Curtis & Yale Co. v. Wunderlich

Owen, J. Plaintiff is engaged in the manufacture and sale of building materials and wood-work at Wausau, Wisconsin. During the years 1914 and 1917, inclusive, it sold a considerable quantity of its product to the C. H. Krause Lumber Company, at Antigo, upon account.' The defendant, George PI. Wunderlich, during such time was the president and principal stockholder of the lumber company, although he took little part in the management of its affairs. April 6, 1915, the plaintiff wrote to the Krause Lumber Company as follows: “A year or so ago we handled some of your paper with [447] the .indorsement of Mr. George H. Wunderlich, this precaution being taken simply as a matter of good business. With all conditions as they are at present, we now feel that it would be quite proper for you to give us the personal guaranty of Mr. Wunderlich covering such notes and open accounts as you will be having for the next few months, limiting the total amount if you feel that this would be necessary and proper.” An exchange of correspondence resulted from this suggestion which culminated in the following letter written by the defendant to the plaintiff under date of June 15, 1915, upon which plaintiff bases its cause of action: “Curtis & Yale Co., Wausau, Wis. “Gentlemen: Regarding the C. H. Krause Lumber Company account, I personally guarantee their account, both book -and notes, to you. “Yours very truly, Geo. H. Wunderlich.” It appears that the course of dealing between the plaintiff and the lumber company was confined to the spring, summer, and fall months, and that the account was practically inactive during the winter months, for the reason that very little building was going on during the winter season. For instance, there was no charge made by the plaintiff against the lumber company between November 20, 1915, and March 20, 1916, and this was usual throughout the years of their business relations. On December 23, 1915, plaintiff’s book account against the lumber company was balanced and settled by the lumber company giving two notes aggregating $700, and the first charge thereafter made by plaintiff against the lumber company was March 20, 1916. Plaintiff continued to furnish its product to the lumber company during the seasons of building activity up to the month of December, 1917. December 18, 1917, the lumber company was adjudicated bankrupt. Plaintiff filed its claim in the bankruptcy court, dividends •were paid thereon, and this action was brought to recover the balance unpaid after crediting such dividends. It is not [448] contended that any part of the $700 notes given to balance the account of December 23, 1915, is included in the account. The trial court construed the letter of June 15th, above set forth, as an unlimited guaranty as to either time or amount and held the defendant liable thereon for all merchandise furnished the lumber company down to the time of its bankruptcy. Appellant contends that this was an erroneous construction of the liability assumed by Mr. Wunderlich, and the ruling of the court in such respect is the sole question presented on this appeal. We have in mind the principle that “guarantees °will be construed to be prospective rather than retrospective, unless it clearly appears that the parties intended that they should cover past transactions.” First State Bank v. Boetcher, 154 Wis. 444, 447, 143 N. W. 172. The plaintiff invokes this rule of construction and contends that, applying it to the letter of June 15, 1915, the ruling of the trial court must be sustained. We think otherwise. The plain language of the guaranty, so called, strongly suggests the existence of' a then present account, which Mr. Wunderlich assumed to guarantee, and rather excludes the idea that he intended to guarantee future accounts. The language “regarding the C. H. Krause Lumber Company account” suggests a then existing indebtedness, as does the further language, “I personally guarantee their account, both book and notes, to you.” The view most favorable to the plaintiff that can be taken of this language is that it is ambiguous and that the intention of Mr. Wunderlich with reference to' guaranteeing future accounts.is doubtful. This situation justifies a reference to the entire correspondence between the parties leading up to the writing of the letter of June 15th. When we refer to that, we see that in its initial communication the plaintiff suggested that it be furnished with the personal guaranty of 'Mr. Wunderlich covering such notes and open account “as you will be having for the next few months.” Considering the course of business between the parties, it is plain that the* term “the next few months” -had reference to the season of [449] 1915, which, as we have seen, so far as business transactions between the plaintiff and the lumber company were concerned, ended November 20th. Owing to the cessation of building operations the lumber company had no use for the product of the plaintiff during the winter months, and there was a lapse of the account from November 20th to March 20th, during which time a balance was struck and the account was settled. We think it clear that the intention of the plaintiff in asking and that of the defendant in executing the guaranty was that it should cover only such transactions as occurred during the months of 1915, from which it follows that the defendant is not liable for indebtedness arising subsequent thereto. The complaint of the plaintiff should therefore be dismissed. By the Court. — Judgment reversed, and cause remanded with instructions to dismiss the plaintiff’s complaint.