Merchants' Trust Co. v. Potter
Merchants' Trust Co. v. Potter
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
This action was brought upon a bond given by Jacob F. Potter and the Equitable Trust Company, defendants, to Solomon Greenberg, plaintiff’s assignor, in the sum of $2,500, conditioned for the faithful performance by said Potter of a certain agreement made with Greenberg.
The plaintiff’s statement alleges a breach of condition of the bond. The affidavit of defense denies the breach and issue was joined and the case referred to John C. Bell as referee. An examination of the findings of fact, conclusions of law and opinion of the learned referee convinces us of the correctness of his conclusion: that there was a breach of conditions of the bond and that the plaintiff suffered damages thereby, and we think the measure of damages found by the referee is correct. The material clause in the contract is as follows: “ The said Potter agrees to begin the delivery of the said materials upon five days’ notice, and thereupon to deliver the same as rapidly as the work upon said buildings shall require without further notice.”
There was another clause of the contract giving Greenberg
The learned referee also found that as a result of Potter’s neglect.the actual damage suffered by Greenberg was $843.54 with interest from November 14, 1901, and this is the amount which he recommends judgment should be entered for against the defendants.
The defendant, Potter, did not contend that he strictly complied with the terms of his contract, but by way of excuse contended that he had the right to wait for a formal order or demand by Greenberg, in each instance, before making deliveries of the material specified. The learned referee held, we think correctly, that the plain intent and meaning of the clause above quoted required Potter to inquire and ascertain from day to day from Greenberg, his superintendent, the contractor for the bricklaying, or his mortar mixer at the buildings, how much lime would be required each day, and then to deliver it. We think this construction is correct. Potter contracted to begin the delivery of the materials upon five days’ notice, and thereupon to deliver the same as rapidly as the work upon said buildings shall require without further notice. Under the plain terms of this contract Potter could not discharge his full duty by waiting from day to day to be called upon for material. It was his duty to inquire and deliver material as fast as it was needed. Having failed to do this, it was clearly within the power of Greenberg to rescind the contract as he did by his letters of October 24th and 29th respectively. We have already said that the liquidation of damages was provided by the contract and that we discover no error in the conclusion reached as to the amount of the damages.
The learned counsel for the defendants state their position as follows: “ Where goods of different kinds aggregating a gross sum in yalue, are agreed to be delivered, and there is no
In the case under consideration the defendant, Potter, contracted to deliver the material at a place stated, to bé used in plastering certain houses, and the work was under way and he had waived further notice, and it was within his power to ascertain from day to day how much material was needed, and it was clearly his duty to furnish the same without further demand. Wisecarver v. Adamson, 118 Pa. 53, is also cited. But we think the doctrine of that case has no application to the facts in our case. Benjamin on Sales is quoted as follows: “ In the absence of a contrary agreement the vendor is not
We are unable to see how this doctrine helps the defendant out in the case under consideration. There was a contrary agreement, that is, the vendor agreed to deliver the material without further notice as rapidly as the same might be needed, and this he did not do. Therefore the doctrine laid down in Benjamin on Sales does not help him.
We think the findings of fact and conclusions of law fully sustain the judgment in this case. The assignments of error are all dismissed and the judgment is affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.