Williams v. Oliphant

3 Ind. 271

• Court: Indiana Supreme Court
• Decided: May 24, 1852
• Status: Published

Opinion

Smith, J. —

This was an action of assumpsit commenced before a justice of the peace and appealed to the Circuit Court. The cause of action was an alleged breach of contract by Williams, who had agreed to lease to Oliphant a house and small farm, and afterwards refused to let him enter upon or have the premises. The cause was submitted to a jury, who found for the plaintiff, and assessed his damages at 21 dollars and 25 cents.

Williams, the defendant below, requested the Court to give the following instructions:

“ The rule of damages in this case is, the difference between the price of rent to be paid by the plaintiff, and the market price of the article at the time it was to be delivered ; and if the rent to be paid by the plaintiff was the highest rent in the neighborhood, and no higher or more rent could be had for the premises by the plaintiff, the latter is only entitled to nominal damages.”

These instructions the Court refused to give, but gave the following:

“Remote or special damages, such as expenses for moving to a more remote farm, are not to be allowed; but for all such as legitimately and directly arise from the breach, you are to give the plaintiff the equivalent of performance, in money. If the defendant is delinquent or in fault by breaking his contract, he is bound to repair the loss of the plaintiff thereby.”

The only errors complained of are, the refusal of the Court to give the instructions requested, and the giving of the charge above quoted.

We think the instructions requested by the appellant were properly refused, and that those given, so far as they go, are substantially correct.

The rule as to the measure of damages in the case of a breach of contract for the sale of goods, when the purchaser can always, or generally, purchase others without inconvenience, is not applicable to the breach of such a contract as that now in question.

G. Holland, for the appellant. J. D. Howland, for the appellee.

Per Curiam.

The judgment is affirmed, with 5 per cent. damages and costs.