White Sewing Machine Co. v. Shaddock

McCulloch, J., (after stating the facts.) The evidence adduced at the trial showed that appellant wrote a letter to Shad-dock on February 13, 1903, giving notice of a dissolution of the contract, in so far as it related to the territory in Ouachita County, but that this notice was subsequently withdrawn, and he thereafter purchased more machines from appellant. Shaddock testified that the notice was renewed by a letter from appellant’s agent, S. B. Kirby, dated April 8, 1903, forbidding him the territory in Ouachita County. On November 28, 1903, plaintiff gave notice to Shaddock of dissolution of the entire contract, so far as it related to exclusive control of territory. The only testimony introduced by appellees tending to establish damages was that of Shaddock himself, which was as follows : “I was damaged by the sales of other dealers of the machine m my territory, but it is hard for me to estimate it. Ritchie sold in the western part of Calhoun County, W. H. Henry at Holly Springs in southern part of Dallas, and E. A. Acruman at Fordyce. My profits on each machine depends on circumstances. It ranges from $15 to $20. * * * I had to sell my machines the best I could, on account of the other dealers selling in my territory. I would make trades for cattle, and would take in exchange secondhand machines in order to make a deal. I had on hand 35 machines altogether of different grades, including secondhand machines taken in exchange. I could have sold most of the machines sold by the other dealers in my territory if they had not sold any there. The territory east of the Ouachita River in Ouachita County was my main territory.” The verdict of the jury assessing damages is not sustained by the evidence. Each of the parties to the contract reserved therein the privilege of dissolving it at any time upon notice to the other. Appellant’s notice to appellee Shaddock cutting out of the contract the territory in Ouachita County was, in effect, a dissolution of the contract to that extent, though neither party had the right to alter the contract without the consent of the other. Appellee Shad-dock then could have treated the contract as dissolved in toto by appellant, or could have accepted the proposed modification. He could not reject the proposed modification, and at the same time continue the original contract in force against appellant’s consent; the notice of modification was in effect a dissolution of the old contract and, when accepted, the creation of a new one. But appellant’s privilege of dissolving the contract at anytime upon notice could not apply to machines which Shaddock had already purchased for resale in the territory at the time of the attempted dissolution. To that extent the contract was so far performed by Shaddock that appellant could not dissolve it so as to deprive him of the right to sell the machine in any part of the stipulated territory. A construction of the contract which would give appellant that power would be so manifestly harsh and unjust to Shaddock that it can not be deemed to have been reasonably within the contemplation of the parties. Appellant would be liable to Shaddock for loss of profits on sales which he was deprived of making by reason of appellant’s alleged violation of the contract in putting other salesmen or dealers into the territory allotted to him before the date of modification; but the proof fails to show that any sales were made by other salesmen or dealers in the territory before that date, or that Shaddock was deprived of making sales in the territory. Therefore he sustained no damages on that account, as far as disclosed by the evidence. Appellant would also be liable to Shaddock for any damages resulting from sales made by other salesmen or dealers put into the territory after the date of the modification, in so far as they deprived him of profit on machines which he had already purchased when the notice of modification was given. But sales of, machines made by other dealers after the date appellant modified the territorial limits of the contract are not to be considered, except to the extent that they may have interfered with or prevented resales by Shaddock of his own machines which he had purchased from'appellant pursuant to the contract before the modification. Now, it is not shown that he failed to make timely sales of all the machines which he purchased from appellant, nor is there any proof of any loss of profit on them except the general statement of Shaddock in his testimony that he had to sell the machines m the best way he could by taking cattle and secondhand machines in exchange. He does not show any loss of profits on those machines, but contends only that other dealers put into the territory by appellant made sales which he could have made but for their interference, and that he was thereby deprived of profit he could have earned on other machines which he had bought and re-sold. The jury assessed damages altogether upon profits on sales made by other dealers. We are of the opinion that the evidence is insufficient to sustain the verdict, and the judgment is therefore reversed, and the cause remanded for a new trial. Hill, C. J. and Wood, J., dissenting.