Johnson v. Callaway
Johnson v. Callaway
Opinion of the Court
Action by plaintiffs to recover the balance of the purchase price of certain personal property, consisting of restaurant equipment, purchased by defendant under a conditional sales contract. Upon motion of the parties for a directed verdict, the court found for plaintiffs, whereupon defendant appealed.
The facts are that in 1947 plaintiffs leased to Ferd Zebb and wife certain restaurant premises situated in Eugene, Oregon, for a period, including extensions, ending December 31, 1952. Through various assignments Marian J. Lee and Laura McCoskrie succeeded to the lessees’ rights under said lease. On April 1, 1950, they sold to defendant under a conditional sales contract certain restaurant equipment and merchandise for the sum of $9,080, payable $4,000 down, $80 to the Neon Sign Company, and the balance of $5,000 payable in monthly installments of not less than $200 a month, including interest at the rate of 5 per cent per annum.
For some reason the lease to the premises was not assigned to the defendant, although the contract in
“It is expressly understood and agreed that the Purchaser does hereby assume and agree to abide by the terms of that certain lease dated January 1, 1950, expiring December 31, 1952, given by Johnson Properties, as Lessors and Marian J. Lee and Laura MeCoskrie, as Lessees, covering the premises at 780 East 11th St., Eugene, Oregon, known as the Duck Inn, and that the Purchaser will make all payments of rental under said lease promptly and before the same become delinquent, and will in all ways abide by the terms of said lease.
‘ ‘ The Seller does hereby agree that in the event the Purchaser fully performs the terms of this contract and the provisions of said lease, that upon the full and complete payment of the equity and interest of the Seller as provided in this contract, the Seller will assign and deliver unto the Purchaser all of their right, title and interest in and to the herein-above described lease and will relinquish all claim thereto, but in the event the Purchaser shall default in any of the provisions of this contract, or of said lease and (sic) [then] the Purchaser shall forfeit all right and claim thereto.
“In case default is made and this contract terminated as above provided, the Purchaser shall forthwith peaceably deliver up possession of all goods and chattels to the Seller in good order and condition, reasonable use and wear thereof excepted, but in case said property shall be seriously injured or impaired in value, or in case suit shall be brought to recover possession of the same, or for such injury, then the Seller shall be entitled in addition to the forfeited payments, to recover full compensation for such injury or impairment and court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees in such suit or action.”
Subsequently the present action was instituted to recover the balance of the purchase price under the contract, whereupon the restaurant equipment, etc., was attached in the action and after judgment the property was sold on execution.
The main question before us is whether or not the plaintiffs, in bringing the f. e. d. action, are barred from recovering the balance of the purchase price of the conditional sales contract, which involves the construction of the default clause hereinbefore set out.
Where a conditional sales contract has been broken by the purchaser, the seller may waive his right to recover possession of the property and sue for the purchase price. Herring-Marvin Co. v. Smith, 43 Or 315, 72 P 704, 73 P 340. Or, he may treat the contract as rescinded upon default of the buyer and recover the goods, in which event that is his only remedy. Francis v. Bohart, 76 Or 1, 143 P 920, 147 P 755.
It must be remembered that there are various kinds of conditional sales contracts and each contract must be construed in the light of the particular wording of the same. Standring v. Gordon, 118 Or 339, 345, 246 P 361. Parties may stipulate with particularity what shall be the effect of a default by the vendee, and what shall be the respective rights and duties of the parties thereafter. Manley v. Jackson, 115 Or 396, 400, 237 P 982.
The language of the contract in the instant case is quite different from that found in the ordinary con
Beversed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- JOHNSON et ux. v. CALLAWAY
- Status
- Published