Wheelock v. Pacific Pneumatic Gas Co.
Wheelock v. Pacific Pneumatic Gas Co.
Opinion of the Court
The court finds that the plaintiff stipulated in the contract to put up the gasoline for shipment in first-class cases; and that this stipulation was violated in respect to several of the shipments, and by reason thereof the defendant suffered damage and loss in a sum exceeding the plaintiffs demand.
We are also of opinion that the claim for damages constituted a valid counter-claim, under the second subdivision of section four hundred and thirty-eight of the Code of Civil Procedure. The action is upon contract, and the counter-claim is a “cause of action arising also upon contract,” and existing at the commencement of the action. Nor will it make any difference, if the damages arising from the breach of the contract were unliquidated, as they are alleged to have been. They nevertheless constituted a valid counter-claim. (Pomeroy on Remedies and Remedial Rights, pp. 815 and 817, and authorities there cited.)
Wallace, C. J., not having heard the argument,- took no part in the decision.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- JOHN H. WHEELOCK v. THE PACIFIC PNEUMATIC GAS COMPANY
- Cited By
- 5 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Waived of Damages.—If the plaintiff contracts to sell and put up gasoline for shipment in first-class cases, and the defendant contracts to pay for it on the arrival of the bills of lading in due course of mail, and several shipments are made in defective cases, for which payment is made before the vessels arrive, and the defendant receives the gasoline when it does arrive, and with a knowledge that the cases were defective, uses it, he does not thereby waive his claim for damages. Independent Covenants.—A covenant by one party to sell and ship goods in first-class cases, and by the other party to pay foi- the goods on the arrival of the bills of lading in due course of mail, are independent covenants, to be performed at different times. Waived of Claim fob Damages.—Letters containing an express waiver of a claim for damages for the violation of a covenant to ship goods in good cases, are not binding if written without consideration. Counter-Claim.—A claim for damages for a violation of a covenant to ship goods in good cases maybe set-off byway of counter-claim, in an action brought to recover the price of other goods sold to the defendant.