Rapid Transit Lines, Inc. v. Transit Ads, Inc.

401 S.W.2d 276, 1966 Tex. App. LEXIS 2440
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedFebruary 4, 1966
Docket4001
StatusPublished
Cited by8 cases

This text of 401 S.W.2d 276 (Rapid Transit Lines, Inc. v. Transit Ads, Inc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Rapid Transit Lines, Inc. v. Transit Ads, Inc., 401 S.W.2d 276, 1966 Tex. App. LEXIS 2440 (Tex. Ct. App. 1966).

Opinion

WALTER, Justice.

Transit Ads, Inc., recovered a judgment against Rapid Transit Lines, Inc., for breach of contract and Rapid Transit has appealed. It asserts that it was never legally bound by Transit Ads’ contract; that it was entitled to a judgment on the basis of the jury findings; that plaintiff’s judgment is based on the doctrine of anticipatory breach and, as a matter of law, it is not applicable and the court erred in rendering judgment for $209,136.10 because that sum includes $134,250.00 attributable to a five year period immediately after April 30, 1965. It being its contention that Transit Ads’ rights in this five year period were dependent upon a condition precedent which did not occur. It also contends the charge contains several errors.

Irwin Winston was president of Transit Ads, Inc. This company was in the transportation advertising business. Transportation Advertising Sales had a contract with Houston Transit Company to handle the advertising on its buses. Transportation Sales assigned its interest in the contract to Transit Ads. Thereafter Houston Transit and Transit Ads entered into a new contract, dated April 14, 1960. This contract provided in part the following:

"THIS AGREEMENT, made this 14th day of April, 1960, between Houston Transit Company of Houston, Texas, hereinafter called the party of the first part and the Transit Ads, Inc. of Houston and the state of Texas, hereinafter called the party of the second part.
WITNESSETH: That the party of the first part for itself, its successors and assigns has let and by these present does let and license, unto the party of the second part, its successors, assigns and legal representatives, sole and exclusive advertising rights and privileges in, upon and about all of the buses now or hereafter owned or controlled by or operated by the party of the first part or upon any of its lines for and during a period commencing on the 1st day of May, 1960, and ending the 30th day of April, 1965. TRANSIT ADS, INC. shall have the option to extend the term of this contract for an additional period of 5 years on condition that the Houston Transit Company franchise with the City of Houston shall be extended to coincide with the above mentioned extension. Transit Ads, Inc. shall notify Houston Transit of its election to exercise said option in writing on or before 12 months prior to the expiration of the original term hereof.
IN consideration of the exclusive advertising privileges granted herein the party of the second part agrees to pay the party of the first part a sum equal to fifty (50%) percent of the gross sales (gross sales shall be construed to mean less only (a) cost of painting to be deducted in the following fashion: curb and traffic side painted spectaculars $10.00 for each position; painted rear displays $5.00 per *279 month, (b) legitimate advertising agency commissions actually paid by Transit Ads, Inc.) collected of the advertising sold by the party of the second part and carried by the party of the first part for any person, firm, corporation, or advertising agency for advertising placings in or about such buses during each month that this contract remains in force. The party of the second part agrees to send the party of the first part a monthly statement of collections made during the previous month together with a check for 50% of these collections.
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THIS contract is not assignable or transferable without the consent of both parties.”

Bernard E. Calkins, president of Rapid Transit Lines, testified substantially as follows: Rapid Transit Lines was organized for the purpose of acquiring a franchise from the City of Houston; Houston Transit Company was operating the buses in the City of Houston under a franchise before we took over; Houston Transit stack was acquired for the purpose of acquiring its physical assets that could be used under the new franchise; I made a study and was familiar with the assets and liabilities of Houston Transit; I was aware of the fact that Transit Ads was handling the advertising for Houston Transit and had a contract with it; I had studied the details of such contract before I purchased Houston Transit; I took over Houston Transit on May 25, 1961; Houston Transit has been dissolved; Rapid Transit acquired all of its assets; Rapid Transit Lines commenced operating its buses in Houston on June 1, 1961; I recognized Transit’s contract insofar as Houston Transit was concerned up to May 31; I do not contend that Winston did anything or failed to do something that caused me to terminate the contract; I am saying that the contract was an obligation of Houston Transit Company and it ended when its franchise terminated. I did not learn that Transit Ads had paid $55,000.00 for its contract for some two months after I took over operation of the buses.

Referring to Transit Ads’ April 14, 1960, contract, Mr. Calkins said: “* * * I never said and do not take the stand that I do not assume the obligations under the contract under the Houston Transit Company, and up to the time when the Houston Transit Company operated under the franchise with the City of Houston, but I, as Rapid Transit Lines, have never negotiated a contract with Mr. Winston.”

Mr. Calkins was asked the following question: “During the period then up to June 1st, 1961, the period I am now directing your attention to, did you ever state to Mr. Winston, take the position with him the contract was not binding, not obligating on the Houston Transit Company?” and he gave the following answer, “I think it was pretty well discussed. It was our feeling the contract would not be binding on Rapid Transit, which would be taking over June 1st and that — I did not ever state that it was not binding on Houston Transit Company for whatever obligation may be there.”

The Special Issues that were answered are as follows:

“SPECIAL ISSUE NO. 1
Do you find from a preponderance ef the evidence that on or before June 1, 1961, Bernard E. Calkins expressly communicated to Transit Ads, Inc., an unequivocal repudiation of any liability or obligations on the part of Rapid Transit Lines, Inc., to Transit Ads, Inc., by virtue of the written contract dated April 14, 1960, being Exhibit 5 in evidence herein ?
ANSWER: ‘We do.’”
“The term ‘repudiation’ as used in the foregoing issue means a present, distinct, and absolute denial by a party of any obligation under or by virtue of a contract; and a mere assertion by a party that he will refuse to perform a contract *280 at some future time does not constitute a breach or repudiation of such contract.”
“SPECIAL ISSUE NO. 2
“Do you find from a preponderance of the evidence that Transit Ads, Inc. rendered substantial performance of the written contract, dated April 14, 1960, being Exhibit 5 in evidence herein, after the execution of such contract until June 1, 1961 ?
ANSWER: ‘Wedo.’”
“SPECIAL ISSUE NO. 3
Do you find from a preponderance of the evidence that Carl B.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
401 S.W.2d 276, 1966 Tex. App. LEXIS 2440, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/rapid-transit-lines-inc-v-transit-ads-inc-texapp-1966.