Werbitsky v. Fisher

Opinion by

Head, J.,

In this action to recover the price of certain merchandise sold and delivered to the defendant, the court below made absolute a rule for want of a sufficient answer. The defendant appeals. It appears by the copy of the plaintiff’s book account, filed with his statement, the goods were sold and delivered on or about December 17, 1913. As to this date there is no dispute. Suit was begun in May, 1915. It can hardly be asserted the defendant had not ainple time to know his defense when he filed his original answer on May 14, 1915. Manifestly it was insufficient to prevent a judgment.' Its averments were of the most vague and general character. It did not deny the receipt of the goods. It did not aver a sale by sample. The defendant contented himself by such general statements as “The goods were not of the quality and value purchased” and the like. There is no averment as to when the alleged inferior quality of velvet was discovered nor when, how, or to whom any notice thereof was given.

On May 19th a rule for judgment was made absolute. On May 28th, as per docket entries printed, an amended answer was filed nunc pro tunc. No petition for leave to file is printed with the record nor any rule or order to open the judgment already entered. Nothing further there appears save the entry of the certiorari from this court which was filed on the same day as the amended answer. This second answer avers the sale was “by sample,” but furnishes no indication as to the quality of the sample shown except by inference from the averment “The defendant purchased quality No. 1 velvets,” &c. If the sale was by sample, the legal rights and obligations of the defendant were plain. In Spiegelberg v. Karr, 24 Pa. Superior Ct. 339, a case much more favorable to the defendant therein than the case at bar, Orlady, J., thus states the law applicable in such cases: “The defendants were bound to inspect the goods within a reasonable time after receiving them, and when the defect was ascertained they were bound then either to elect to rescind the contract so far as possible or to treat it as a subsisting one, and sue on the alleged warranty. ......They were bound to make their election within a reasonable time; and what is a reasonable time or undue delay where the facts are not disputed is a question of law to be determined by the court: Morgan v. McKee, 77 Pa. 228; Davis v. Stuard, 99 Pa. 295. The right of rescission must be exercised not only promptly, but unequivocally; mere complaints as to the quality of the goods, while exercising dominion over them inconsistent with ownership in the seller are not sufficient.”

The answer of the defendant discloses no fact to indicate there was any difficulty in making a prompt inspection, and, if such inspection disclosed the goods delivered were not according to sample, in then making his election as to which of the two remedies afforded him by the law would be adopted. He does not state when he discovered the inferior quality of the goods nor when, in what manner or to whom he gave notice of the election he was compelled to make if he wished to be relieved from liability to pay. It was therefore not .possible for the court below, nor is it for this court to determine whether the inspection was made within a reasonable time or whether the notice given was of that unequivocal character demanded by the many authorities referred to in the case we have cited.

We are of opinion the answer was substantially defective and that it discloses no ground for our interference with the order of the court below making absolute the rule for judgment.

Judgment affirmed.