Andre v. Morrow

Mississippi Supreme Court
Andre v. Morrow, 65 Miss. 315 (Miss. 1887)
Campbell

Andre v. Morrow

Opinion of the Court

Campbell, J.,

delivered the opinion of the Court.

The demurrer to the last plea of the defendant should have *319been overruled. The contract averred by it was not an independent one, so disconnected with the note sued on as to debar tbe defendant from recouping damages. The breach and damages occurred subsequent to the making of the contract, of course; but that is no reason for denial of the right of recoupment.

It is impossible to affirm that the defendant did not sustain damages capable of ascertainment and of a character recognized by law resulting from the breach of the contract alleged by the plea. It is not necessary to consider of speculative profits. There may be a legitimate basis for estimating damages. If there was such a contract as averred and its breach, and Andre, in consequence, sold the wagons at cost, the commissions for ■selling as he had before done, may furnish a criterion for estimating damages. The substantial sufficiency of the plea is the only question raised by the demurrer or considered by us.

Reversed, demurrer to plea overruled, and cause remanded for further proceedings.

Reference

Full Case Name
A. F. Andre v. William Morrow
Cited By
1 case
Status
Published
Syllabus
Contract. Damages for breach of. Recoupment against note. Case in judgment. M. and A. contracted that A. should be the sole agent in the town of C. for the sale of wagons made by M.; at the same time, and as a part of this contract, A. executed his promissary note for the purchase money of certain wagons furnished by M. and to be sold by A. as agent. Afterward, M. sued A. on this note. A. pleaded that M. had, in disregard of his contract, sold and furnished his wagons to others in the town of C., whereby A. was prevented from selling any of the wagons furnished him, at a profit. M. demurred to this plea. Held, that the demurrer ought to have been overruled. The note and contract were not so disconnected as to debar the defendant from recouping against the former the damages resulting from the breach of the latter; and such damages are not impossible of ascertainment, or of a character not recognized by law.