Zinn v. Hyatt

GIill, J. This is an action on a promissory note for $125, executed by defendant to plaintiff, for the purchase price of a bull. The defense relied on was breach of warranty. It was alleged in the answer that the plaintiff, at the time of the sale, warranted the animal to be a good and sure breeder, “and if turned with defendant’s herd of cows, said bull would get said cows-with calf * * * and that said bull was not troublesome or breaehy ;”and that defendant relied upon said warranty, etc. Defendant further alleged “that said bull at the time was not a good and sure breeder, and when turned with defendant’s cows, he failed to get [629] them with calf * * * and that said bull was, troublesome and breachy,” was worthless for said purpose, and wholly failed to fill said warranty. Both parties testified that when the contract of sale was entered into, the plaintiff represented the bull to be a sure breeder. The testimony on defendant’s part tended to prove that in addition to the last mentioned representation, the plaintiff stated that if the bull was turned with the defendant’s forty-one cows, he would get them with calf. Plaintiff denied this. At the conclusion of the evidence (and which tended to support the respective claims of either party), the issues were submitted to a jury, resulting in a verdict and judgment for plaintiff in the full amount sued for, and defendant appealed. I. Defendant sought to defeat this action by alleging and proving certain breaches of warranty as to the quality and ability of the bull. According to the case made by the defendant, the plaintiff warranted the animal; first, to be a good and sure breeder; second, to be free from the vice of fence breaking, and, third, that if put with the defendant’s forty-one cows, he would, at the first season, get all of them with calf. And the defendant’s evidence tended to show breaches of each of these several warranties, in that the bull was not a good and sure getter of calves, that he was a breaker of fences, and that, being placed with the defendant’s forty-one cows, not more than one half were gotten with calf. The matter of defendant’s complaint here relatos to the character of the instructions. It was, and is, defendant’s contention that plaintiff’s warranty was not only as to the ability and condition of the bull at the time of the sale, but that it was a continuing warranty, in so far, at least, that plaintiff contracted and agreed, not only that the bull was a good and sure [630] breeder at the date of sale, but that he would, at that season, get all defendant’s herd of cows with calf. The court, however, eliminated this feature of the defense, and confined the inquiry as to the calf getting capacity of the bull to the time of defendant’s purchase. In our opinion, this was error, if defendant’s testimony is to be credited, then the plaintiff did more than contract for the breeding qualities of the bull at the date of sale, but went further and warranted that the bull would, during that season, get all of defendant’s cows with calf. If the defendant so agreed or warranted the future capacity of the animal, we know of no reason why he should not live up to his engagement and compensate the defendant for any breach thereof, if indeed there was a breach. At the instance of plaintiff, the court gave this instruction: “If the jury find from the evidence that said bull was as good a breeder as the ordinary run of bulls ot that kind, and that he was no more breachy and cross than bulls of the kind and age usually are, then defendant is not entitled to any damage, even if the plaintiff did warrant said bull to be a good breeder, and not to be breachy.” The giving said instruction was clearly erroneous. The defense in question is based on an express warranty. The “ordinary run of bulls of that kind” may be poor or indifferent breeders; and may ordinarily at that age be fence breakers, cross and unruly, and yet the condition, or capacity of such ordinary animals will not discharge plaintiff and release him from the warranty that this bull was superior to the ordinary run of bulls, and free from their vices. The judgment will be reversed, and cause remanded. All concur.