Kalbach Lumber Co. v. Red Ball Chain Stores Co.
Kalbach Lumber Co. v. Red Ball Chain Stores Co.
Opinion of the Court
The plaintiff delivered a quantity of building material, pursuant to contract, to the defendant Red Ball Chain Stores Company. This company was a lessee of certain real estate from the defendants Winter and West. The lease was entered into in October, 1920, and was for a term of five years. Immediately after the execution of the lease, the lessee purchased from the plaintiff the material described in plaintiff’s petition, for the purpose of putting the leased premises in appropriate condition for its intended use. One year later, the lessee went.into bankruptcy, and the defendant Harbach is its trustee. There is no special dispute in the record over the accoiuit or over the use which was made of the material. At the time of making the leased the lessee proposed to establish one of its chain stores, all of which were operated upon a plan, known as the “Self Serve.” By this term, it is meant that its business was so conducted and its display of goods so arranged that a customer might come into the store and pass through the same and select and take whatever goods he wished. He then carried them to a cashier’s desk and settled for them. This method of business called for-a well devised plan of arrangement of goods, the details of which had all been worked out by the lessee in other chain stores, and had been adopted as a standard for all its stores. It required a certain arrangement of tables and shelves and other receptacles conveniently placed for customers, and likewise lines of approach through turnstiles and alleys, etc. The material bought of the plaintiff was so bought and used in the 'construction of this floor scheme. By the terms of the lease, the lessee was to make whatever improvements it desired, at its own expense. The lease also provided that the lessee should have the right to remove all such fixtures as might be placed by it in the leased premises.
The plaintiff does not now claim any lien upon the real
“The big bulk of material was for tables, shelving, and what might be termed store fixtures. * * * I suppose it was partly a temporary partition, inclosing the oven. When I speak of fixtures, I mean such things as tables and movable shelving and things of that kind. * * * The tables were put in loose. * * # They built a lot of tables, — whole floor, 80 feet deep, o£ tables and shelving, the shelving right'close to 6 feet high, so anyone can reach the top. It is all shelving that can stand alone. It was not necessary to be nailed to the building. The tables are not fastened. * * * Then, on the outside of that, to the west of it, for a distance of 60 feet, there is a row of shelving about 5 feet high. It is not nailed to the wall — just set up there.”
We see no escape from the conclusion reached by the trial court.
We do not overlook that there was some floor repair. It appears that a partition was. removed, and that such removal exposed the flooring underneath the partition in an imperfect or incomplete state. This floor defect was mended. Just what amount of material was used for that purpose does not appear, but it was manifestly very slight and inconsequential. The decree entered below is, accordingly, affirmed.' — Affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Kalbach Lumber Company v. Red Ball Chain Stores Company
- Status
- Published