Kelly v. Pioneer Press Co.
Kelly v. Pioneer Press Co.
Opinion of the Court
The parties to this action entered into a contract under the terms of which defendant was to publish for plaintiff copies of the lawbook
Received of the Pioneer Press Company, the sum of $129.24 in full settlement of the above entitled action instituted by the undersigned against said company, by bill of complaint and summons served March 31, 1903, and of all the matters and things in said bill contained, and said action is hereby dismissed. This receipt and payment is intended in full settlement of all claims existing in favor of the undersigned against the said Pioneer Press Company by reason of that certain contract for the publication of the book known as “Kelly’s Digest” and all the matters and things arising therefrom.
Plaintiff accepted the amount named in this receipt, and directed that the electrotype plates be delivered to a third party for his use.
In the present action, which was thereafter brought by plaintiff, after introductory allegations in the complaint, an agreement is alleged whereby defendant was to manufacture and deliver to plaintiff, for the consideration of $227.15, four hundred twelve electrotype plates carefully packed and boxed. It is further set forth that defendant, in violation of its promises previously made, delivered damaged and worthless plates to plaintiff, giving specific descriptive characterizations of the defects, with a claim for damages sustained and interest, with a demand for special damages for the loss of sales of Kelly’s Digest, as well as for time and money expended. The defendant answered, denying the making of the contract, alleged the com
In construing the terms of the agreement of settlement of the first action, it must be held broad enough to cover and embrace any claim which the plaintiff could make against defendant for its failure to turn over to plaintiff the property of the latter, including the delivery of perfect electrotype plates. Conceding such to have been the obligation of the defendant to the plaintiff, this was within the terms of its contract for the publication of the Digest, and it is not possible to interpret the agreement of settlement, though in terms it is called a “receipt,” so as to exclude from its scope and purpose the differences that had arisen between the parties arising from the publication of plaintiff’s book. This seems to be practically conceded in plaintiff’s reply, under the terms of which no other view can be given to the admissions of plaintiff than that it was executed as a complete accord and satisfaction of the claim in this present action, where it is attempted to avoid the consequence of such agreement by the contention, under facts well pleaded, that it was obtained through deception and fraud. At the trial of the cause the plaintiff wholly failed to show that any deception had been practiced upon him by defendant, that he was misled by any intentional concealment of the truth to his detriment in this regard, or did not understand the conditions upon which such settlement was effected.
It would serve no useful purpose to review the testimony or rulings of the trial court in this respect, since it is very clear that an es
Jaggard J., having presided at the trial, did not sit.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- JOHN F. KELLY v. PIONEER PRESS COMPANY
- Status
- Published