Roy v. Griffin
Roy v. Griffin
Opinion of the Court
Action for damages for breach of shipping contract. Plaintiffs purchased lumber and shingles from the defendant, D. A. Griffin, under an agreement whereby plaintiffs agreed to buy shingles and defendant agreed to sell, and it was stipulated that, in consideration of plaintiffs’ waiving personal inspection of the shipment, defendant guaranteed maximum weight, quantity to be as charged on invoice, and quality to conform to the established grading in every particular, and defendant agreed to pay expense of repacking broken bunches and extra freight paid for cars loaded to less than their minimum capacity, to brand all shingles with a stencil of plaintiffs, and that any loss sustained by failure in any of these respects, or by any error or negligence on the part of the defendant, should be paid by defendant. The terms of payment were ninety per cent, advance, less two per cent, discount, balance on return of expense bill. The shipping instructions were, “Bill from Roy & Roy to Roy & Roy, Shoreham, Minn. Hotify W. L. Martin. Via C. P and Soo line.” Hnder this agreement five cars were shipped. Defendant’s mill, at which the shingles were manufactured, is situated on the Seattle & International Railway line at Hollingsworth, now Deming, in this state, a short distance south of Sumas, the nearest point on the Cana
“And now on this 12th day of September, 1899, the plaintiffs and defendants having each announced that their evidence was closed and attorney for the plaintiffs at this time states to the court, 'That if the defendant’s contention of the law is correct as to a delivery, and that if under the contract and dealings of the parties the shingles in controversy were delivered to the plaintiffs at the time the same were taken possession of by the rail road company at Deming, such ruling will dispose of the case adversely to the plaintiffs.’ ”
Thereafter the court withdrew the cause from the consideration of the jury, and filed its findings of fact and conclusions of law, and entered judgment of dismissal against plaintiffs.
The vital finding of fact is that the defendant delivered the shingles to plaintiffs when the cars were loaded at Hollingsworth. Plaintiffs have excepted to this finding of fact. We have examined the record, and do not think we ought to disturb the finding. There had been a continued course of dealing between plaintiffs and defendant.
“To constitute a delivery there must be a > change of possession from the shipper to the carrier, and the former must relinquish all custody and control of the property for the time being, leaving the exclusive possession to the carrier.” 5 Am. & Eng. Enc. Law (2d ed.), 181; also, 187; 2 Rorer, Railroads, p. 1281; Wheelhouse v. Parr, 141 Mass. 593 (6 N. E. 787); Krulder v. Ellison, 47 N. Y. 36 (7 Am. Rep. 402).
It will be observed that the shipping instructions directed the defendant to load and ship. When, therefore, under the usual course of dealing between the parties, the defendant loaded and shipped the shingles upon the line of the common carrier which received and took charge thereof, defendant’s contract was completed. Any liability thereafter for damage in the shipment must be imputed to the carrier, and not to the defendant.
The judgment is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Roy & Roy v. D. A. Griffin et ux.
- Cited By
- 5 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- SALE DELIVERY — WHAT CONSTITUTES SHIPPING INSTRUCTIONS. Where a purchaser of goods directs their shipment via a certain railway, and the goods are loaded on the cars of that railway at the shipping station on a connecting line, to he thence transported to the line over which the shipping instructions required shipment, according to a prior and continued course of dealing between tbe parties, tbe act of tbe shipper in loading the cars and turning them over to the common carrier, which received and took charge of them, constituted a delivery and exonerated the shipper from liability for subsequent damage in the shipment.