Source: http://masscases.com/cases/sjc/331/331mass743.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-18 10:34:09+00:00

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TILO ROOFING COMPANY, INC. vs. LAURIER PELLERIN & another.
CONTRACT. Writ in the District Court of Hampshire dated October 2, 1950.
The plaintiff appealed from an order by the Appellate Division dismissing a report after a finding for the defendants by O'Connor, J.
Lawrence D. Friedman, for the plaintiff.
John J. O'Connell, for the defendants, submitted a brief.
WILLIAMS, J. The plaintiff's action is to recover damages for the alleged breach of a written agreement concerning the re-siding of the defendant's house at 32 Gaston Street in Easthampton. There was evidence that on the evening on July 28, 1950, one Lefebvre, an agent of the plaintiff, called at the home of the defendants, who were husband and wife. He said that his company was having a special drive for new business and desired a choice location for a special display of the company's new materials and colors to aid in picking up additional customers for these materials.
I'm canceling my oder [sic] of Tilo. I can see fit to pay for it Please don't bring it I don't want it.
monthly payments, the first payment to be made thirty days after the completion or on October 25, 1950. It provided that acceptance of the proposal was to become effective by the defendants signing a note for the required amount at the foot of the proposal.
The judge of the District Court denied the plaintiff's requests for rulings "1. That upon the law and the evidence the finding should be for the plaintiff," and "3. That as a matter of law the defendants are bound by the terms of the agreement which they signed." He granted the plaintiff's other requests but ruled them inapplicable in view of the facts found. His findings were as follows: "I specifically find that the contract was signed on the insistent requests of plaintiff's agent and salesman, Lefebvre, and that it was only for the purpose of holding the reduced price with the understanding that it would not become binding on either party until the defendants satisfied themselves that the workmanship and materials performed and employed on the house on the adjacent street were in accordance with defendants' desire. I further find that the instrument sued upon was conditionally delivered. I further find that upon written notice by defendants to plaintiff, the contract became inoperative and was of no force and no legal effect, and that its obligations never commenced. I further find that the plaintiff's agent and salesman, Lefebvre, by his conversation with the defendants, made promises which induced the defendants to conditionally sign the alleged contract. I find for the defendants, but assess costs against them in the sum of twenty-five dollars for postponement of this action." He then reported the case, stating, "The plaintiff is aggrieved by the court's rulings on requests numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 and by the finding made." The case is here on appeal by the plaintiff from an order of the Appellate Division dismissing the report.
As the written agreement shows on its face that it was intended to set forth the entire agreement of the parties relating to the re-siding of the defendant's house, its terms cannot be varied or supplemented by parol evidence.
Glackin v. Bennett, 226 Mass. 316, 319-320. Freeman v. Sieve, 323 Mass. 652, 654. Berman v. Geller, 325 Mass. 377, 379-380. See Kerwin v. Donaghy, 317 Mass. 559, 567-568. The question for decision is whether the judge was warranted in finding that the parties did not intend this writing to be effective as a contract at the time it was signed by the defendants and delivered to the plaintiff's agent. It is settled that a condition precedent to the taking effect of a written instrument may be shown by parol. Watkins v. Bowers, 119 Mass. 383. Elastic Tip Co. v. Graham, 185 Mass. 597, 600. Beaman-Marvell Co. v. Gunn, 306 419, 422-423. Howland v. Plymouth, 319 Mass. 321, 324, and cases cited. Restatement: Contracts, Section 241. See Corbin on Contracts, Section 589. If such condition is shown not to have been performed, the writing does not become a binding obligation. The rule is different as to the proof of conditions to be performed subsequent to the time the contract became effective. See Eastern Advertising Co. v. E. L. Patch Co. 235 Mass. 580, 582; Eastern Advertising Co. v. Shapiro, 263 Mass. 228, 232; Williston on Contracts (Rev. ed.) Section 634.
In the instant case there was evidence warranting the finding that the writing was not intended to operate as a contract until the defendants satisfied themselves with the quality of the plaintiff's work. Persuasive evidence that the contract was not to be effective immediately was afforded by the testimony relating to the proposed investigation of the defendant's credit rating. The letter written by the male defendant nine days after the writing was signed could be found to have been sufficient notice of a lack of satisfaction and to have been sent within a reasonable time.
The requests other than 1 and 3 were for rulings which, because of his findings, the judge properly ruled to be inapplicable. There was no error in denying requests 1 and 3 or in the finding for the defendants.

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