Smith v. Pollack Co.
Smith v. Pollack Co.
Opinion of the Court
The plaintiff brings this suit to recover actual damages resulting from the breach of a contract of hiring. The defense is that plaintiff was not in fact employed by it.
The testimony shows that on or about the first of September, 1924, the plaintiff was employed by the defendant company as collector, at a salary of $160 per month, by and through its manager and agent, Mabry. It was necessary, it seems, for one acting as collector for the defendant company to use an automobile. Mabry, the manager and agent, explained to plaintiff that his company did not furnish -an automobile to its collectors. Whereupon, plaintiff informed him that he had no automobile of his own and was not financially able to buy one, and could not pay for one, except out of the proceeds of his salary. He stated to Mabry, however, that inasmuch as he had secured employment as defendant’s collector, he would probably be able to secure an automobile by having friends arrange for the cash payment on a car. In view of his contract with defendant, plaintiff purchased a Ford automobile and induced two of his friends to endorse his notes for
Plaintiff is clearly entitled, under the law, to recover these amounts. (Articles 1926, 1930, Revised C. C.)
In the case of Taylor vs. Paterson, 9 La. Ann. 251, it was specifically held that the general rule that the inexecution of contracts gives rise to a claim for damages, laid down in Article 1924 (new Article 1930) is applicable to the contract of hiring; and in the cases of Trefethen et al. vs. Locke et al., 16 La. Ann. 19, and Lloyd vs. Dickson et al., 121 La. 915, 46 So. 919, it was recognized that upon a breach of a contract of hiring, the actual damage resulting therefrom might be recovered.
The District Judge found for plaintiff, and assessed-the damage at $160, and we think his conclusion on that point is amply supported by the testimony.
Counsel for the defendant filed in limine an exception of no cause of action, which was overruled by the Court. The exception is based, as we gather from counsel’s brief, on the ground: first, that plaintiff did not allege that he tendered his services to defendant. Counsel evidently overlooked Paragraph 4 of plaintiff’s petition, in which he alleged that ‘‘after he purchased his said car in the above way, that he reported to said Pollack Company in order to go to work.” Second, counsel argues that the only element of damage in a case of this kind is the difference between what plaintiff would have earned under his contract and what he was able to earn during a like period of time thereafter. That is not the law. What plaintiff claims is that after making a contract with the defendant to go to work, he purchased an automobile on which he paid certain amounfs which were a total loss to him, and that he sacrificed some of his property — all on account of defendant’s breach of the contract. These are elements of damage which, we think, he is entitled to recover.
For the reasons assigned, it is ordered, adjudged and decreed that the judgment appealed from be affirmed, with costs in both courts.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- SMITH v. POLLACK COMPANY
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- 1 case
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- Published