Fairway MacHinery Sales Co v. Continental Motors Corp

Quinn, J. May 6, 1970, the trial judge granted defendant’s motion for summary judgment because "there is no genuine issue of material fact relevant to the application of the statute of frauds * * * , plaintiff’s claim is barred by the statute of frauds and defendant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law”. Plaintiff appeals. In August 1965, defendant invited plaintiff and others to bid on used machinery that defendant desired to sell. Plaintiff submitted a bid in conformance with defendant’s instructions. The invitation to bid and plaintiff’s bid were in writing and plaintiff’s bid was the highest bid. On required favorable view, the record establishes that defendant orally accepted plaintiff’s bid, and that during the three weeks following the oral acceptance, defendant orally assured plaintiff that the written award of the bid was forthcoming as soon as the paper work was done. On similar view, the record establishes that in reliance on the oral acceptance and assurance, plaintiff disposed of items in its inventory to raise the money to fulfill its bid and did not bid on other machinery it would normally have bid on. Plaintiff’s bid was never accepted in writing and the machinery involved was sold to another. Plaintiff first contends that the written invitation to bid and the bid satisfied the statute of frauds, MCLA 440.2201; MSA 19.2201, which reads: "Except as otherwise provided in this section a contract for the sale of goods for the price of $500.00 or *272 more is not enforceable by way of action or defense unless there is some writing sufficient to indicate that a contract for sale has been made between the parties and signed by the party against whom enforcement is sought or by his authorized agent or broker. ” There is nothing in this record to establish a contract signed by defendant, its authorized agent or broker as required by the statute. In its answer, defendant pleaded affirmatively the statute of frauds. The burden of proving the defense was on defendant, Redding v Snyder, 352 Mich 241 (1958). By way of reply to this defense, plaintiff alleged, "that its actions and expenditures in reliance upon plaintiff’s (sic) (defendant’s) acceptance removes the transaction between the parties from the shield of the statute of frauds”. In effect, plaintiff pleaded an estoppel which might prevent defendant from asserting the defense of statute of frauds, Oxley v Ralston Purina Company, 349 F2d 328 (CA 6, 1965). There were genuine issues as to the following material facts in relation to the alleged estoppel: did the statements of defendant through its agent constitute an acceptance of the bid and a promise to confirm this bid in writing, should defendant have reasonably expected reliance of the nature alleged by plaintiff, and did plaintiff detrimentally rely upon the representations of the defendant. Summary judgment was not proper. Reversed and remanded for trial with costs to plaintiff. All concurred.