Case ID: scl_39/html/0465-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Whitner, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

E. Bradshaw vs. Wiley Branan.
    
    Defendant agreed, in writing, to employ plaintiff for one year, and pay him for his services one hundred and twenty dollars: defendant discharged plaintiff, and before the end of the year, plaintiff brought suit on the written contract for the amount agreed to be paid: Held, that his action was premature — that he had a right of election, to sue, either for the value of his services, or upon the contract for the amount agreed to be paid; and that his action upon the contract could not be brought until the end of the year.
    
      Before Whitner, J. at Kershaw, Fall Term, 1851.
    This was an action of assumpsit by sum. pro. upon a written contract, signed by plaintiff and defendant, as follows.
    “ On the first of January, 1851,1 have employed Ephraim Bradshaw; he is to help build a house; then his year’s work commences. I am to let him have twenty-five bushels of corn, at a dollar per bushel, and when he commences to work for me, he has to get fifty pounds of meat, at ten cents per pound; then after that, he will get two hundred and fifty pounds, at twelve and a half cents per pound. I am to give him one hundred and twenty dollars for his year’s work, and the meat and corn is to be paid out of his year’s wages. • He will have to lose all days he has to muster and work on the road, and when he goes to muster I will let him have a horse, provided he will take good care of it.”
    The action was to recover $ 120, less $50 93, which it was admitted defendant had furnished plaintilf with in provisions, under the contract. Plaintiff offered some proof of being dismissed by the defendant, of loss of time between his dismissal and finding other employment at a lower rate of compensation; of having been put to some inconvenience by his removing, and of his offer to fulfil his contract after his discharge, &c.
    His Honor thought the action could not be maintained until the year had elapsed, and, accordingly, ordered a non-suit.
    The plaintiff appealed, on the grounds,
    1. Because the defendant, having put an end to the joint contract by his own act, became liable presently, to pay the whole amount of money due on the contract to the plaintiff.
    2. Because, being so liable, the plaintiff was entitled to a decree, unless the defendant had discharged himself by proof.
    3. Because an employer who, without cause, discharges during the year, for which an entire contract is made, becomes liable at once, for the whole amount of money due on said contract.
    
      Baskin, for the motion,
    cited 8 Johns. R. 189 ; 11 Ala'. R. 375.
    
      Caston, contra.
   The opinion of the Court was delivered by

Whitner, J.

This plaintiff on being discharged by the defendant, certainly had an election of remedies. As in the case of Rye vs. Stubbs, (1 Hill, 384,) there was nothing left for the plaintiff to perform, and defendant would not be permitted to say the contract was still open to defeat such election. In that case, the Judge says — “ The plaintiff had the right to elect whether he would proceed on the original contract for the whole year’s wages, or to,consider it at an end, and proceed on a quantum valebat for work and labor.” Such a rule is fully sustained by authority, and is precisely applicable to this case as far as it goes. It remains only to be adjudged when the sum claimed may be demanded by suit. The reason of the rule furnishes the true solution. The contract, when entered into, was mutually binding. The legal right to abandon the contract, vests only in the party who has been guilty of no default. (Chit. on Con. 741).

An election involves an obligation to rely on the one or the other remedy. The party entitled cannot pursue each. (2 Shepley, 364; 7 Greenl. R. 75.) If the contract is abandoned, and suit brought to recover on the general count, his right to sue, as well as his right to compensation, is as though no contract had been entered into — analogous to the ordinary case of work and labor; the obligation to compensate follows, and forthwith suit may be brought. Here the plaintiff elects to proceed on the written contract, and by it he must be governed. He cannot rely on it in part and reject in part. Consistently he may excuse himself for the non-performance of his part of the contract, but he cannot re-cast it so as to visit on the defendant any new or greater liability than such as was originally incurred. The written contract stipulates for a year’s services for which defendant agreed to pay one hundred and twenty dollars. There is no ground for pretence that this was an engagement to pay by the month or in advance. It was an entire contract, and demandable at the end of the year, except as to the provisions, which were furnished. A just interpretation of the contract fixes the time of payment as certainly as though it had been named in express terms and time was of the escence of the contract. If plaintiff had remained in the service of the defendant, at work during the year, no one would have so construed the contract as to hold him liable to pay before the year was up. Because, by his misconduct, he has incurred a liability to pay, as though the service had been rendered, it would not do to hold the measure of compensation fixed but the day of payment ambulatory. The plaintiff having elected to sue on the contract, was properly required to stay his hand until the money was due.

The motion to set aside the non-suit is refused.

O’Neall, Evans, Wardlaw, Frost and Withers, JJ. concurred.

Motion dismissed.