Robinson v. Listonburg Coal Mining Co.
Robinson v. Listonburg Coal Mining Co.
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
The plaintiff submitted an offer with specifications for an engine and ventilating fan for use in the defendant’s coal mine. After some correspondence between the parties relating to a change in diameter of the fan, the defendant wired on April 24, 1912, “Please.hurry
Under the rule laid down in Seigworth v. Leffel, 76 Pa. 476; Hime v. Kiehl, 154 Pa. 190; American Home Savings Bank v. Trust Co., 210 Pa. 320, it was proper to direct a verdict in favor of the plaintiff for the full amount of the plaintiff’s claim. The defendant is not in position to rescind the contract so as to escape its liability to pay for it. See Farquhar v. McAlevy, 142 Pa. 233; Spiegelberg v. Karr, 24 Pa. Superior Ct. 339. Where there has been substantial and bona fide performance of an entire contract, but failure in some particulars, not essential to the enjoyment of the part performed, there may be a recovery of the contract price subject to the right of defendant to set off damages resulting from the breach: Otis Elevator Co. v. Flanders Realty Co., 244 Pa. 186. To ascertain the amount of such damages there was no evidence adduced on this trial. Where a party discovers facts which warrant rescission of his contract, it is his duty to act promptly, and in case he elects to rescind to notify the other party without delay. What is a reasonable time or undue delay when the facts are undisputed, is a question of law to be determined by the court: Zeller v. Haupt, 41 Pa. Superior Ct. 647. The evidence admitted under objection did not affect the material facts involved, and after a full and fair trial on the merits we find no reversible error to justify a reversal of the judgment.
The judgment is affirmed.
Reference
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- Robinson v. Listonburg Coal Mining Company
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- Syllabus
- Contract—Sale—Rescission—Damages—Performance. 1. Where there has been substantial and bona fide performance of an entire contract, but failure in some particulars not essential to the enjoyment of the part performed, there may be a recovery of the contract price subject to the right of defendant to set off damages resulting from the breach, but if there is no evidence of such damages, there can be no set-off. 2. Where a party discovers facts which warrant rescission of his contract, it is his duty to act promptly, and in case he elects to rescind, to notify the other party without delay. What is a reasonable time or undue delay when the facts are undisputed, is a question of law to be determined by the court. 3. Where, in an action to recover the price of a ventilating fan, it appears that two weeks prior to the delivery of the fan, plaintiff had notified the defendant of the propriety of changing the diameter of the fan so as to make it smaller, and that the defendant had acquiesced in this change, accepted the fan, and used it for one year and nine months, the plaintiff will be entitled to recover the whole contract price, where there is no evidence of a rescission of the contract, or an offer to return the fan, or any testimony from which a jury could fix with any degree of certainty any damages sustained by the defendant.