Block v. Taylor
Block v. Taylor
Opinion of the Court
(after stating the facts). The first proposition presented by plaintiff, appellant, is that the court erred in holding that under the plea fraud was charged. We think plaintiff is foreclosed upon this question. Counsel for plaintiff objected to the introduction of evidence on the question upon the ground that the prior dealings leading up to the con
“The Court: I understand fraud is charged.
“Mr. Walsh (counsel for defendant): Certainly.
“The Court: We will receive it.”
It will be noted that no claim was made at that time that the plea was insufficient to support evidence of fraud in the making of the contract. During the examination of the defendant, counsel for plaintiff objected to certain testimony stating:
“This is an action for fraud against us on account of this being a counterclaim, and value is not a basis for an action of fraud.”
At the close of the evidence a motion was made by plaintiff’s counsel to strike out the testimony, in which it is asserted:
“The defendant has pleaded fraud, to a certain extent, in the making of the contract, under the holding of your honor in overruling the motion, but he has failed in his proofs to sustain such plea as against plaintiff.”
In his request to charge counsel asked no direction upon the ground that fraud was not charged, but did make a request for a direction upon the ground that there was no evidence of fraud introduced. Under these circumstances the trial court having proceeded upon the assumption that fraud was properly charged in the plea, and counsel for plaintiff having raised no objection to the pleading, the same will in this court be held sufficient. A further claim of plaintiff was made both by motion for a direction of a verdict and also set forth in his request to charge that there was no evidence introduced tending to show fraud sufficient to vitiate the contract. Upon a review of the whole record we are unable to say that the court erred in submitting the question of fraud to the jury. J. B. Millet Co. v. Andrews, 175 Mich. 350. Despite the
It is further claimed by counsel for appellant that defendant, by ordering out of bond two barrels of whisky in the month of February, after he had received and tested the first two barrels, affirmed the contract and he was therefore estopped from repudiating it thereafter. Defendant’s explanation of his act in this regard was:
“I wanted to bring the lawsuit here instead of having to go to New York city to try it.”
“If, on the other hand, this order was but an attempt on Taylor’s part to regain the amount of money that he claimed was fraudulently obtained from him in excess of the price of the goods and expenses of the barrels of whisky that he received, and you so find from the proofs, then you are warranted in finding that the second order does not operate as an estoppel.”
The judgment in this case recovered by defendant represents the amount of money paid by him to plaintiff in excess of the value of the two barrels of whisky delivered by the plaintiff to him under the contract. Plaintiff has been paid for the goods he has delivered and has in his possession the balance of the order as well as the sum representing the judgment over and above the value of the goods delivered.
There has been no miscarriage of justice in this case, and the judgment is affirmed.
In my opinion a buyer cannot, for an alleged ulterior purpose, order goods on his contract and then repudiate it.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.