Winkler v. Patten

Colb, C. J. The litigation in the court below seems to have been confined to the counterclaims. In the counterclaims, the defendants, in effect, allege that the plaintiffs, in making sale of the merchandise to them, warranted the same to be good gunnies — far superior to any Milwaukee or Chicago packings — and that the goods were not as represented. They claimed they were damaged in the sum of $200, in consequence of the inferior quality of the goods. The undisputed testimony shows that the plaintiffs, when they offered the goods to the defendants for sale, represented them to be “ good bagging and gunnies, . . . far superior to any Chicago and Milwaukee packings,” and worth two and one half cents per pound, and the finding of the county court is in accord with the evidence. There can be no doubt that this representation amounted to a warranty of the quality of the merchandise upon which the defendants had the right to rely. The learned counsel for the plaintiffs does not seriously question the correctness of this proposition of law, when applied to the first car-load of bagging, but insists that the warranty did not extend to the second carload. This position we deem untenable. It appears the defendants, on the receipt of the plaintiffs’ letter of August 21, [407] 1880, ordered a car-load of tbeir bagging. On this order tbe plaintiffs sent two car-loads. But it is obvious tbe warranty extended to all tbe goods wbicb they saw fit to furnish on tbe order; for tbe goods were all sent pursuant to'that order alone, so tbe warranty must be held co-extensive with tbe contract. Gale Manuf’g Co. v. Oribb, 55 Wis., 414. And it is apparent from tbe complaint that tbe plaintiffs understood that the goods were all sold and delivered under one contract, which was according to tbe facts as established by tbe evidence. Tbe court below found that tbe -merchandise was not of tbe valúe nor quality represented by tbe plaintiffs, but was of an inferior quality. The testimony overwhelmingly sustains that finding. All tbe witnesses who testified on tbe subject said tbe stock was poor, damaged, and not as good as Chicago and Milwaukee packings. Indeed, immediately upon tbe receipt of tbe first car-load the defendants notified tbe plaintiffs that they were disappointed in tbe bagging; stated that instead of its being superior to, it did not come np to, the common run of Chicago and Milwaukee stock. And this must be assumed to be an established fact in the case. Tbe representation as to tbe quality of tbe merchandise was contained in tbe letter above referred to, and was to tbe effect that tbe bagging and gunnies were good, worth two and one half cents per pound, and far superior to any Chicago and Milwaukee packings. It was a positive, unequivocal representation, on which tbe defendants bad tbe right to rely when they made tbeir order, and was not a mere expression of opinion. Tbe language yyas certainly sufficient to constitute a warranty, as is practically conceded by plaintiffs’ counsel, in respect to tbe first car-load. Tbe court found that tbe goods were only worth two cents per pound, and tbe evidence is quite conclusive that this was tbeir full value. Tbe stock was in bales concealed from view; its condition and quality could only be ascertained upon examination after [408] the bales were opened. This fact distinguishes the case from Locke v. Williamson, 40 Wis ., 377, and that class of cases where the defects in the property were obvious to the senses, and which the buyer would discover at once. But the defendants as soon as practicable made an examination • of the stock, and found it was defective. They notified the plaintiffs of that fact, and declined to receive it on the contract at the price of two and one half cents per pound. But the plaintiffs insisted that the stock was fully up to their representation as to quality, and refused either to make a deduction from the contract price or to take back the stock, unless it was returned to them at Cincinnati free of charge. To this unreasonable proposition the defendants declined to accede. So the matter stood for a few days, when the defendants sent the plaintiffs a draft on New York, for $603.77, together with bills of freight paid by them [amounting to $76.27], which was the price of the stock at two and one fourth cents per pound, proposing to settle the matter on that basis. The plaintiffs passed the amount to the defendants’ credit, but requested that the balance of their bill, amounting to $75.76, be remitted at once, eaying that under no circumstances would they make any deduction from the contract price. This suit was brought to recover the balance due at that rate. The defendants, however, recovered $75 damages under their counterclaims. The plaintiffs’ counsel insists that, as the defendants made a voluntary and unconditional payment of $680.04 on the account — reserving a balance of $75.76, estimating the stock at the contract price — under no possible circumstances can they do more than defeat the action. Tie says the defendants fixed their damages at the amount reserved after they had examined the stock and knew its quality and value. Therefore, be says, the court should assume that their damages did not exceed that sum. It may be admitted that [409] this position would be sound if it was in harmony with the facts of the case; but the whole correspondence shows that the defendants made a proposition to settle the matter by paying for the stock at the rate of two and one fourth cents per pound. But it was a mere proposition for a settlement and compromise, so as to avoid trouble and litigation. But the proposition was not accepted by the plaintiffs, who insisted upon being paid according to the contract price. Therefore, under the circumstances, the payment made by the defendants should not be regarded as an admission on their part that the stock was really worth two and one fourth cents per pound, nor does it estop them from claiming all the damages they sustained by the breach of the warranty. A proposition for a compromise and settlement, which is not accepted, operates neither as a ratification nor as an estop-pel. Tenney v. State, 27 Wis., 387. The whole tenor of the correspondence between the parties shows that the remittance made by the defendants was conditional; that is, it was an offer to settle the matter on that basis. On the refusal of the plaintiffs to accept the offer the defendants wrote to them, saying: “ Please return us the amount sent you and we will gladly give up your stock, less the amount paid for freight. . . .We are not trying to take advantage of you in the least. TIad your stock been as represented we should have been glad to have received it. . . We shall make'no more compromise. You will either take back your stock or accept what we have sent you as settlement.” The conduct of the defendants seems to have been frank, fair, and honorable, and to hold that they are concluded on the question of damages by the remittance and offer would be most unreasonable and unjust. They could have recovered all the damages which they sustained by a breach of the warranty, either in an action against the plaintiffs or whén sued for the contract price. We therefore see no good reason why they should not re [410] cover such damages upon the facts in this case. We lay no stress upon the stipulation between the parties that, if the defendants were entitled to recover in the action, they should recover $75. This stipulation, though in writing, and relied on by the county judge, is not signed, by the parties or their attorneys. There may be some doubt whether it is binding under the rules of court, and no importance is attached to. it. But upon the record we are clear that the judgment of the county court is correct and must be affirmed. By the Court.— It is so ordered.