Fegan v. Duvall Seed & Grain Separator Co.

This is an action for breach of contract in failing to deliver certain machines in the Territory of Oklahoma. The judgment in the trial court was for plaintiffs.

It appears that defendant owned certain letters patent for a machine known as “Seed and Grain Cleaner,” and that by the contract sued on, plaintiffs were appointed sole agents for the Territory of Oklahoma to sell the machines. It was further stipulated in the contract that plaintiffs were to purchase $7,500 of the stock of the defendant company, and that defendant agreed that it would deliver to plaintiffs, at points in Oklahoma by them designated, three hundred machines “same as a sample now on exhibition-in Guthrie.” That plaintiffs then ordered three hundred machines of defendant and designated the places in Oklahoma where they should be delivered. It further appears that defendant only delivered one hundred and fourteen machines and these were not up to the sample, in that the sample had six screens for separating six different kinds of grain, while those delivered had only one, and that the machines were delivered too late for sale for the season for which they were ordered.

One of the chief points in controversy at the trial was the question of the amount of damage sustained by plaintiffs by reason of the non-delivery of machines and by reason of *239the deficiency of those which were delivered. In this connection the court instructed the jury for plaintiffs, that they should estimate the “market value of the machines which the jury may find defendant was bound to deliver at the time and places it was the duty of defendant to deliver and which defendant failed to deliver. To this will be added the difference, if any, in the value of the machines actually delivered at the time when delivered, and their value if they had been of the same quality and make as the sample separator referred to by the witnesses.”

The objection made is that there was no evidence upon which to base the instruction, in that there was no evidence of a market value of the machines in Oklahoma. It was shown that there had been a sale of five or six of the machines in the Territory, at prices “ranging from fifteen to twenty-two dollars and a half.” Upon that showing plaintiffs justify the instruction; contending that, “The actual sale of five or six machines made a market value.” And that “it was not necessary that there should have been a great number of sales.”

Without going into the question of what number of sales it would take to establish a market value of an article, it is sufficient to say of the case, as presented, that the evidence is altogether too indefinite and vague upon which to base an instruction directing the jury to find a market value. The three hundred machines which plaintiffs contracted for were to be delivered at different places in Oklahoma as designated by plaintiffs. The machines delivered were delivered at different places, and those not delivered were subject to be delivered at any point selected by plaintiffs. The failure to deliver would make necessary an inquiry of value at that place. So, therefore, on the theory of it being necessary to show a market value, that value should be the value at the place of delivery.

Where the machines were sold does not appear. Nor is there any data in evidence whereby any one could tell that the machines not sold were of the same market value at the *240different places of delivery, as were tbe five or six wliicb were sold. Tbe truth is, tbe case, in tbe condition in wbicb it is presented in tbe record, is notone justifying tbe fixing of value by tbe market. Tbe market value is generally a convenient and safe way to ascertain a real value, but it is not tbe only means. Erequently an article of property bas not been sufficiently bartered and sold to have a market price, or a market value; in such case its value must be shown in some other way. Moffitt v. Hereford, 132 Mo. 518; State v. Walker, 119 Mo. 467; Cooley v. Railroad, 149 Mo. 495; 1 Sedgwick on Dam., sec. 250; Murray v. Staunton, 99 Mass. 346. The instruction should not have been given.

Tbe contract was that tbe machines should be tbe “same as sample on exhibition at (tbe city of) G-uthrie.” Tbe court in instructions numbered one and three, for plaintiffs, submitted an issue of whether tbe machines shipped were of tbe same “quality and make” as tbe machine on exhibition at Guthrie. These instructions are within tbe meaning of tbe contract, but tbe trouble with them is that no such issue was tendered by the pleadings. Tbe petition makes no complaint of tbe quality and make of tbe machines. It only complains of them not being furnished with tbe screens for different lands of grain, as agreed upon. Railing to furnish tbe number of screens agreed upon bas nothing to do with tbe quality and make of tbe machine. Tbe effect of tbe instructions was to introduce an.issue into the case which was not made. It was error.

A point is made of defect of parties plaintiff. That some of them appearing as parties plaintiff bad not authorized the suit. As tbe cause is to be retried, tbe facts as to these points can be clearly and definitely ascertained and the consequences proper may be applied.

Other points are suggested against tbe judgment, but counsel have not attached sufficient importance to them to cite *241authorities. "We are therefore inclined to pass them by without being committed one way or the other.

The record here makes it proper for us to remark that there is too much indefiniteness and uncertainty on the question of damages. The case is for money compensation and no reason is seen why the matter, as to the amount of damages claimed by plaintiffs, should not be put in such shape by the pleading and evidence as that they can be easily estimated and understood.

The judgment is reversed and the cause is remanded.