Poitevent & Favre Lumber Co. v. Ward
Poitevent & Favre Lumber Co. v. Ward
Opinion of the Court
Plaintiff, a corporation doing business and dom--ioiled in Mandeville, in this State, represents, that defendant, doing business in the name of the Algiers Saw and Plaining Mill, in this City, is justly and truly indebted to plaintiff in the full sum of $038.31., representing the value of a oar load of “heart face lumber", amounting approximately to 16.157 ft. of irctj l.¿ X 6". This lumber was shipped on or about October, 37th. 1015, being in fulfillment of an order which plaintiff received throught one R. H. Hackney, a representative saleman of the Pointevent & Favre Lumber Company, but without authority to accept contracts of this character which would be binding upon plaintiff ’«itnout first submit-ting same to them for ftsx ratification or rejec-tion.
When the order in question was sent to plaintiff for ratification, the sale called for "all heart lumber", but was Interpreted by plaintiif to mean "heart faoe lumber", which quantity of lumber was forthwith shipped to defendant and was invoiced under that description; but defen-dant appears to have paid no attention to the invoice, unloaded the oar and stored the lumber in their yard without making any oomplaint, at the time, that the lumber ,as not satisfactory or that it was not up to specification.
Defendant ansviered, teat tne order given by them to Hackney was in writ ng and addressed to the Pointevent & Favre Lumber Company
Defendant reconvened and claimed damages in reconvention in the sum of $ 643.00.- $ 500.00. in globo for damages for loss of business add $143.00. for difference in the prioe of lumber shipped.
It is uterly impossible to reconsile the testimony in this case. Hackney, in our estimation of the evidence, had no authority without oonsent of his principal to do anything but solicit orders, .forward same to them for confirmation or rejection, while in this particular case the mill accepted the order of the one car which they shipped; they notified defendant throught. Hackney , both by oor--repondence and phone, of their inability to accept the orders for the other two cars.
He donot believe the defendant had a valid contract for the lumber which is olaimed by them in their reconventional demand. There in the record on the part of defendant whioh sus-tained their allegation that Haoknay was authorized to enter into a contract of sals of this oharaoter, had the right to make suoh a contraot with them in this case same never having been oonfirmed by plaintiff.
On the other hand, Haokney swears positively that he never made suoh a oontract; he never had the authority to do eo¿ his authority being solely
This question was deoided in the oase of Saint -v- Martell, 137 La. p. 74, the Syllabus reading; " An agreement to refer, for final determination-, differences to arise in the future to arbitrators or amicable compounders, is not susoeptable to specific enforcement, but is dependant for its execution on the will of the parties; since the Court will not, in suoh case, oompel the persons to appoint arbitrators or amicable compounderg, or fcíhérwise enforq* agreements whereby persons undertake,^to the doors of the Courts upon themselves."
written The District Judge, in his/reasonsyfor judgment says; " The defendant having received the shipment and having retained same is liable for the value thereof, 40 $ thereof or 6463 feet,
The authorities quoted by defendant and recon-venor are not applicable in this case, because having decided that Hackney was not the authorized agent to sell, same in oul"opinion do not apply in this oase. But in the calculation of the Distriot Judge he has made a slight error as will be shown by deducting #43.40. whioh was freight paid, from the amount of the lnvoioes found to be due, #333.13, iguuubclaxfeaxlus total value of the car of lumber; leaves a balance of # 379.73 for whioh the defendants herein are liable.
For the reasons herein assigned, it is ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the lower Court be amended so as to allow plaintiff # 379.73, with legal interest from judicial deacraj^ until paid; that same in all other respects be affirmed with costs to be paid by defendant in both Courts.
-Judgment amended and Affirmed-
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.