Shute v. Levin
Shute v. Levin
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
Defendant went to plaintiff’s place of business for the purpose of purchasing hay. The plaintiff pointed out to him a pile of hay containing 250 bales. According to defendant’s story, which we must for the purpose of this inquiry adopt, the hay was to be‘•suitable for the feeding of horses. The defendant was distant from the pile about ten feet and made no attempt to inspect the hay, but relied entirely upon the statements of the plaintiff. It subsequently developed that the hay was unfit for food and a number of defendant’s horses died in consequence of their eating it. Plaintiff after defendant complained to him as to the worthless condition of the hay removed nearly all of it not already consumed.
This suit is brought to recover the price of that portion which was not taken back by the plaintiff. The court gave binding instructions for the plaintiff. This we think was error. Defendant testified that the plaintiff stated, “I will guarantee it as good and sound hay for your horses.” The plaintiff, the vendor, went to the hay, smelled it, looked it over and then guaranteed it as above stated. The defendant did not examine the hay and could not look through it as it was packed in bales. He testified that he could not by smelling the hay know anything as to its quality. He took plaintiff’s word for it. The learned trial judge gave as his reason for directing the verdict for the plaintiff, “I think it is a case of caveat emptor, his eye was his market, he was buying what he saw.” According to defendant’s testimony this was not a case of purchasing upon inspection. We cannot take the pósitión-that a man may not obtain a Ayarranty upon goods which he has the opportunity óf inspecting. He
The judgment is reversed and a venire facias de novo awarded.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.