Fairbanks, Morse & Co. v. Burgert
Fairbanks, Morse & Co. v. Burgert
Opinion of the Court
Upon a former appeal of this case the judgment was reversed because the court did not submit the issues of fact to the jury. 81 Neb. 465. We held that it was competent for the defendant to prove that representations made to him by the plaintiff’s agent formed an inducement for the order upon which this action is predicated. It is provided in the order that “all the above (machinery ordered) for the sum of $225, which amount I will pay 60 days after outfit is erected and in good running order.” The defendant contends in effect that he was unacquainted with, and had no opportunity to examine, the machinery ordered; that he believed and acted upon the representations made by the plaintiff’s agent that the grinder would grind ear corn, shelled corn, and oats, and the windmill furnish sufficient power to drive the grinder for that purpose; and that when the order was written the agent said that the words “to drive the grinder” and “good running order,” written therein, meant that the machinery would properly grind such grain. The order was but an agreement to purchase upon the condition named. Davis Gasoline Engine Works Co. v. McHugh & Rate, 115 Ia. 415. Until that condition shall have been performed, the plaintiff may not recover. Charter Gas-Engine Co. v. Coleridge State Bank, 54 Neb. 743.
If the plaintiff’s agent made the statements at the time and in the manner testified to by the defendant, and he relied thereon, it should be bound thereby. Code, sec. 341; Blair v. Kingman Implement Co., 82 Neb. 344. The two defenses pleaded, while closely related, are distinct, and either, if established, will defeat the plaintiff’s action.
If false representations concerning material facts, made to induce the defendant to sign the order, were relied upon by him in ignorance of the facts, he could rescind upon learning the truth. Phelps v. Whitaker, 37 Mich. 72; Weiden v. Woodruff, 38 Mich. 130; Palmer v. Roath, 86
In the third instruction, given by the court at thedefendant’s request, the jury were told that, if they found from the evidence that the machinery was ordered for the purpose of grinding grain and it did not after a fair trial perform that service, it was not in good running order, and they should, in that event, find for the defendant. The general proposition of law is not entirely accurate. One may sell machinery for a definite use without necessarily impliedly warranting that it will be fit therefor. Gilcrest Lumber Co. v. Wilson, 84 Neb. 583; 2 Mechem, Sales, sec. 1314. The terms of the order are not so accurate and susceptible of but one construction as to exclude from consideration the situation of the parties, their conduct, the nature of their transaction, and the attendant circumstances, but all of these should be considered in construing the order in question. Rice v. McCague, 61 Neb. 861.
We are of opinion that the order, when read in the light of these circumstances, should not necessarily be construed as an agreement that the machinery will, successfully grind corn and oats. If the defendant was warned before he parted with control of the order that the windmill would probably prove unsatisfactory and
The judgment of the district court, therefore, is reversed and the cause remanded for further proceedings.
Reversed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.