Dennie v. Clark
Before: Allen
Synopsis
Action for Goods Sold—Issue as to Contract—Consignment upon Commission—Province of Jury—Support of Verdict.—In an action for the price of goods alleged to have been sold defendants under a written contract, the execution of which was denied by the answer, which alleged a consignment of the goods by plaintiffs to defendants upon commission, where the evidence was conflicting, it was the duty of the jury to pass upon all questions of fact and determine the nature of the actual agreement; and its verdict for the defendants will not be disturbed upon appeal.
Id.—Admissions by Defendants After Delivery—Estoppel not Shown.—Where, in the conflict of evidence, admissions made and acts done by the defendants. after the delivery of the goods, and their custody over the same, were shown by the testimony for the plaintiff as bearing upon the main fact of the execution of the instrument relied upon by plaintiff, such evidence did not establish an estoppel of the defendants to deny the execution of the contract alleged, or to show material alterations therein after its signature, where there was no change of relation upon the faith of such admissions or acts, and no prejudice resulted to plaintiff by reason of any reliance thereupon after delivery of the goods.
Id.—Evidence of Alterations—Pleading—Denial of Execution.— Evidence as to material changes in the written instrument relied upon by plaintiffs, after the same was signed, was admissible under the issue raised by the denial of its execution. The effect of such evidence was not to introduce new matter, but to prove that the cause of action as alleged did not exist, and never had existed, and that the making and delivery of the contract set out in the complaint was not the act of the defendants, or an agreement ever entered into or contemplated by the parties.
Id.—Explanation of Written Admissions—Conversation Between Defendants.—Evidence as to conversations between the copartners defendants, in the absence of plaintiff, or his agent, was admissible for the purpose of explaining certain written statements by one of the partners, claimed by plaintiff to be admissions against interest, and to prove information given by the other partner to him, tending to show the meaning and intent of the words employed, and the understanding of the writer of the letter as to the status of all parties.
Id.—Instruction Properly Perused.—There was no error in refusing instructions requested by the plaintiff, one of which was inapplicable under the evidence, and the other of which attempted to charge as to the weight and effect of testimony before the jury.
ALLEN, J.
Action to recover the price and value of certain goods alleged to have been sold by plaintiff to the defendants under a written contract of sale and purchase. Trial to a jury. Verdict and judgment for defendants. Plaintiff moved for a new trial, which was denied, and appeals from the judgment and order.
Plaintiff by his complaint averred that the defendants, in writing, ordered from the plaintiff certain goods and merchandise to be shipped to Los Angeles, in which they agreed to pay the price and value thereof, less a discount of twenty per cent and freight, one-third in three months,' one-third in four months, and one-third in six months from date of shipment. That pursuant to such order, plaintiff shipped the goods and defendants received the same and paid the freight; that no part of the price and value had been paid to plaintiff by defendants. Defendants denied - that they ever purchased the goods under a written contract, or otherwise; denied that they ever executed a contract in writing for the purchase of such goods; and by way of separate defense alleged that the only contract or agreement ever entered into between plaintiff and defendants was for the consignment by plaintiff to defendants of certain goods, to be by defendants sold on commission; that defendants were to advance the freight for plaintiff and to account to plaintiff for the amount of goods actually sold, less a commission of twenty per cent thereon for handling; that the plaintiff was, by agent, to effect the sales, defray any expense, and report such sales to
[762]
the defendants, who should fill orders for goods thus sold, and become responsible for the price and value of orders filled. That the only contract or agreement in writing ever entered into was that plaintiff should prepare upon a printed form a list of goods to be shipped under such agreement, and upon presentation by plaintiff of what purported to be such list defendants signed the same as evidence of willingness to receive such goods upon arrival at Los Angeles, and for no other purpose; and by way of counterclaim the defendants set up the contract, as in the separate defense averred, and averred that they advanced certain freight upon such goods and received the same in their warehouse, and plaintiff failed and refused to negotiate sales thereof, or to receive said goods from them, and they have been required to provide storeroom for them to their damage, for which they ask judgment.
More from California Court of Appeal
- People v. Hill (1998)
- In Re Autumn H. (1994)
- Nwosu v. Uba (2004)
- In Re Casey D. (1999)
- Santisas v. Goodin (1998)
- Cahill v. San Diego Gas & Electric Co. (2011)
- People v. Rivera (2015)
- People v. Barnett (1998)
- People v. Serrano (2012)
- Benach v. County of Los Angeles (2007)