Reeves & Co. v. Boyd
Reeves & Co. v. Boyd
Opinion of the Court
This action was brought in the district court of the county of Polk to recover the amount of two promissory notes, one for $500, the other for $550, executed by the defendant Booher, payment of which was guaranteed by the defendant Boyd, hereafter referred to as the defendant.
The complaint charges Booher as maker of the notes and the defendant on his contracts of guaranty indorsed on the back of the notes respectively. The defendant only answered, admitting the execution of the notes and his contract of guaranty, and alleging as a defense that the contracts of guaranty were executed upon a condition, which had not been complied with, and for a consideration which had failed. He also alleged a counterclaim for damages on account of breach of warranty therein alleged. The plaintiff interposed separate demurrers to the defense and to the counterclaim. The trial court overruled the demurrer to the defense, and sustained the demurrer to the counterclaim, with leave to amend. The defendant then amended his answer alleging the same defense, and also a counterclaim for damages. The allegations of the answer material to the counterclaim are, briefly stated, to the effect following :
Booher agreed with the defendant, in April, 1907, to plow for him seven hundred acres of land owned by him during the spring or early summer of that year, so it would be ready for a crop for the next year, .for $1.50 per acre. Booher desired to purchase a steam plowing outfit, consisting of a set of twelve plows and a twentyfive horse power steam engine. He and the plaintiff entered into an. arrangement for the sale and purchase of such an engine for which Booher was to pay $2,000, in accordance with four promissory notes, two of which were the notes here guaranteed. The
Tbe plaintiff replied, putting in issue tbe allegations of tbe answer and counterclaim. Tbe trial court submitted to tbe jury only tbe counterclaim, and directed them to return a verdict for tbe plaintiff for tbe amount claimed, unless tbe defendant bad sustained bis counterclaim; but, if be bad, they would ascertain the amount of his damages, strike a balance between tbe amount thereof and tbe amount of plaintiff’s claim, and return a verdict accordingly. No exception was taken to tbe charge of tbe court as to tbe measure of damages at any time. Tbe verdict was for tbe plaintiff in tbe sum of $277.42, and it appealed from an order denying its blended motion for judgment or a new trial.
1. Tbe first contention of tbe plaintiff is tbat tbe court erred in receiving any evidence in support of tbe counterclaim, because tbe court, having sustained tbe demurrer to tbe original counter
It is also urged that no proper measure of damages was alleged in the counterclaim. General damages only were claimed, and they were properly alleged in the answer.
2. The last contention of plaintiff to be considered is that the evidence is wholly insufficient to sustain any part of the defendant’s counterclaim; hence the plaintiff was entitled to the full amount of his demand. There was evidence tending to prove the allegations of the answer relevant to the counterclaim, including damages, and the question whether such evidence is sufficient to sustain the verdict as to the counterclaim depends upon whether the plaintiff is bound by the action of its agent in the premises. It is the contention of the plaintiff that it was not so bound, for the reason that the action of the agent was without authority, and that the defendant had notice of the limitation of the agent’s authority.
The evidence shows that the whole transaction as to the securing of the defendant’s contracts of guaranty was had by and between the agent and the defendant. The agent was authorized and directed to secure such guaranty, and the defendant had no notice or knowledge of any limitation upon his authority in the premises. We have carefully considered the evidence relied upon by the plaintiff to show that he did have such notice and knowledge, and find that the evidence does not sustain its contention in this respect. The contracts of guaranty, which the agent secured from the defendant upon the condition and representations alleged in the answer, and which are the sole basis of plaintiff’s cause of action against the defendant, aré separate and independent of the agreement between plaintiff and Booher for the sale of the engine, and also of a prior
Order affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- REEVES & COMPANY v. J. H. BOYD
- Status
- Published