Harrell v. International Harvester Company

Where one purchased a tractor under an agreement including the following: "The purchaser agrees to give each machine a fair trial as soon as possible after receiving and within two days after the first use. If it then fails to work properly and prompt notice is given, the seller will send a man within a reasonable time to put it in order, the purchaser agreeing to render friendly assistance. If it still fails to work properly and the purchaser promptly returns it to the seller at the place where delivered, the seller will refund the amount paid, which shall constitute a settlement in full. Retention of possession, or continued use, shall constitute an acceptance and satisfaction of warranty, and further assistance rendered the purchaser shall not be considered a waiver of this provision. The purchaser agrees to pay the expense of remedying any trouble due to improper handling. No agent of the seller has authority to alter, add to, or waive the above warranties, which are agreed to be the only warranties given and in lieu of all implied warranties; "and where the purchaser filed to the declaration is purchase-money attachment proceedings an answer which alleged that the tractor had become defective and that the seller repaired it, but that it tore up again within four or five weeks, and that the buyer was forced to have various repairs made, etc., such answer was insufficient in law to withstand a general demurrer, in the absence of an allegation that after the tractor was repaired to the seller with unsatisfactory results, it was promptly returned to the seller. It has been repeatedly held that in such cases the seller will not be held liable on the warranty unless the buyer complies with the condition precedent. International Harvester Co. v. Morgan, 19 Ga. App. 716 (92 S.E. 35); International Harvester Co. v. Bowen 16 Ga. App. 457 (85 S.E. 637); International Harvester Co. v. Dillon, 126 Ga. 676 (55 S.E. 1034); Brooks Brothers Lumber Co. v. Case Threshing Machine Co., 136 Ga. 754 (2) (72 S.E. 40); Case Threshing Machine Co. v. Cook, 7 Ga. App. 631 (67 S.E. 890).

It is not necessary to decide whether the corporation was a bona fide holder of the conditional -sale contract which formed the basis of the action and which was assigned to the corporation by the seller of the machinery

It was not error to deny the certiorari assigning error on the judgment dismissing the answer on general demurrer, and on the rendition of a final judgment against the buyer.

Judgment affirmed. Sutton, P. J., and Parker, J.,concur

DECIDED FEBRUARY 19, 1944.