Armstrong v. Chicago, M. & St. P. Ry. Co.
Armstrong v. Chicago, M. & St. P. Ry. Co.
Opinion of the Court
This is an appeal from an order sustaining a demurrer to a complaint. The demurrer confessed the following facts: Plaintiff delivered to defendant, at Sioux Falls, S. D., for shipment over its lines to- an automobile company located outside this state, one certain automobile engine. Defendant received the same as a common carrier, and, in consideration of transportation charges prepaid by plaintiff, agreed to carry same to destination, and deliver same to consignee within a 'certain fixed reasonable time, to-wit, not over two weeks. Plaintiff notified defendant of the nature of the article he was shipping; that he was engaged in the auto-mdbile livery business in Sioux Falls; that any -delay in delivery of the engine would greatly damage him, and that he would not ship the engine unless defendant would assure him that it would require no more than two weeks to reach the factory. Defendant did not deliver such engine within a reasonable time, but, through its carelessness and negligence, there was an unreasonaible delay of 87 days in such delivery. Plaintiff is and was, at all times mentioned, in the automobile livery business in Sioux Falls. The net rental value, and the value of the use per day of an automobile such as the one of which the engine hereinbefore mentioned was a part, was $9. Plaintiff could have used or rented such automobile, during such period of unnecessary delay in shipment, for $9 per day. Plaintiff -suffered damages in the s-um of $702.'
Respondent demurred upon the ground that the complaint did no-t state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action; and it contends that such demurrer was rightfully sustained: (1) Because, in all cases, section 2309, C. C., fixes the measure of damages resulting from a -carrier’s delay, and this action is not laid within -such section; (2) because the damages claimed- are too re
“The detriment caused by a carrier’s delay in the delivery of freight is deemed to be the depreciation in the intrinsic value of the freight during the delay, and also the depreciation, if any, in the market value thereof, otherwise than by reason of the depreciation in its intrinsic value, at the place where it ought to have been delivered, and between the day at which it ought to' have been delivered and the day of its actual delivery.”
As shown by appllant’s brief, though we think not sufficiently by his complaint, he bases his right to damages upon’ the following facts: He was shipping the engine to the factory for repair; the engine was to be repaired and returned as soon as repaired; it was repaired and returned; he lost the use of his automobile while the engine was away, and lost such use for 87 days through the fault of defendant. It is perfectly clear that his claim for damages cannot be based on section 2309, and this he concedes. Appellant contends that this case comes under section 2293, ■ C. C., which reads:
“For the breach of an obligation arising from contract, the measure of damages, except where otherwise expressly provided by this code, is the amount which will compensate the party aggrieved for all the detriment proximately caused thereby, or which, in the ordinary course of things, would be likely to result therefrom. No damages can be recovered for a breach of contract, which are not clearly ascertainable in both their nature and their origin.”
—and that special damages, such as are claimed in this case, are not “otherwise expressly provided for by this Code.” We think appellant right in such contention. It seems clear to us' that section 2309, supra, was intended; to' fix the rules of damage in the case of the ordinary shipment where the carrier has no no notice of facts advising it that delay may cause damages other than those ordinarly resulting from a delay in shipment and of which the carrier is presumed to have notice, namely, depreciation in intrinsic value and depreciation in market value. To hold
“The proposition cannot be entertained for a moment, that under a contract to deliver, in a reasonable time, valuable machinery, suc-h as described in the declaration, that the difference i” the market value of s-uch machinery at the time it was in fact delivered and when it should have been delivered is all the damage the owner of the machinery is entitled to claim. If this was the measure, there could be no- great incentive to carriers to perform promptly a -contract for the delivery of such articles, as they are not liable to deterioate in a few days or months. As to perishable articles of fluctuating value, as grain, live stock, and such like, this rule is doubtless the true one, and has been recognized by this court in the case of Sangamon & Morgan County R. R. Co. v. Henry, 14 Ill. 156.
“Where the property to be carried and delivered is not of a perishable nature, and is not a common or ordinary object of sale in market, and subject to its fluctuations, -but is designed for a special purpose in a special business, the rule is very different, but in both cases adequate indemnity should be offered the plaintiff for the loss he has sustained. * * *
“In this case the inquiry -should have been: What was the value of the use of such machinery in such a factory, for the time it was detained? In other wor-ds, what was a reasonable rent for it? For what sum could plaintiffs have hired equal machinery of that description.”
The order appealed from- is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- ARMSTRONG v. CHICAGO, M. & ST. P. RY. CO.
- Status
- Published