Millar v. Hilliard
Millar v. Hilliard
Opinion of the Court
The present motion is to set aside this verdict and grant a new trial, because the damages are excessive in amount, and arbitrary, as not being formed on any just principle or standard, and not sustained by any sufficient proof. The power of this court to grant a new trial in such
In the first place, there was no misconduct on the part of the circuit court. The jury, fully and properly instructed, (for there is no exception taken on that ground,) have found an amount of damages beyond what the court expected. It is clear that they did not mistake the standard of damages laid down by the court; is it clear that they have wholly disregarded it, or that they have done more than a just latitude of discretion would allow them, in exercising their own judgment, as to the price or value of the bread in market, at the time the defendants finally refused to take it 1
There is no doubt, in fact, that the plaintiff has sustained damages beyond the verdict; that he has sustained them without actual fault on his part, and in consequence of the defendant’s breach of their agreement; a breach accompanied with striking circumstances of mala jides. Now, in as-sumpsit, it is true, the plaintiff cannot recover for ideal, nor speculative, nor in general,perhaps, for consequential damages. But he may recover, and ought to recover, the actual damages he did sustain, if they were the natural or probable result of the defendants’s breach. The whole of the bread ordered by the defendants has been lost to the plaintiff; and it is objected that they ought not to pay for it, because the plaintiff ought to have sold it; that he might have sold it at an inconsiderable loss, and that they should not suffer for his default, or for his ignorance of his rights. This is true, and we should have been better satisfied if the jury had estimated the bread at a higher price than they have done. But on that point there was conflicting testimony. Mr. Forgeaud, another baker, whom the defendants had deceived with the samo bad faith, shipped and sold instantly, on their first
There is one feature of this case, which appeared in the last trial, that presents it in a new aspect. The defendants were receiving bread from plaintiff at the time this was ordered, under a previous order for an indefinite quantity. That contract was still open, and the order not filled. Pending this, the defendants say to the plaintiff, “go on and bake as fast as possible, until you are ordered to stop.” They gave no order to stop, but afterwards received bread and paid for it. I think on that proof there is great reason to consider the whole as one continuing contract, and that a delivery of part was in law a sufficient delivery of the whole to make the defendants liable. Whatever weight there may be in this
Motion dismissed;
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.