Equitable Manufacturing Co. v. Biggers
Equitable Manufacturing Co. v. Biggers
Opinion of the Court
The Equitable Manufacturing Company, apparently an Iowa corporation, brought suit against Biggers for $185, alleged to have been the agreed purchase-price of certain jewelry sold by the plaintiff to the defendant. It appeared that the parties had entered into a written contract, dated September 24, 1901, for the sale of the jewelry, in which it was agreed that the goods were to be paid for in four instalments, at intervals of six, twelve, eighteen, and twenty-four months, provided “notes [for the purchase-money] are given within 15 days from date of invoice, otherwise, terms, net cash 30 days.” Biggers did not give the notes within the time stipulated in the contract. Numerous letters passed between him and the plaintiff; and on more than one occasion the plaintiff, while urging that Biggers execute and send to it notes for the purchase-price of the jewelry, extended the time within which such notes might be given. ' On November 6,
We are clearly of opinion that the grant of a nonsuit was erroneous. If the last extension of time had been accompanied by no conditions as to the character of the notes to be executed by Biggers, probably the ones sent by him would have been a compliance with his contract; for the original agreement between the parties did not specify that the instruments to be executed by the defendant should be of any particular kind, but merely that they were .to be “ notes.” But it affirmatively appears that on the occasion in question additional time was extended the defendant solely on condition that he should sign the particular notes that were sent to him. The plaintiff was under no obligation to grant additional time to the defendant to avail himself of the opportunity to take advantage of its special credit terms, for ufider his contract he had forfeited his right to those terms. It was at perfect liberty to make the extension of time in that respect conditional upon his signing the particular notes sent him; and upon'his failure to do so within the time specified, its suit upon the original contract was well founded. The plaintiff’s evidence fully sustained its petition, and a nonsuit should not have been granted.
Judgment reversed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- EQUITABLE MANUFACTURING COMPANY v. BIGGERS
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published