintiff claims that he had no opportunity of inspecting these apples prior to the shipment by the defendant until their arrival at destination.

This is denied by the defendant, who claims that the apples were to be inspected and paid for at Lexington, and that plaintiff had an inspector on the ground who had every opportunity to inspect, and, in fact, did so. The plaintiff also claims that the apples were improperly packed in the barrels, being loose and not pressed down, and that it became necessary to repack all of the apples that were sent to Chicago on account of this condition. This was also denied by the defendant, who claims that the apples were properly packed. The plaintiff claims that in repacking he discovered that the No. 1 apples included apples with side worms, were full of undersized apples with lots of decay, and that the so-called No. 2 apples were really cull or cider apples. This claim was also denied by defendant, and there was considerable testimony pro and con as to the quality of the apples. The plaintiff received from defendant, before refusing to [221]*221take further apples, about 1,400 barrels, which he claims he sold at a loss of $915.

It is undisputed that the plaintiff, at the time of making the contract, paid to defendant, Sheldon, in accordance with the terms thereof, the sum of $500, no portion of which was ever received back by him. At the time the plaintiff made the contract with defendant, he claims he had made arrangements for the sale of the entire season’s apples contracted for from defendant at an advance of 35 cents per barrel, net. The apples which were packed by defendant under this contract were purchased by the defendant from various farmers in Sanilac county, covering a territory of a number of miles on either side of the village of Lexington; and the apples were being packed in the various orchards at the same time by different packers in defendant’s employ. The plaintiff claims that to assist the defendant in packing the apples he sent an employe, a Mr. Moore, from Chicago, to see that the apples were packed properly in the orchards, and he claims that Moore was not there in the capacity of an inspector, and had nothing to do with inspection; while the defendant gave testimony tending to show that the plaintiff had promised to send an inspector, and that Moore came and acted in that capacity, with the knowledge and under the instruction of the plaintiff. There is shown in the record a good deal of testimony as to the conduct of Moore, as to the complaints he made to the packers and to the defendant, and that some apples were rejected by Moore.

The plaintiff offered evidence tending to show the breach of the contract in the particulars named, and the damage which he had sustained. The defendant,, under a notice attached to his plea claiming damages by way of recoupment, offered evidence tending to show that the contract had been kept and performed by him, and that the plaintiff was to accept and pay for these apples at Lexington; and that the plaintiff himself was guilty of a breach of the contract in refusing to accept the remainder of the apples.

[222]*222It appears that after the refusal on the part of the plaintiff to receive any more apples under the contract, because of the defective quality, the defendant notified the plaintiff that the remainder of the apples were ready for shipment, and that he should hold the plaintiff for any loss-which he sustained by reason of the plaintiff’s failure to accept the apples, and that he would go ahead and do the best he could with them. And thereupon the defendant, shipped to one Jacob Smith, of Detroit, who was a commission broker, 1,466 barrels of apples, which he claimed, were the balance under the contract with plaintiff; and, in. addition, he also shipped to said Smith 81 barrels of cull apples, which had been frozen.

The defendant gave testimony tending to show that there was a panic in the late fall of 1907, and what is termed a “slump in the apple market;” that there was: no market for apples at Lexington, and that the nearest market was the city of Detroit; that when he shipped the apples to Smith he instructed him to dispose of them as soon as he could, and for the best price obtainable. He offered evidence tending to show that it was impossible to sell the apples in the fall of 1907, in the city of Detroit, but that the said Smith was able to dispose of the 81 barrels of cull apples. The 1,466 barrels of apples were stored by the witness Smith in the basement of the Biddle House in Detroit, where they were kept until about the 1st of April, when they were taken out and sold to various persons.

The man Smith was a witness for the defendant. He testified that he kept no record, showing the amount realized for the sale of one car load of the apples. At the time of his settlement with the defendant, he produced what he represented to be a statement of his account of the sale, which, upon his re-examination by the defendant, was offered in evidence, and marked “Exhibit 24.” This exhibit was as follows:

[223]*223Watson Sheldon,

In Account with Jacob Smith.

Dr. Cr.

By 1,466 barrels of apples............. $1,575 33

To Storage at $20.00 per month________ $100 00

Insurance................■......... 35 40

Cartage.......................... 57 20

Labor............................. 22 75

Freight paid...................... 187 65

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Bluebook (online)
132 N.W. 517, 167 Mich. 218, 1911 Mich. LEXIS 618, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/piowaty-v-sheldon-mich-1911.