Case ID: wis_120/html/0497-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Cassoday, C. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Racine Wagon & Carriage Company, Appellant, vs. Liegeois and others, Respondents.
    
      January 15
    
    February 2, 1904.
    
    
      Contracts: Pleading: Actions: Misjoinder of causes of action.
    
    Joseph and Louis L., copartners doing business at A., and John L. doing business at S., entered a written order with plaintiff for its products, the contract being signed, “Jos. L. & Bro., John L. Purchaser” which was accepted. The writing commenced “Please enter our order,” etc., and contained directions as follows: “1-2 bill to Jos. L.” at A., “1-2 to John L.” at S. In an action for the unpaid balance of the whole order brought against the partnership and John jointly, the complaint considered, and held to be demurrable for misjoinder of causes of action, the contract being unambiguous and directing the goods specified to be charged one half to the firm at A. and one half to John at S.
    Appeal from a judgment of tbe circuit court for Oconto county: Sakuel D. HastiNgs, Je., Circuit Judge.
    
      Affirmed.
    
    Tbis is an appeal from a judgment based upon an order sustaining a demurrer to tbe complaint on tbe ground tbat it appears from the face of tbe complaint tbat two causes of action have been improperly united. Tbe complaint alleges, in effect, tbat at all tbe times and dates therein mentioned tbe plaintiff was an existing corporation, having its principal office and place of business at Racine; tbat tbe defendants Joseph and Louis Liegeois were copartners trading under tbe firm name and style'of “Joseph Liegeois & Bro.,” with their principal office and place of business in the village of Abrams, in Oconto county; tbat January 13, 1902, tbe plaintiff and tbe defendants, and each of them, entered into a written contract for tbe sale of goods, wares, and merchandise by tbe plaintiff and tbe purchase by tbe defendants Joseph and Louis Liegeois in their copartnership name, and tbe defendant John Liegois, wherein and whereby tbe plaintiff agreed to sell, and tbe defendants, and each of them, agreed to receive and pay for, said goods, wares, and merchandise to tbe amount and value and in tbe sum of $1,056.40, in tbe words and figures set forth in said contract, a copy of which is thereto attached, and made a specific part of tbe complaint; tbat tbe plaintiff shipped and -delivered tbe goods described therein between February 5, 1902, and March 28, 1902, and tbe same consisted of wagons and buggies, with other vehicles, to the defendants, at Abrams, to the value and in the sum of $1,056.40; that the defendants received said goods, but that no part of the amount stated had been paid by the defendants, save and except $796.50, leaving a balance still due from the defendants, and •each of them, of $259.90, which sum is long past due and owing over and above all legal offsets and counterclaims, and ■demands judgment acordingly. ■ The material parts of the contract, of which a copy is so attached, are as follows:
    “Little Suamico, 1 — 13—1902. “To Racine Wagon & Carriage Co., Racine, Wis.:
    “Please enter our order for the following to be shipped to (Name) Liegeois Bros. % till to each.
    “Liegeois J. & Bro. (Address) Ship to Abrams, Wis.
    “To be shipped on or about Eeb. 15, or as soon thereafter as possible, at prices named below on board cars Abrams, % bill to- J os. Liegeois, Abrams, % to J ohn Liegeois, Little Suamico.”
    This is followed by a description of the goods and the conditions of sale, among others, which are that:
    “The title to the goods,'and all proceeds of any sale of the same, ... to remain in the name of the Ratina Wagon & Carriage Co., until the same are settled for with cash.”
    “This order is given subject to the acceptance of the Racine Wagon & Carriage Co., at Racine, Wis.
    “ J os. Liegeois & Bro., John Liegois, Purchaser. .
    “Accepted: 1 — 15, ’02, at Racine, Wis., Ratine Wagon & Carriage Co., by Rich. Hall, Salesman.”
    The cause was submitted for the appellant on the brief of Francis X. Morrow, attorney, and V. J. O’Kelliher and P. A. Martineau, of counsel, and for the respondents cn that of Classon & Brazeau.
    
   Cassoday, C. J.

The question presented is whether the complaint alleges two causes of action — one against the two defendants composing the firm and doing business at Abrams, and the other against the defendant John Liegeois, doing business at Little Suamico. The order contained a duplicate of tbe respective articles, and was signed by the firm and also by John. It is addressed to the plaintiff. It starts out by saying: “Please enter our order for the following, to be shipped” as stated. Such order was accepted by the plaintiff. So far we have a joint order and contract, ánd, as suggested by counsel for the plaintiff, if we eliminate from the contract certain other words, to be considered, and substitute therefor still other words, and then take such changes “in connection with the balance of the contract,” we would “have a complete joint contract or purchase in every particular.” The words and figures so sought to be eliminated are bill to each,” “3/% bill to J os. Liegeois, Abrams,” “% to John Lie-geois, Little Suamico.” Such words and figures were used by the parties to express their intention. We are not at liberty to eliminate them and substitute others. It is the business of courts to construe contracts, and not to make them. Of course, regard is to be had to the whole instrument, as applied to the facts and circumstances to which it relates. Gibbons v. Grinsel, 79 Wis. 369, 48 N. W. 255. As stated by the trial court in effect, the words quoted must be given some meaning. By them the signers of the order said to the plaintiff, in effect, While we join in this order, the .goods are not to be billed to us jointly, but one half is to be billed to each party; that is to say, one half is to be billed to the firm at Abrams and the other half to John at Little Suamico. The word “bill” manifestly means, to “charge or enter in an account for future payment.” Century Diet. To “book or charge on an account.” Standard Diet. “An account of charges and particulars of indebtedness by the creditor to his debtor.” 5 Cyc. 705. Such was the plain meaning of the words and figures as used in the contract. Being free ..from ambiguity, the construction of the contract was for the court. In fact, it is difficult to see how parol evidence could change the construction. We must hold that the demurrer was properly sustained for misjoinder of causes of action.

By the Court. — The judgment of the circuit court is affirmed.