General Casualty Co. of America v. Worthington Corp.
General Casualty Co. of America v. Worthington Corp.
Opinion of the Court
1. Where there is a contract for the purchase of merchandise followed by delivery, acceptance by the vendee of such merchandise with knowledge of defects in its condition constitutes a waiver by the vendee as to such defects. Carolina Portland Cement Co. v. Turpin, 126 Ga. 677 (55 S. E. 925); Wilson v. Willingham Tift Lmbr. Co.,
2. Gordon-Crowe Co., whose bond the defendant Casualty Company of America executed, entered into a certain subcontract to install heating and electrical equipment in a warehouse, and thereafter by written contract ordered the machinery necessary from the plaintiff Worthington Corporation, consisting in part of two air conditioning units. The plaintiff was furnished a copy of the plans and specifications, showing that the power wiring on the building in question was for the purpose of transmitting 440 volt current. Subsequently Gordon-Crowe Co. stated to the plaintiff that the owner desired to save money by installing a combined heating-cooling system instead of the air conditioning units with a separate heating system as originally contemplated, and all companies agreed to the substitution of heating-air conditioning units by the plaintiff in the place of the cooling units at an increase in price which was duly paid. The substituted units were delivered in crates and remained in storage on the job site for approximately two months before Gordon-Crowe Co. used them in actual installation, at which time the latter company found them to be fitted for use with 220 volt rather than 440 volt current. Gordon-Crowe, being pressed for time, proceeded to install the equipment, which was fully satisfactory except that modifications in the wiring system of the building had to be made at a cost of $1,200, which Gordon-Crowe then deducted from the purchase price paid the plaintiff, and it is for this sum that the plaintiff sues. The defendant’s contention is that, in so doing, its indemnitee did not waive the alleged defect (failure to comply with specifications by furnishing units suitable for 440 volt current) but proceeded to accept the merchandise subject to the defect and charge the cost of remedying the defect against the plaintiff, a permissible method of procedure. Bandy Bros. v. Frierson’s Sons, 138 Ga. 515 (75 S. E. 626).
This case is here only on the general grounds of the motion for a new trial. The evidence of the plaintiff’s agent is that he made the substitution as requested by the subcontractor and Avas told at the time that the owner desired the changes. The architect’s testimony is that he approved the equipment installed with the modifications made. The plaintiff did not
The trial court did not err in overruling the motion for a new trial.
Judgment affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.