Vapor Vacuum Heating Co. v. Kaltenbach & Stephens, Inc.

The opinion of the court was delivered by Swayze, J. The charge of the learned trial judge permitted the jury to find a verdict for the plaintiff (1) if the apparatus was completely installed and the conditions, precedent fulfilled, and (2) if the apparatus was accepted by the defendant. In the first case the plaintiff was unquestionably entitled to recover the contract price. In the second case the question would remain whether the plaintiff was entitled to recover the full amount of the contract price. In neither case could the defendant claim, as it does, a total absence of liability on the ground of non-performance of a condition prece [452] dent. The contract was- a contract for the sale of goods. The facts were very much, the same as in Mechanical Boiler Cleaner Co. v. Kellner, 62 N. J. L. 544, and bring the case within the rule of Pawelski v. Hargreaves, 47 Id. 334, and within section 4 of the Sale of Goods act. Under that act the right of the buyer to treat the fulfillment by the seller of his obligation to furnish goods as described and as warranted, as a condition of the- obligation of the buyer to perform his promise to accept and pay for the goods, is limited to cases where-the property in the goods has not passed. Sale of Goods act, § 11; Comp. Stat., p. 4650. But' wliere the- property in the goods has passed the rights of the buyej; are somewhat different. This is especially the case where the buyer has accepted the goods as the jury found in this case' (unless, indeed, they found that the plaintiff had completely performed, in which case the defendant ivas bound to accept. Sale of Goods act, § 63; Comp. Stat., p. 4662). The seller is not by the buyer’s acceptance discharged from liability in damages for breadr of any promise or warranty (section 49). The buyer may, notwithstanding his acceptance, either set up- the breach of warranty by way of recoupment, in diminution or extinction of the price, or maintain an action, for damages for breach of warranty. Comp. Stat., p. 4663, § 69. The pleadings in the present case raise only the issue, of complete performance and the grounds of appeal present no question as to reduction of damages, recoupment or counterclaim. ' The defendant apparently desires that those questions shall not be passed upon in the present litigation. Dealing with the question in this aspect, we find no error. (1) Manifestly, it would have been improper to nonsuit the plaintiff or direct a verdict for the defendant. (2) It was proper to allow Hess to testify that the plant as installed was in a position to effect á saving of not less ¿han seven per cent, of the cost of fuel used: If lie had made no test, his testimony may not have been of-much importance, but it was not inadmissible. (3) The letter of February 14th was admittedly relevant. If the defendant desired the court to qualify its effect, a request should have been formulated, and even then the matter would [453] probably have been within, the discretion of the court. (4) It was proper to refuse to charge that if the plaintiff refused to make a test to determine whether the apparatus effected a saving of seven per cent, in the cost of fuel, the verdict must be for the defendant. The failure to make a test might make' it difficult for the plaintiff to prove complete performance and might throw discredit on its claim to recover, but that is unimportant, in, view of the testimony as to acceptance. The plaintiff had a right to depend, as it did successfully, on the proof of acceptance. The contract did not require tests unless a comparison of evaporative tests were found necessary. The defendant nowhere alleged that necessity, nor did it unconditionally and unequivocally demand any test. There were negotiations on the subject chiefly as to how the expense was to he met, hut that is all. (5) It was clearly right to qualify the defendant’s request to charge by calling attention to the evidence as to acceptance. (6) Evidence as to tbe continued possession and use of the apparatus could not properly be ignored as the defendant- requested. Under section 48 of the Sale of Goods act, those facts, if proved, might amount to an acceptance. The same considerations apply to the request complained of in the tenth ground of appeal. The judgment is affirmed, with costs. For affirmance—The Chief Justice, ;Swayze, Trek-chard, Parker, Bergek, Minturn, Kaliscii, Black, White, Hbppekheimer, Williams, Taylor, Gardker, Ackersok, JJ. 14. For reversal—Kone.