Taylor v. Foster
Taylor v. Foster
Opinion of the Court
Respondent brought this action, as plaintiff below, to recover from appellant, as defendant, the sum of $317.25, alleged to have been paid for furniture and house furnishings purchased hut not delivered to him. From a judgment as prayed for, the appellant brings the case here on appeal.
As we view the case, after a study of the record, the questions involved are of fact only.
The evidence, in the number of witnesses at least, preponderates in supporting the respondent’s theory that he, his wife, and a friend went to appellant’s place of business and informed him that they were negotiating for the purchase of a certain house, and if they obtained it they would want a considerable amount of furniture. That, pending these negotiations, they decided to examine appellant’s stock, obtain prices, etc., learn what it would cost approximately to furnish the house, and perhaps make tentative selections. They did so examine appellant’s offerings, made certain selections, which they claim were tentative only, and which appellant claims were absolute, except only for the condition that the purchase should depend upon their obtaining the house for which they were negotiating. At this time, respondent gave appellant a check for $250, which he claims was a payment in full for certain specified articles he was to take in any event, and which appellant claims was earnest money on a
The evidence is directly conflicting upon the vital points, and while we might very well hold that it preponderates in supporting respondent’s theory, yet, as the trial court did not directly and fully so find, we, not having heard the witnesses in person, hesitate to do so. It does appear, however, without serious conflict, that, at the time the second check was given, appellant agreed to make delivery of the articles selected aggregating in value the amount of the payments then made; that, at that time, respondent had not succeeded in purchasing or obtaining possession of the house, and that he did not succeed in closing the deal for the house until some days—possibly some weeks—after appellant had refused to make delivery of the goods to the amount of the money paid, as agreed.
The judgment of the trial court is right and is therefore affirmed.
Parker, O. J., Main, Mitchell, and Mount, JJ., concur.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Brooks Taylor v. O. J. Foster
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Contracts (175)—Actions for Breach — Nonperformance by Plaintiff—Sales—Remedies op Buyer—Right of Action to Recover Price Paid. Where plaintiff made a tentative contract with defendant for $2,000 worth of furniture for a house which he contemplated buying, selecting some of the furniture and paying down $250, and later selected and paid for additional furniture of the value of $67.25, and directed that the articles covered by his payments amounting to $317.25 be sent to his father’s home, as he could not get possession of the house contemplated, the defendant’s refusal to make delivery at a time when plaintiff had not yet closed the deal for the house was a breach of contract, entitling plaintiff to the recovery of the money paid.