Woodworth v. Woodburn

Caton, C. J. This was an action upon promissory notes, given for spokes and hubs, sold by the plaintiffs to the defendants. The defense was a part failure of the consideration, on account of a breach of a warranty of the quality of the spokes and- hubs. There was evidence tending strongly to show that the articles were warranted to be well seasoned and fit for immediate use. To prove that they were not well seasoned and fit for immediate use, the defendants asked of a witness the following questions: “ Did yon ever put up any wheels from these spokes and hubs ? If yea, how did they stand ? and if they came down or fell to pieces, what was the reason of their so falling ?” “ Do you know of any wheels, put up of those spokes and hubs, being returned to defendants on account of the defects of the timber, or on account of want of being seasoned ? If yea, how many, and for what cause ? State fully.” “ From your knowledge of the defendant’s business, what damage was it to them, if anything, aside from the difference in the value of the spokes being green or seasoned, and fit for ready use ? If you know, state to the best of your judgment.” . “ State what you know about wagons made from those spokes and hubs being returned to defendants, and why they were so returned; and, if in consequence of a defect in the timber being seasoned, state.” To which objections were sustained and exceptions taken. The evidence sought to be elicited by the first, second and fourth of these questions was undoubtedly proper, as tending to show a breach of the warranty, and the first and fourth are unobjectionable in form. Strictly speaking, the second is somewhat leading in form, and, perhaps, the court, in its discretion, was justified in ruling it out for that reason. We will not say that we would reverse the judgment because objection to it was sustained. The objection to the third interrogatory was properly sustained. Its object, undoubtedly, was to show special damages, by the interruption to the defendants’ business for the want of such spokes and hubs as it was claimed these were warranted to be. Under the pleadings, such damages could not properly have been allowed. To entitle the party to such damages, they should be specially claimed in the declaration, with an averment and proof, showing that the warranty was made with express reference to such damages. In this case, the measure of damages was the difference in value between the articles as delivered and such articles as they were warranted to be, which was the rule correctly adopted by the court. But the judgment must be reversed, because the objection was sustained to the first and fourth questions quoted. The judgment must be reversed and the cause remanded. Judgment reversed.