Shenandoah Steam, Heat & Power Co. v. Beddall
Shenandoah Steam, Heat & Power Co. v. Beddall
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
In 1893 the plaintiff began to furnish steam heat to the defendants’ buildings, the price agreed on being $180 per season, from September 15 until May 15. This amount was paid each year until the defendants sold the property, in 1902. In this action the plaintiff claims the further sum of $45.00 a year, beginning September 15, 1897, alleging that the price from that date was fixed at $225 a season.
From the evidence on the part of the plaintiff it appears that
The plaintiff contends that since the defendants continued to receive the heat with notice that the price would be $225, a contract for payment at that rate was implied. On the other hand, the defendants contend that since the plaintiff continued to furnish the heat with notice that only $180 would be paid, and received the payments tendered at that rate, a contract at that price was implied.
While, on a motion for a nonsuit, the plaintiff is entitled to every inference in his favor, legitimately arising from the evidence, the conclusion must be affected by every legitimate inference in favor of the defendant. Here there is no direct evidence of the contract between the parties after July, 1897. The original contract must be regarded as subsisting while the service continued, unless another was substituted. The plaintiff alleges a substitute, which is denied by defendants. The contract asserted by each rests wholly on an inference, to be drawn from the acts and declarations of both. It is for a jury to draw the proper inference in the case and to determine, from the evidence, the terms upon which the service was con-' tinued.
Judgment reversed and procedendo awarded.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.