Ft. Smith Couch & Bedding Co. v. George
Ft. Smith Couch & Bedding Co. v. George
Opinion of the Court
Appellant brought this suit against appellee in a justice’s court, to recover the sum of $165! upon a verified account. Appellee filed a sworn denial of the account, and by plea in reconvention asked judgment for damages against appellant in the sum of $175 for breach of contract. The jury in the justice’s court returned a verdict for appellant for $150, and against appellee on his plea in reconvention. Upon appeal to the county court, the jury, without any written charge from the court, returned a verdict for appellant for the full amount of its demand, and for appellee for the full amount of his claim, and from the judgment entered thereon appellant has prosecuted this appeal.
Opinion.
The contract as pleaded was an agreement that appellee should act as appellant’s exclusive salesman in the territory of Temple, Tex., and appellant agreed that no other store or firm should be given the right to handle its goods in the town of Temple. It was not alleged that appellee in any way bound himself to buy any amount of goods from appellant, nor for any definite time to abide by the terms of the contract, which could be abandoned at will by appellee. The contract seems to have been clearly unilateral and unenforceable. Railway v. Mitchell, 38 Tex. 85; Tyler Ice Co. v. Coupland, 44 Tex. Civ. App. 383, 99 S. W. 133; Railway v. Matthews, 64 Ark. 398, 42 S. W. 902, 39 D. R. A. 467; Mutual Film Corporation v. Morris, 184 S. W. 1060.
Since we have decided to remand the case for another trial, it is proper to indicate our views upon the remaining questions presented in the brief.
We are also of the opinion that the evidence offered to show appellee’s damages for breach oí the contract was too indefinite, speculative, and uncertain to sustain a verdict. The testimony on this point resolves itself into almost a mere guess or conjecture as to any loss sustained by appellee.
We cannot agree with the contention of appellant that the averments and proof do not show an agreement between appellant and appellee, in that it appears to have been made with the agent of appellant, and without its knowledge or authority. The pleading alleges a contract with appellant, and there is evidence tending to show that it was made in behalf of appellant, and within the actual or apparent authority of the agent.
We have not passed upon the question of the validity of the contract as affected by the anti-trust laws. The transactions in this case appear to be interstate in character, and would not seem to fall within the purview of or be controlled by the Texas statute. Albertype Co. v. Gust Feist Co., 102 Tex. 219, 114 S. W. 791. The effect of the federal anti-trust law, or the principles of the common law, upon this contract, have not been determined by us, as the questions have not been raised in the brief, and because of the meager pleadings in the trial courts.
We believe we have sufficiently indicated our views of the law upon the probable issues in'another trial, and for the error indicated the judgment will be reversed, and the cause remanded.
Reversed and remanded.
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