Hayden v. Frederickson

Norval, J. This case was before us and decided at á prior term. See Hayden v. Frederickson, 55 Nebr., 156. Subsequently a trial was again had in the district court, which terminated in a verdict in favor of plaintiff, and from the judgment entered thereon the defendants have prosecuted' error. [144] The action was to recover the purchase price of certain patterns alleged to have been sold and delivered by plaintiff: to defendants in imrsuance of a written contract made by the parties, a copy of which is contained in the former opinion, to which reference is made. On September 16, 1893, Nicholas Frederickson was the owner of the dry goods department of what was known as the Bell Department Store, in the city of Omaha. On said date Hayden Bros., the defendants, purchased all the stocks in said department store, including that belonging to plaintiff. The contract between defendant and plaintiffs stipulated, among other things, for the purchase “of all patterns that are staple and down to date,” and that the purchasers should pay plaintiff therefor “cash at completion-of inventory at the rate of 90 per cent of the original contract price of said goods without discount.” The defendants refused to pay for the patterns, claiming that they did not comply with the terms and conditions of the contract, in that they were not staple and down to date. Testimony bearing upon the marketable condition of the patterns was adduced by the respective parties, and expert witnesses were likewise called and examined by the defendants upon that issue in the case. It is argued by counsel for defendants that the judgment is erroneous, because it was not shown that the ■ patterns had been delivered to and accepted by the defendants. This question was presented upon the former - hearing, and it is contended by plaintiff that the decision then rendered is slave decisis. The rule is that the determination of questions presented to this court in reviewing the proceedings in a cause in the district court becomes the law of the case for all subsequent proceedings, and, ordinarily, will not be made a subject of re-examination. See Coburn v. Watson, 48 Nebr., 257; Fuller v. Cunningham, 48 Nebr., 857; Omaha Life Ass’n v. Keltenbach, 55 Nebr., 330; Mead v. Tzschuck, 57 Nebr., 615. And this rule applies, not only to all points actually decided, but to all questions presented by the record and necessarily in [145] volved in the decision. See Mufford v. Estudillo, 32 Cal., 131; Headley v. Challiss, 15 Kan., 602; Crockett v. Gray, 31 Kan., 346. While we were asked on the former appeal to reverse the judgment theretofore rendered on the same ground now urged for a reversal, we did not then consider nor decide the point or express .an opinion upon the subject. The judgment of reversal was placed upon other grounds, and the decision did not necessarily involve the matter now urged upon our attention, and the rule of stare decisis can not be successfully invoked by this plaintiff. To entitle plaintiff to maintain an action like the present, for goods sold and delivered, it was necessary that it be shown that the patterns were delivered to the defendant. The contract specified or recited: “Nicholas Prederickson has this day sold and delivered to Hayden Bros, a stock of linens * * and all patterns that are staple and down to date.” There is in the record before us evidence tending to show that the defendants were in possession of plaintiff’s goods at the time the contract in question was entered into, which, if true, relieved him from formally tendering and delivering the patterns to the purchaser, See Robison v. Uhl, 6 Nebr., 328; Uhl v. Robison, 8 Nebr., 272; Tiedeman, Sales, sec. 96 and cases there cited. It is insisted that the title to the patterns did not pass to the vendees until they were invoiced; hence there can be no recovery. The contract of sale stipulated that an inventory of goods should be taken, which was to determine what patterns were staple and doAvn to date. It Avas within the contemplation of the parties that each should join or assist in the making of such inventory, or at least be given an opportunity so to do. The evidence discloses that the defendants refused to invoice the patterns, claiming that they did not meet the requirements of the contract. This constituted a waiver of the right of defendants to participate in the inventory. See Woodworth v. Hammond, 19 Nebr., 215. The defendants, under [146] the circumstances, can not be heard to urge as a defense that the inventory was made by Frederickson alone. Exceptions were taken to the fourth and sixth instructions given by the court on its own motion, which are as follows: “4. The burden of proof in this case is upon the plaintiff, and, before he can recover, he must satisfy you by a preponderance of the evidence that the patterns sold and inventoried to defendants, and for which he seeks to recover in this action, complied with the terms and conditions of the contract sued upon, — that is, that said patterns so sold and inventoried to defendants were staple and down to' date. If plaintiff has so satisfied you, it will then be your duty to return a verdict for plaintiff for such sum as under the terms and conditions of said contract and the'evidence you find to be due. If plaintiff has failed to satisfy you, your verdict will be for the defendants.” “6. The only question for your consideration in this case is whether or not the patterns sold defendants -by plaintiff complied v/ith the terms and conditions of the contract introduced in evidence, — that Is, were staple and down to date; and, in determining this question, you must look solely to the evidence that has been introduced by the parties, and from this evidence determine this question.” These instructions submitted to the jury the single question whether the patterns were “staple and down to date,” and withdrew from the consideration of the triers of fact the issue whether there had ever been a delivery to the defendants of the patterns in question. Manifestly this was error. The defendants were entitled to have this point passed upon by the jury. The following instruction was given at the request of the plaintiff below: “The court further instructs the jury that it is your duty to consider the opinion and expert evidence in this case the same as the evidence of other witnesses. However, the court further instructs you that [147] such opinion and expert evidence is of the very lowest order, and is the least satisfactory, and the jury should not permit such opinion and expert evidence to overthrow positive and creditable evidence of creditable witnesses, who have testified in this case of their own personal knowledge.” This instruction was bad, and should not have been given. The. defendants had the right to have the jury consider the testimony of their expert witnesses without any admonition from the court that “expert evidence is of the very lowest order and is the least satisfactory.” It was for the jury alone to determine the weight to be given such evidence. For the errors indicated.the judgment is Reversed.