Bruce Bros. Grain Co. v. Hines
Bruce Bros. Grain Co. v. Hines
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
This was an action by Bruce Brothers Grain Company to recover damages resulting to it from the failure of the defendant to stop a car of corn at Wichita for inspection. On May 25, 1918, the plaintiff purchased a car of No. 3 corn from a firm, at Valley Center, at $1.52 per bushel
At the conclusion of plaintiff’s evidence the defendant demurred thereto on the ground that no cause of action was proven, but the court overruled the demurrer. The defendant stood on his demurrer and judgment was given for plaintiff in the sum of $385.66, the court holding that plaintiff’s loss resulted from the failure of the defendant to stop the car at Wichita for inspection.
The case does not turn on the damage to the corn during shipment but on the loss or damage sustained by the plaintiff because of the lack of inspection. Plaintiff’s sale was made on the basis of inspection near the origin of the shipment, at Wichita, and it appears that the National Grain Company turned back the bill of lading and demanded the return of its money before it had even learned of the condition of the corn at Oklahoma City. The return was not made by reason of the condition of the corn, but because there had been no inspection at Wichita as stipulated in the contract of sale. The defendant must have known of the common practice of
The judgment is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Bruce Brothers Grain Company v. Walker D. Hines, as Director General of Railroads and of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- SYLLABUS BY THE COURT. Shipment op Corn — Cair Not Stopped in Transit for Inspection as per Contract — Damages■—Liability of Carrier. The plaintiff bought a car of corn of a certain grade, and according to directions it was shipped by the seller over defendant’s railroad to a destination in another state upon the stipulated condition that the railroad company should stop the car at a stated point near the origin of shipment for inspection. Plaintiff sold the car to another dealer on the basis of such inspection, and his vendee in turn sold it to a dealer at the destination of the shipment on the same basis. The railroad company failed to stop the car for inspection, and learning of this failure, plaintiff’s vendee demanded and received from plaintiff the price it had paid for the corn. The railroad company carried the corn to destination without delay and it was there found to have heated and deteriorated in transit. It was in good condition and of the contract grade when it reached the place of inspection. The vendee at destination refused to receive the corn because of its condition, and it was there sold by plaintiff at a reduced price. Plaintiff sued the railroad company to recover the difference between the reduced price and that which it had paid for the corn. Held, that the plaintiff’s loss was the direct and proximate result of defendant’s breach of its contract to stop the car for inspection.