Sollenberger & Branthaver v. Scattergood

Argued October 22, 1923. This action concerns a car, (40 tons, — 800 sacks), of cottonseed meal sold by defendants to plaintiffs on June 9, 1920, and delivered on July 20, 1920. On inspection plaintiffs found some of the meal damp, musty and caked and not fit for cattle feed, and notified defendants they would not accept the car. One of defendants, thereupon, came to plaintiffs' place of business and induced them to unload the car, stating, (according to one of the plaintiffs) "If we would unload the car, he would stand by us and see that we didn't lose anything on the meal, on account of the bad condition of the meal"; or, as stated by the other plaintiff: "Boys, you unload this car; we don't know how much of it will be good; there may be some of it good in this car. Unload the car and we will stand by you." The meal was accordingly unloaded and put in plaintiffs' warehouse. This was on or about July 25, 1920.

On August 9, 1920, defendants wrote plaintiffs that an analysis of the meal showed that all of it, (even the portion alleged to be damaged), contained more than the guaranteed 36% protein, which was the only warranty in the order, and therefore they claimed to have fulfilled the terms of their contract; but with the view of securing an allowance from the shipper from whom they had bought, they asked to be advised by return mail what allowance the plaintiffs desired "in order to close this matter out." To this there was evidently some suggestion from the plaintiffs — probably by telephone, for no letter was produced — of a total loss on 75 sacks, for on August 30th defendants wrote plaintiffs, "referring further to Car RIG 350061 which arrived partly out of condition at your station," that in their negotiations with the shipper "to get this claim settled" he would not agree to plaintiffs' contention that the 75 bags of spoiled meal in this car were totally worthless, as they could certainly be sold for fertilizer and that this must be done before the matter could be adjusted, "and we will then be in a position to settle your claim properly." In several subsequent letters defendants reiterated their request for a statement, and while these letters refer in terms to the 75 bags above-mentioned, it is clear that they recognized no other claim but that growing out of the 75 bags of musty or caked meal, and that the amount to be allowed on that account was yet to be determined and therefore matter of controversy.

Following these requests, on September 30th, plaintiffs sent defendants a statement as follows:

"3 3/4 tons C.S. meal .............. 262.67 Cr. credit by $10. per ton ........ 37.50 ------ Balance due .................. 225.17"

To which, on October 1st, defendants sent plaintiffs the following reply:

"We now have your statement of yesterday on car of Cottonseed Meal, RIG 350061, and we note that you have received $75.00 for this Meal and are crediting our account $10.00 per ton or $37.50, which is satisfactory.

"However you have failed to deduct from your claim the overallowance in freight we have made you on this shipment, amounting to $135.96, and the statement attached herewith shows just what is due you on this shipment. Accordingly, we are enclosing you herewith, our check for $89.21 covering your claim in full on this car, which we hope is entirely satisfactory to you, for which check we will appreciate an acknowledgment.

"We are glad to have had this matter adjusted and with kindest personal regards to the members of your firm, we are," etc.

Plaintiffs accepted and retained the check.

On December 24, 1920, plaintiffs sold the rest of the meal for fertilizer for $995.67, and on March 21, 1921, presented a claim against defendants for the difference between that amount and the original purchase price. Payment being refused they brought this action. Defendants set up an accord and satisfaction.

It is of course true that the mere fact that a creditor receives less than the amount claimed by him to be due, with knowledge that the debtor denies indebtedness beyond that amount, does not in itself constitute an accord and satisfaction: Rothschild v. Trexler, 82 Pa. Super. 116. It is necessary that the money should be offered in full satisfaction of the demand and be accompanied by such acts or declarations as amount to a condition that the money, if accepted, is accepted in satisfaction of the claim: Foye v. Lilley Coal Coke Co., 251 Pa. 409, 417. But where there is a controversy between two parties as to the amount due by the one to the other and money is sent by the debtor to the creditor with notice that it is paid in full settlement of the latter's claim, the debtor will be discharged if the creditor accepts and retains the money: Bernstein v. Hirsch, 33 Pa. Super. 87,89; Polin v. Weisbrot, 52 Pa. Super. 312, 315; Christman v. Martin, 7 Pa. Super. 568, 573; Washington Natural Gas Co. v. Johnson, 123 Pa. 576, 593.

It must be remembered that in the present case there was but one order, one shipment, one car of cottonseed meal. We do not have the case of two separate and entirely distinct transactions, as in Krauser v. McCurdy, 174 Pa. 174; nor of an original contract, and a claim for extras, not forming part of the original contract, as in Foye v. Lilley Coal Coke Co., supra. When, therefore, defendants in their letter of August 9th, following the unloading of the meal, asked to be advised what allowance the plaintiffs desired "in order to close this matter out," they were manifestly referring to the total claim of the plaintiffs growing out of the entire shipment. In their subsequent requests for a statement there is no recognition of any claim on the part of the plaintiffs beyond that growing out of the 75 bags and the amount of that is unliquidated. And when in their final letter of October 1st defendants enclosed their check, they gave plaintiffs express notice that it was intended to cover plaintiffs' "claim in full on this car," in accordance with the statement enclosed which showed the amount due plaintiffs "on this shipment," that is, on Car RIG 350061. With this before them, it was the plain duty of the plaintiffs to accept the check with the condition attached to it, or to return it: Washington Natural Gas Co. v. Johnson, supra, p. 593; Bernstein v. Hirsch, supra, p. 89; U.S. Casualty Co. v. Mather, 67 Pa. Super. 42, 45. They chose to accept it. They did not even notify defendants that it was not accepted in settlement, but would be credited on account, as in Societe Anonyme, etc., v. Loeb, Lipper Co., 239 Pa. 264. They gave no intimation that any claim arising out of the shipment was in reserve.

We have thus, (1) a controversy growing out of the shipment of a car of cottonseed meal; (2) a tender by defendants to plaintiffs of a check for the amount said to be due the latter "on this shipment"; (3) accompanied by a declaration that this check covered the plaintiffs' claim in full on this car, which is equivalent to a condition that if accepted it should be in full discharge of the claim (Bernstein v. Hirsch, supra); and (4) an acceptance of the check by the plaintiffs and their retention of the money. These embrace all the elements necessary for an accord and satisfaction: U.S. Casualty Co. v. Mather, supra, p. 46.

As the notice, that the check sent plaintiffs was in full payment of their claim on the car of cottonseed meal, was in writing and it is not contended that it was verbally modified, it was for the court to declare its legal effect: Polin v. Weisbrot, supra, p. 315; Meaker Galvanizing Co. v. McInnes,272 Pa. 561, 565.

The first assignment of error is sustained. In view of this disposition of the case it is not necessary for us to pass upon the other assignments.

The judgment is reversed and the record is remitted to the court below with instructions to enter judgment for the defendants notwithstanding the verdict.