LaValley v. Ravenna

Powers, J. This is an action of general assumpsit for the recovery of a balance due on the purchase of certain per-, sonal property. The parties disagreed somewhat in regard to the precise terms of the contract, but it satisfactorily appears from the record that the plaintiff sold and delivered to the defendant a team consisting of a horse, buggy and harness, receiving in part payment therefor another horse, harness and wagon, and a certain sum of money, and taking as security for the unpaid balance of the price agreed upon a written lien on all the property so conveyed to the defendant. Soon after, and before any part of such unpaid balance came due, the horse covered by the lien died without the fault of the purchaser. The seller waited until the full amount of such balance fell due by the terms of the contract, and then brought this suit for its recovery. At the close of the evidence the defendant moved for a -verdict on several grounds, which was overruled, to which he excepted. It appears from the record that the written lien was not formally offered or received in evidence, but it was submitted [155] to the jury and used by the court as though it was a part of the case; so we treat it as the parties treated it at the trial, and regard it as properly a part of the record. It is informal and crude, but the substantial recitals of it are that the property in question was conditionally sold and delivered to the defendant; that the title thereto- was to- remain in the plaintiff until the sums therein named were fully paid; that the plaintiff might repossess himself of the property on the defendant’s default of payment, and that in such event all payments theretofore made by the defendant should be forfeited. Both parties signed the instrument, but it did not contain a note or other express agreement on the part of the defendant to pay the sum specified. So the question presented, stated broadly, is this: Can there be a recovery for property sold and delivered on condition that the title shall not pass until full payment therefor has been made, when without the fault of the purchaser the property is destroyed before the price falls due? This question we answer in the affirmative. It is true that these contracts are sometimes spoken of as “executory,” and the purchaser is termed a “bailee,” as was done by this Court in French v. Osmer, 67 Vt. 427, 32 Atl. 254, but these expressions have reference to the strict legal title to the property, and should not determine the present question which is one pertaining to an absolute promise to- pay. And the defendant’s promise to pay was absolute, and was made upon a sufficient consideration; for he got just what he bargained for — the use, possession and enjoyment of the property with the right to acquire the absolute title upon payment of the stipulated price; and this was the consideration for his promise. The seller had done all that he was to do- to or with the property by the terms of the contract,- — all that he was to do at all, except [156] to receive the price. And upon that, the title passed without further action on the part of either party. The defendant’s promise was in no sense conditioned on the seller’s ability to deliver the title. He could not return the property to the seller and thereby avoid further liability. Appleton v. Library Corp., 53 Conn. 4; Smith v. Aldrich, 180 Mass. 367. The authorities are not in harmony on the question herein decided. Tufts v. Griffin, (N. C.) 10 L. R. A. 526, Soda Fountain v. Vaughn, (N. J.) 55 Atl. 54, Burnley v. Tufts, 66 Miss. 49, Tufts v. Wynne & Thompson, 45 Mo. App. 42, Cooper v. Organ Co., 58 Ill. App. 248; Hintermister v. Lane, 27 Hun. 497, are among the cases in full accord with, the views herein expressed. While to the contrary are Bishop v. Minderhout & Nichols, (Ala.) 52 L. R. A. 395, Cobb v. Tufts, 2 Tex. App. C. C. § 153, Swallow v. Emery, 111 Mass. 356. The result is that we hold that the defendant is liable for the unpaid balance, notwithstanding the death of the horse included in the sale. Judgment affirmed.