Source: http://masscases.com/cases/sjc/301/301mass133.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 00:44:51+00:00

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AARON MARSHALL JONES vs. LE MAY-LIEB CORPORATION.
An unpaid seller of an automobile to whom the buyer redelivered it in an unsuccessful attempt to rescind the sale had a seller's lien upon it under G. L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 106, Sections 42, 43.
As matter of law, a seller of an automobile who, after the buyer had edelivered it and repudiated the sale in an unsuccessful attempt to rescind, waited twenty-five days before selling it, without notice to the buyer, to enforce his lien for the unpaid price, had waited sufficient time within the requirements of G. L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 106, Section 49.
Although a buyer of goods, after redelivering them to the seller in an unsuccessful attempt to rescind the sale, had title, there was no conversion by the seller when, to enforce his lien for an unpaid part of the purchase price, he sold the goods after the buyer had been in default an unreasonable time.
TORT for conversion. Writ in the Municipal Court of the City of Boston dated December 3, 1936.
There was a finding for the plaintiff by Good, J., in the sum of $295. The Appellate Division ordered a report dismissed. The defendant appealed.
L. Black, for the plaintiff.
defendant, stating that its condition was not as represented and that he had stopped payment on his check, and he then demanded the return of his Chrysler, which the defendant refused to return. The defendant then had both automobiles, but had received no money. On December 3 the plaintiff obtained possession of the Chrysler by replevying it from the defendant. On December 27, the defendant, without notice to the plaintiff, sold the De Soto to one Woodbury for $745. Notwithstanding its sale of the De Soto, the defendant contested the replevin of the Chrysler and secured judgment in its favor in the replevin action on October 9, 1936. The plaintiff thereupon redelivered the Chrysler to the defendant on October 17. The defendant has kept the advanced price at which it sold the De Soto and has regained possession of, and has title to, the Chrysler. The plaintiff has paid no money, but has lost his Chrysler. The present action rests upon the theory that the defendant's sale of the De Soto on December 27, 1935, was a conversion of the plaintiff's property.
The facts agreed show that within two days after his original purchase of the De Soto the plaintiff attempted to rescind and to place both parties in statu quo, but that the defendant refused to permit this and successfully resisted the plaintiff's effort to recover the Chrysler. The judgment in the replevin action, by which both parties are bound, determined that the plaintiff had not accomplished a rescission, and that his attempt to revest title to the Chrysler in himself and to the De Soto in the defendant had failed. In other words, it now appears by incontrovertible proof that the De Soto which the defendant sold was the general property of the plaintiff.
when the buyer lawfully obtains possession, as the plaintiff here did in the first instance, so that more accurately the question is whether the defendant acquired a new vendor's lien by reason of the kind of possession which it found thrust upon it as a result of the plaintiff's abortive attempt to rescind. Putnam v. Glidden, 159 Mass. 47, goes far to prove, if it does not decide, that under these circumstances the vendor's lien revives. The authorities elsewhere are to this effect. Mansfield v. Shaw, 112 Conn. 646, 649. Meagher v. Cowing, 149 Mich. 416, 422-423. Jackson v. Miles F. Bixler Co. 157 Miss. 182. Cohen v. John Curtin, Inc. 107 Misc. (N.Y.) 622, 626, affirmed, 191 App. Div. (N.Y.) 952. Vanstory Clothing Co. v. Stadiem, 149 N.C. 6. Rosenbaums v. Weeden, Johnson & Co. 18 Grat. 785. 2 Williston, Sales (2d ed.) Section 497 (3rd paragraph). This rule probably serves commercial convenience, and we accept it.
down transaction. There had been on December 2 a complete repudiation by the plaintiff of his purchase. Immediately a lawsuit had been begun based on that repudiation. There had been no retraction of any kind. An automobile is an article which may depreciate rapidly in value. Yet the defendant waited twenty-five days until December 27. In view of the importance of the time element in commercial transactions this was a sufficient delay. Lowe v. Harwood, 139 Mass. 133. First National Bank of Litchfield v. Pipe & Contractors' Supply Co. 273 Fed. 105. Denino v. Long Island Carpet Cleaning Co. 131 Misc. (N.Y.) 526.
Because of the facts agreed and in the absence of any evidence that the resale was improperly conducted or of additional facts which might qualify or mitigate the effect of those agreed, it results that as matter of law the plaintiff cannot recover for conversion of the De Soto. Whether the plaintiff can have relief in any form in any action or whether the unfortunate position in which he finds himself is an unavoidable consequence of the failure of his attempt to rescind is not now before us.

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