Hoffman v. Hockfield Bros.

Opinion by Linn, J., This case was tried in the municipal court by a judge without a jury, and he found for defendants. They were sued for $111.50 with interest from April 11,1918, damages alleged to have resulted from their breach of warranty made in the sale of certain furniture. Plaintiff averred and proved that he bought the furniture with a warranty that it was covered with genuine muleskin, but that the furniture delivered was covered with an imitation of muleskin. At the trial it was stipulated that [597] the value of the furniture as warranted when delivered would have been $250. The purchase price was $92.50, payable in installments. Plaintiff had paid $46.50 on account when he discovered the breach of warranty. Defendants offered no evidence except as they joined in the stipulation of value referred to. The court below filed no opinion and gave no reason for its conclusion. We cannot sustain it. The record contains the uncontradicted evidence of plaintiff and his wife fully supporting their allegations of warranty and the breach thereof. The Sales Act of May 19, 1915, P. L. 543, provides: “Section 69. First. Where there is a breach of warranty by the seller, the buyer may, at his election,— (a) Accept or keep the goods, and set up against the seller the breach of warranty by way of recoupment in diminution or extinction of the price.” “Sixth. The measure of damages for breach of warranty is the loss directly and naturally resulting, in the ordinary course of events, from the breach of warranty. Seventh. In the case of breach of warranty of quality, such loss, in the absence of special circumstances showing proximate damage of a greater amount, is the difference between the value of the goods at the time of delivery to the buyer and the value they would have had if they had answered to the warranty.” If plaintiff had paid for the goods, his loss would have been the difference between $250, the value as warranted, and $92.50, the purchase price, or $157.50. He concedes that he still owes installments amounting to $46, which when credited upon the former sum leaves $111.50, the amount for which he declares. He is entitled to that sum with interest. -Under the uncontradicted evidence in this case, the court should so have found: Berkowitz v. Palruba Mfg. Co., 68 Pa. Superior Ct. 559. There is evidence that when defendants’ attention was called to the breach of warranty, they agreed in writing [598] to reupholster the furniture with genuine muleskin, and for that purpose received it back, but after getting it, refused to comply with their agreement. Plaintiff was then entitled to rescind that contract and bring this suit. We should perhaps say that the determination of this case is without prejudice to the right of the plaintiff to get back his furniture as it was when delivered to defendants under that agreement. The judgment is reversed and the record is remanded to the court below with instructions to enter judgment for the plaintiff for $111.50 with interest from April 11, 1918.