Oneieda Manufacturing Society v. Lawrence

Curia, per Savage, Ch. J. The questions are, 1. Did the defendants warrant the cotton, and if so, what was the warranty ? 2. Is the contract proved as laid ? 3. Was the commission properly rejected ? There is no particular phraseology necessary to constitute a warranty. The assertion, or affirmation of the vendor, concerning the article sold, must be positive and unequivocal. It must be a representation which the vendee relies on, and which is understood by the parties as an absolute assertion, and not the expression of an opinion. (3 T. R. 57, 8. 19 John. 290.) Seixas v. Woods, (2 Caines, 48,) is a leading case on this subject. The law is there fully recognized that a sound price does not imply a warranty, and that, as to any latent defects in the article, the rule caveat emptor applies, unless there is a warranty. Nothing is there said, however, as to what expressions shall constitute a warranty. It appeared that the defendant was agent for a house in New Providence, from which he received the wood in question. It was invoiced as brazilletto ; he advertised it as such, sold it as such, described it as such in the bill of parcels, and the plaintiff’s agent selected it from other wood, [443] supposing it to be brazilletto, and both parties supposing that the wood was, in fact, brazilletto. . These facts did not, in the opinion of the Court, constitute a warranty. The late case of Swett v. Colgate, (20 John. 196, 202-3,) was decided on the same principle. The next case after Seixas v. Wood, was that of Snell v. Moses, (1 John. Rep. 96,) in which the plaintiffs attempted to recover for fraud. They purchased blue guineas, for which the cartman inquired, and recei ved three bales of blue goods, described as blue guineas in the bill of parcels. No intimation is given in this case on the question of what would constitute a warranty. In Perry v. Aaron, (1 John. Rep. 129,) there was an express warranty, and the Court, in granting a new trial, do not state whether it was on the ground of a variance between the count and the proof, or on the ground of merits. In Holden v. Dakin, (4 John. Rep. 421,) the defendant’s clerk sold the plaintiff paints of an inferior quality, for good paints; but the kegs had not been opened since the defendant purchased them. The Court say here was no express warranty. All that was proved upon the trial was, that the clerk of the vendor sold the paints for good paints, and" at a fair price; but this was not sufficient to raise a warranty. If a warranty was to be inferred from these circumstances, it would be universal, upon every bona fide sale at the usual price, unless there was a stipulation to the contrary. Such was the civil law; and such is now the law of South Carolina, (2 Nott & M’Cord’s Rep. 538.) In Davis v. Meeker, (5 John. Rep. 355,) the Court say, “ the assertion of the defendant that the wagon was worth more than its real value, furnishes no ground of action.” In the case of Sands & Crump v. Taylor & Lovett, (5 John. Rep. 395,) Spencer, Ch. J. says, “ It has been frequently decided here, that on the sale of a commodity, no action can be sustained, for any difference in quality between the thing contracted for, and the thing delivered, unless there be fraud or a warranty. I am disposed to confine this rule to the case of a sale where the thing sold is exhibited, and am ready to admit, that on sales by sample, there is an implied warranty that the sample taken in the usual way is a fair specimen of the thing sold.” [444] So also in Gardner v. Gray, (4 Campb. 145,) Ld. Ellen-borough say, “Where there is no opportunity to inspect the. commodity, the maxim of caveat emptor does not apply. He (the purchaser) cannot, without a warranty, insist that it shall be of any particular quality or fineness: but the intention of both parties must be taken to be, that it shall be saleable in the market under the denomination mentioned in the contract between them.” In the case under consideration, the sale was by sample, for, though the plaintiffs’ agent saw the bags in which the cotton was packed, yet he had no opportunity of inspecting the bulk of the commodity. He could only see the samples. In this respect, the present case differs from those of the blue guineas, the barilla and brazilletto. Every sale of packed cotton must be considered in the nature of a sale by sample, which amounts to a warranty that the whole bulk shall compare with the specimen exhibited. (2 Nott & M’Cord’s Rep. 540-1.) From an examination of the cases, some of which I have stated, I am safe in laying down the rule, that in ordinary sales, when the vendee has an opportunity of examining the commodity, the vendor is not answerable for any latent defect, without fraud or an express warranty, or such a direct, affirmation, or representation, as is tantamount to a warranty, and not the expression of an opinion; but in cases of sales by sample, the vendor is held responsible that the quality of the bulk of the commodity shall be equal to the sample shown. In the case of Gardner v. Gray, where a sample of waste silk was shown to enable the purchaser to form, a judgment of the commodity, but not as a warranty, Ed. Ellenborough held, that under such circumstances, the purchaser has a right to expect a saleable article, according to the description in the contract. He adds, “ without any particular warranty, there is an implied term in every such contract. Where there is no opportunity to inspect the commodity, the maxim caveat emptor does not apply.” It seems to me, therefore, that whether the production of the samples in this case he construed a warranty that the bulk is of the [445] same quality, or whether they were shown to the plaintiffs’ agent to enable him to form a judgment of the quality of the article, the defendants are bound either that the article shall be equal to the samples, or that it shall be a sale-able one, of the description contracted for. This is the main point in the cause. I am of opinion there was no substantial variance between the contract as laid and proved ; and the deposition was properly rejected within Jackson v. Hobby, (20 John. Rep. 357.) I am accordingly of opinion that the plaintiffs are entitled to judgment. New trial denied.