Lundy v. S. Pfeifer & Co.

BRUNOT, J.

This is a suit for $2,910.29, the loss plaintiff alleges he sustained as a result of defendant’s rejection of a carload of red kidney beans which the plaintiff shipped to the defendant under a contract. The shipment was rejected because it was made after the expiration of the time limit for shipment’ fixed in the contract, and it was not made in accordance with the terms thereof.

The district judge found that plaintiff had violated the provisions of the contract in the respects alleged in the answer as a defense to the suit, and rendered a judgment rejecting the plaintiff’s demand. This appeal is from that judgment.

The learned trial judge held the contract to be the law between the parties and enforced it literally. 1-Iis decision is correct. He found that plaintiff had sued upon a contract, the provisions of which he had not complied with, and he correctly held that plaintiff must first show a compliance with his obligation under the contract before he can appeal to the.courts for the enforcement of the obligations assumed by the other party to it.

In this case S. Pfeifer & Co. agreed to buy, and Aaron Lundy agreed to sell, approximately 60,000 pounds of red kidney beans; that the beans should be loaded in a car and shipped by Lundy some time during the months of September or October, 1920, and not later than October 31, 1920, plaintiff to take out a bill of lading for the shipment, to his own order, with instructions to notify Pfeifer & Co. This Lundy did not do. The record shows that the car was loaded on the Pacific coast on October 30, 1920, or within the time stipulated in the contract, but it does not appear when the car was actually moved. The record also shows that the bill of lading routing the car to New Orleans to the shipper’s order contained instructions to the carrier to notify A. L. Lundy. The district judge says:

“If he had taken out 100 cars in that manner on that day he would not have fulfilled his obligation under the contract.”

On November 6, 1920, a bill of lading in accordance with the terms of the contract was obtained by Lundy, and in explanation of why he had thus acted after the term fixed in the contract for the shipment had expired, Re says Re was prompted to do so by a desire to keep Ris competitors in business in ignorance of the names and location of Ris patrons. This excuse cannot be accepted as justifying or palliating Ris violation of the unquestioned terms of the contract. The facts do not appear to be controverted, and therefore it is not necessary to review the testimony. Plaintiff violated the contract, and Ris belated attempt to rectify the error was made too late. As Re bound himself, so shall Re be bound.

The judgment is affirmed, at appellant’s .cost.