Glover v. Killingsworth

Sutton, J.

A contract whereby a cotton broker purchased 100 bales of cotton, based on 1.95 points off the October New York middling price of cotton, the seller having the right to close the sale at any time prior to notice from the purchaser that he was going to close the same at the price fixed, to wit 1.95 points off October New York middling, and whereby the seller received 8 cents per pound, basis middling, on this cotton from the purchaser as an advance, and delivered to the purchaser 100 bales of cotton against the above purchase, which graded 1.60 points off middling, was not a contract dealing in cotton futures and was not void as being a wagering or gambling contract. Kilpatrick v. Richter, 139 Ga. 643 (77 S. E. 1065); Daniel v. Reeves, 139 Ga. 646 (77 S. E. 1067); Richter v. Kilpatrick, 143 Ga. 470 (85 S. E. 319); Monk v. National Bank of Tifton, 12 Ga. App. 253 (76 S. E. 278). The cotton was actually delivered and 8 cents per pound advanced to the seller by the purchaser, and on September 28, 1931, after due notice to the seller, the contract was closed by the purchaser at the price agreed upon. October, 1931, New York middling price of cotton at that time was 6.15 cents per pound, and, after deducting 1.95 points off the October, 1931, New York middling price, and 1.60 points which the cotton delivered was off middling grade, the price agreed upon for this cotton was 2.60 cents per pound. The price of the cotton sold in this case, figured on this basis, was $1315.11. The amount received by the seller from the purchaser as an advancement at the time the contract was entered into amounted to $3224.54. This left the seller due to return to the purchaser $1909.43 of the advancement received by him.-

The above contract was not void as being vague, uncertain, and indefinite. The essentials of a sale were met. The articles sold were identified, an agreement was made as to the price to be paid, and the parties consented to the sale. There was certainly an agreement as to the price to be paid, which was to be October, 1931, New York middling price of cotton, less 1.95 points. The consideration was mutual. The purchaser received the cotton and the seller received the advancement, but, under the terms of the contract, was only entitled to receive for the final sale of the cotton 1.95 points less than the October, 1931, New York middling price of cotton. The contract was enforceable against both the seller and the purchaser. If the October, 1931, New York middling price of cotton, less the 1.95 points, and less the 1.60 points below middling which was the grade of the cotton delivered, amounted to more than the advancement made by the purchaser to the seller, then the purchaser would be liable if he failed to remit this difference to the seller; and as in this case, the converse of that is true; The contention that the contract in this case was unilateral as lacking in mutuality is without merit.

In these circumstances, we think that a suit brought by the purchaser against the seller, in which it was sought to recover the difference between the amount advanced to the seller on the cotton at the time the contract was entered into and the actual market price of the cotton based on its grade and on 1.95 points off the October, 1931, New York middling price of cotton, set out a canse of action, and that the court erred in dismissing the same on demurrer.

Judgment reversed.

Jenkins, P. J., and Stephens, J., concur.