Thompson Lumber Co. v. Cozier Container Corp.

333 P.2d 1004, 80 Idaho 455, 1958 Ida. LEXIS 237
CourtIdaho Supreme Court
DecidedDecember 16, 1958
Docket8582
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 333 P.2d 1004 (Thompson Lumber Co. v. Cozier Container Corp.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Idaho Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Thompson Lumber Co. v. Cozier Container Corp., 333 P.2d 1004, 80 Idaho 455, 1958 Ida. LEXIS 237 (Idaho 1958).

Opinion

SMITH, Justice.

Respondent brought this action on a written contract, to recover six months’ rental on a U D 24 Power Unit, and the repair and incidental costs of placing the equipment “in sound operating condition.”

Respondent in its amended complaint alleges that on April 8, 1953, it rented the power unit to appellant for the agreed rental of $100 a month, which equipment appellant agreed to return in sound operating condition.

Relevant portions of the rental agreement read:

“The party of the first part [respondent] agrees to rent to the party of the second part [appellant] * * * the U D 24 Power Unit * * * rental to commence the day the equipment is picked up and to end on the day the equipment is returned.
*458 “The party of the second part [appellant] agrees to return the equipment in sound operating condition.

Respondent then alleges that appellant kept the power unit from April 8 to December 8, 1953, paying the agreed rental; that appellant did not return the equipment in '“sound operating condition,” but in a wholly inoperative condition, necessitating repairs; that respondent upon dismantling the power unit at a cost of $135 ascertained the defects and advised appellant thereof; that respondent then transported the power unit to Spokane, Washington, where Intermountain Equipment Company estimated the expense of repairing it at $2,500, but that respondent, acting in the best interest of appellant in eliminating certain parts and expense, accomplished the repair by said company, of placing the machine in a sound operating condition, at a cost of $861.62, as reflected by an itemized statement of the repair bill; that in transporting the power unit to and from Spokane, respondent incurred trucking expenses totaling $100.

Respondent further alleges that since it did not obtain return of the repaired power unit until June 8, 1954, it became entitled to six months’ additional rent from appellant, for the period from December 8, 1953, to June 8, 1954, totaling $600. Respondent prayed for judgment in such sums totaling $1,696.62, together with interest.

The trial court overruled appellant’s demurrer to the amended complaint but granted in part its motion to strike portions thereof.

The jury returned a verdict in respondent’s favor for $1,696.62 together with interest of $287.74. The trial court thereupon entered judgment in respondent’s favor against appellant for $1,984.36, together with $47.75 costs, all totaling $2,032.11. Appellant perfected an appeal therefrom.

Appellant assigns error of the trial court in overruling its demurrer, special in nature, to respondent’s amended complaint. We have examined the complaint and conclude that the trial court did not commit error in that regard.

Appellant defended on two theories: First, that since the power unit, when rented, was not in good worlcable condition, as respondent impliedly warranted it to be, appellant was under no duty to return it in any better condition than as received. Second, that since the agreement provided for rental of the power itnit at $100 a month to commence April 8, 1953 and “to end on the day the equipment is returned,” rental cannot be considered as a measure of damage. Appellant’s various assignments of error save for review the issues so presented.

We recognize the general rule, that where a chattel is hired or leased out for *459 a particular purpose, a warranty will be implied that the chattel is reasonably fit for the purpose for which it is hired or leased. Tufts v. Verkuyl, 124 Mich. 242, 82 N.W. 891; Collette v. Page, 44 R.I. 26, 114 A. 136, 18 A.L.R. 74; Hoisting Engine Sales Co. v. Hart, 237 N.Y. 30, 142 N.E. 342, 31 A.L.R. 536, and Annotation, 541; Reynolds v. American Foundry & Machine Co., 121 Utah 130, 239 P.2d 209; Marcos v. Texas Co., 75 Ariz. 45, 251 P.2d 647; Gagne v. Bertran, 43 Cal.2d 481, 275 P.2d 15.

In the case here, the parties conceded that the power unit needed certain repairs when rented, and that respondent at its expense furnished such items of initial repair as appellant requested. Thereafter there appears to have been no question concerning the ability of the power unit to perform in a manner satisfactory to appellant. Appellant’s general manager testified:

“Q. Did you have any difficulty with it [the power unit] in running because of anything wrong with the motor at times? A. No, sir.
“Q. Did you have any loss of power in it at any time so that it wouldn’t do the work that you expected it to do?
sfc ‡ * + * ‡
“A. No, sir.”

Appellant’s logging superintendent testified that after the initial repairs the power unit had ability to work and that it accomplished the job for which hired; also that appellant at no time complained about it to respondent.

The evidence thus adduced from respondent’s witnesses shows that the pow- . c er unit was reasonably fit for, and reasonably accomplished the purpose for which appellant hired it.

Appellant’s next contention that appellant was under no duty to return the power unit in any better condition than received, must be regarded in the light of its contractual duty in the premises.

The specific terms of the express contract must be accorded due consideration, particularly the provision, “the party of the second part [appellant] agrees to return the above equipment [¶] D 24 Power Unit] in sound operating condition.” The contract fails to support appellant’s theory that its only duty was to return the equipment in as good condition as received, with perhaps reasonable wear and tear excepted.

The rule is stated in 8 C.J.S. Bailments § 22, p. 255:

“The rights, duties, and liabilities of the bailor and bailee must be determined from the terms of the contract between the parties, whether ex *460 press or implied. Where there is an express contract, the terms thereof control, since both the bailor and bailee are entitled to impose on each other such terms they respectively may , choose, increasing or diminishing their rights, and their express agreement will prevail against general principles oj law applicable in the absence of such an agreement.”

Appellant questions the sufficiency of the evidence to show that the power unit was not in sound operating condition when returned to respondent.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Dursteler v. Dursteler
733 P.2d 815 (Idaho Court of Appeals, 1987)
Transamerica Leasing Corp. v. Van's Realty Co.
427 P.2d 284 (Idaho Supreme Court, 1967)
Coburn v. Fireman's Fund Insurance Company
387 P.2d 598 (Idaho Supreme Court, 1963)
Hatten MacHinery Co. v. Bruch
370 P.2d 600 (Washington Supreme Court, 1962)
Davis v. Davis
353 P.2d 1079 (Idaho Supreme Court, 1960)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
333 P.2d 1004, 80 Idaho 455, 1958 Ida. LEXIS 237, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/thompson-lumber-co-v-cozier-container-corp-idaho-1958.