Rouse v. Printers' Exchange Co. — 66 N.Y. St. Rep. 698

Majority

p. 698

Isaac Rouse et al., Resp’ts, v. Printers’ Exchange Company, App’lt.

(New York Common Pleas, General Term,

Filed April 1, 1895.)

Headnote

1. Appeal—Conflicting evidence.

A judgment, on conflicting evidence, will not be disturbed on appeal.

3. Trial—Motion to dismiss.

Failure to move to dismiss at the close of the testimony concedes that the case presents a question of fact.

Appeal from a judgment in favor of plaintiffs.

Hector M. Hitchings, for app’lt; Abraham Levy, for resp’ts.

The plaintiffs sued to recover $53,—$50, a deposit in advance on the purchase price of a printers’ outfit, consisting of second-hand materials, which defendant agreed to deliver on May 10th ; and $3 deposited for cartage. On the day appointed for delivery, as well as the day before, the plaintiffs went to the defendant’s place of business, saw the type which defendant proposed to deliver, or some part of it, and found that it was in poor condition and defective, and objected to it; and defendant made no offer to deliver suitable articles. Next day plaintiffs demanded back their deposit, which was refused. The defendant offered evidence showing that the type was in good condition and suitable, and that when complaint was made defendant offered, if anything was wrong, to give other things. Plaintiffs’ evidence was that defendant promised to make everything satisfactory, but that this was on the Monday prior to the day of delivery. There was, therefore, a conflict of evidence as to whether the defendant was ready to deliver suitable goods when called for by the con

Dissent

p. 699

tract, or offer to make such delivery after complaint. On the issues thus presented the justice found for the plaintiffs, and his decision upon the evidence should not be disturbed. It is claimed that plaintiffs’ refusal to accept was in bad faith, they having meanwhile got a better bargain elsewhere; but there was a conflict of evidence upon the facts with regard to that contention. There was no motion to dismiss the complaint at the close of the case, which was thereby conceded to present a question of fact for the decision of the justice. No exceptions are presented by the ¡record. The judgment should be affirmed, with costs.

Bischoff, J., concurs.

(dissenting).—The action purports to be for the recovery of money paid upon a rescinded contract. The evidence for plaintiffs authorizes these inferences of fact: That the parties entered into an executory agreement, whereby the defendant engaged to furnish plaintiffs a printers’ outfit, complete and satisfactory ; that on concluding the bargain the plaintiffs paid down $53 ; that thereafter the plaintiffs examined the outfit proposed to be supplied by defendant, and found it unsatisfactory; that thereupon plaintiffs revoked the contract-, and demanded the return of the cash payment. So far the case for the plaintiffs is clear enough, but I find in the record a fact which ib fatal to their contention. By the testimony of Isaac Bouse himself it appears that when, on inspection of the outfit proposed to be furnished by the defendant, he declared his dissatisfaction with it, the defendant offered to make it satisfactory. The offer was rejected, and plaintiffs proceeded to provide themselves elsewhere. Upon what principle may plaintiffs affect to rescind a contract which the defendant offered faithfully tn perform? I know of none. After repudiation of the contract by the plaintiffs, the defendant was under no obligation to tender delivery. The plaintiffs were too impatient to escape from their bargain to await a default by the defendant. But until such default they could not rescind, and until a rescission of the contract they cannot recover the money paid. The judgment should be reversed.