Downey v. Lozier Motor Co.
Downey v. Lozier Motor Co.
Opinion of the Court
This action was brought by Wallace Downey against the Dozier Motor Company to recover possession of the yacht Marguerite.
The libellant alleges that the yacht was delivered to the respondent to make necessary repairs upon and alterations to her engine and the respondent has refused to re-deliver the yacht to him, notwithstanding due demand has been made therefor, and has wrongfully taken out part of the engine and retained the same.
The respondent alleges, in substance, that the libellant is not the
The testimony shows that such an agreement was originally made
The beginning of the trouble between the parties arose out of a misunderstanding about the reversing clutch. The libellant expected one that would reverse full speed instantly as in steam engines but the respondent said its clutch would not stand such treat.ment nor would any one used with gas engines owing to the great number of revolutions made by them. A steam engine can be reversed instantly, owing to the moderate number of revolutions made by it, but the gas engine, making some 400 revolutions a minute, has ordinarily to be slowed down somewhat before it is reversed, so that the clutch will not be called upon to withstand an instant application of such a great strain as is incident to that number of revolutions. The libellant, however, insisted upon putting the engine constantly to such a test, with the result that the clutch almost invariably gave out and then the libellant condemned the engine. This seems to have been unreasonable. The propeller of the gas engine turns with such rapidity that an immediate reversal is actually impossible in practice without injury to the gear. The time that is required to reverse is practically not much greater than with steam engines, even when allowance is made for slowing the engine before the reversing takes place. In steam engines, a reversal is a much more complicated matter, requiring a little time to change the machinery from going in one direction to the opposite. In gas engines the machinery always goes the same way, but the clutch operates to turn the propeller in an opposite direction to that which the engine is going. This naturally requires a little time but that is not of importance as about 15 seconds suffices, and is probably not more than a vessel propelled by steam would take in the operation. The testimony indicates that this engine, operated in the method to preserve its integrity, would bring the vessel from full speed ahead to a stand still in the water in about two lengths, which is apparently not excessive.
It appears that the libellant was too exacting about the engine in all respects. The contract provided that he should furnish a bed for the engine and he first used one which had been provided for the small steam engine which he found insufficient to propel the boat as he wished, hence the desire to change, but when arrangements for the new engine were made, the old foundation was suffered to remain. It was, however, quickly found to be unsatisfactory on account of the excessive vibrations the rapid revolutions of the engine caused in the boat. Then the libellant had a new foundation put in and the engine was installed upon it, but the vibrations remained. The boat was then sent to the respondent’s establishment at Plattsburgh, and the experts there condemned the foundation because, though substantial enough, it was not properly fastened to the frames of the boat. A new foundation was put in at Plattsburgh and when fastened to it, the engine did not cause any more vibration than necessarily attends a gas engine and the libellant in this respect ceased to find fault.
Another complaint of the libellant was that sufficient speed was not attained by the engine but it appears that the revolutions which were mentioned to him were substantially furnished and in several instances, in writing, he expressed his satisfaction in such respect.
After going over the case very thoroughly, I find no merit in the libellant’s contentions. I have no doubt that the principal trouble arose out of his repeated attempts to use the engine as he would a steam engine and his dissatisfaction because he could not obtain the same results. If he had used this engine properly, it would, in all. probability, have yielded such satisfaction as he was entitled to. He had no right to demand that his requirements should in unreasonable respects be yielded to. He occupies a very inconsistent attitude in expecting possession of the engine while he contends that it continues to be unsatisfactory. He has not paid for it and apparently does not wish to, yet he contends that he should have it given to him as if he were the owner, when in fact he has no title.
The respondent on the other hand has gone great lengths in endeavoring to satisfy the libellant but without success.
The question remains, and it has not been discussed before me or in the briefs submitted, whether the respondent is entitled to hold the boat against the libellant under the common law possessory lien it claims. It is well settled that such lien is lost by a voluntary surrender of the possession. The General Smith, 4 Wheat. 438, 4 L. Ed. 609; 19 Eng. & Amer. Enc. of Taw 28. There are no circumstances here from which a revival of the lien might be inferred. It seems that no idea of a lien existed until after the respondent last obtained possession, and the boat had been many times in the possession of the libellant since the installation of the engine, so that it can scarcely be held that the lien, which may have existed in the beginning, remained throughout the time the parties were disagreeing about the work.
It appears, however, that since the boat last went into the possession of the respondent, work has been done on her to the extent of $222.98, for which it is apparently entitled to a lien. To that extent the respondent is justified in retaining possession. If the libellant wishes to contest the correctness of this amount which is taken from the bill annexed to the answer and is supported by the respondent’s testimony in a general way, he may move for a reference for such purpose.
Gibel dismissed. Decree to be settled upon 5 days’ notice
Reference
- Full Case Name
- DOWNEY v. LOZIER MOTOR Co.
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published