Kinney v. Ehrensperger
Kinney v. Ehrensperger
Opinion of the Court
The court in its oral charge instructed the jury that, “If you find for the plaintiff, the form of your verdict will be:
“We, the jury, find for the plaintiff, and assess his damages at the contract price of the steps and the interest thereon from the time that they should have been received by the defendant.”
There were nine counts in the complaint, the first six being the common counts. Under these six counts, it is correctly conceded by the aiipellant that if the plaintiff was entitled to recover, the measure of recovery would be the contract price plus interest. This on the theory that the contract had been completed and nothing remained to be done but to pay the purchase' price agreed upon. 35 Oye. 580. For a like reason, the measure of recovery under count 7 would be the same as under the first six counts, as this count, in effect, claims a delivery of the articles to the defendant, and the only breach complained of is the failure of defendant to pay the contract price.
If the articles, by reason of their having been manufactured for a particular purpose and in a particular manner, had no market value, the plaintiff would be entitled to recover the full contract price. If, however, the articles did have value, the defendant was entitled to have 'that value deducted from the amount of the recovery. So, in this case, under the eighth and ninth counts, the measure of damages is the difference between the agreed price and the market price .at the time-and in the territory of delivery, with interest thereon. Central of Ga. Ry. Co. v. Isbell, supra; Crandall-Pettee Co. v. Jebeles & Colias Conf. Co., 195 Ala. 157, 69 South. 964. (In the latter case Mr. Justice Thomas has collated the authorities supporting this proposition.) In other words, the measure of damages is the benefit that the plaintiff would have received if the contract had been kept, and no more. Leake, Digest of the Law. of Contracts, p. 1044. And for this purpose, the defendant was entitled to have the jury so instructed. The foregoing being the law, the court erred in instructing the jury as hereinbefore set out, regarding the measure of damages.
“If you are reasonably satisfied from the evidence that the plaintiff was to construct a pair of steps and a fire escape at the rear of defendant’s hotel, your verdict must be for the defendant”
—was misleading.
The definition for “erect” as given by Mr. Webster is “to rear or set up, as a building” the word “construct” according to the same author, means “to adjust and join the materials or parts of, so as to form a permanent whole.” To say that the steps were to be “erected” would convey tlie idea that they were to he attached to and become a part of the building, ready for use where they were to remain; to say that the steps were to be constructed, that they were to be complete, without necessarily being attaened to the building and ready for use. Under this view, the charge as requested was misleading, and was properly refused. The other questions presented by the ret* ord will probably not arise on another trial.
The former judgment of affirmance is set aside, the former opinion is withdrawn, and the judgment of the circuit court is reversed and the cause is remanded.
Reversed and remanded.
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