Source: https://www.legalcrystal.com/case/86220/stillwell-bierce-mfg-co-vs-phelps
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 04:52:26+00:00

Document:
Appellant Stillwell and Bierce Mfg. Co.
When, under a contract to furnish and to put in complete operation in the purchaser's mill machinery of a certain description and quality for a price payable partly upon the arrival of the machinery at the mill and partly after the completion of the work, the machinery furnished and set up does not, when tested, comply with the requirements of the contract, the purchaser, upon giving notice to the seller that, if the latter does not "put the mill in repair so that it will do good work," the former will do so, is entitled to deduct, in an action for the unpaid part of the price, the reasonable cost of altering the construction and setting of the machinery so as to conform to the contract.
Whether a witness called to testify to any matter of opinion has such qualifications and knowledge as to make his testimony admissible is a preliminary question for the judge presiding at the trial, and his decision of it is conclusive unless clearly shown to be erroneous in matter of law.
"to furnish and put in complete operation for the second party, in his flouring mill at Delavan aforesaid, one first-class seventy-five barrel capacity roller-mill complete,"
"the first party to use all machinery, belting, etc., etc., now in said flouring mill that is in proper condition for use, except what is now in use on the rye and feed side of said mill; all of said mill, machinery, fixtures and apparatus to be new and first class in every way and of latest pattern, except as above specified, and to be completed and put in complete running order within ninety days from the date hereof,"
and the defendant agreed to pay the plaintiff "for the said mill, fixtures, etc., complete as above specified, and put in complete operation in his flouring mill at Delavan aforesaid" the sum of $9,000, as follows: $3,000 "upon the arrival of said mill and machinery at his mill in Delavan," $4,000 "when said mill is completed and in running order to the satisfaction of the second party," and the remaining $2,000 "within ninety days after the completion of the said mill as aforesaid, the first party to start the mill and see that it is in complete running order."
fault, and was tested in February, 1884, with satisfactory results.
On the question of the damages to which the defendant was entitled for the delay, the plaintiff called as a witness one Geissner, who testified that he was the owner and manager of a roller flouring mill of about seventy-five to one hundred barrels capacity in an adjoining county, and was personally familiar with roller mills and the milling business, but had never seen the defendant's mill or been in Delavan, and knew nothing from personal observation or knowledge of the extent of the custom work of the mill, its business, or product, or of the water power.
"because the witness had never seen and had no personal knowledge of the property in question, and was therefore incompetent to testify as to rental value."
The court sustained the objection, and the plaintiff excepted to the ruling.
"upon the supposition that the said mill had a good waterpower and all the business it could attend to, as claimed by the defendant, and a capacity of manufacturing seventy-five barrels per day."
To this question the same objection was made and sustained by the court, and the plaintiff excepted as before.
proceed to put the mill in repair so that it will do good work, Mr. Phelps will employ the best millwrights he can obtain and put the mill in order and charge the expense to your clients."
"The plaintiff was entitled to a fair test of the machinery put into the defendant's mill, and nothing short of that would justify its condemnation. Such a test requires an ample power to operate the machinery to the best advantage, and this means the whole of the machinery, if the jury find that the machinery was designed and intended to be operated together. It also contemplates competent management by a miller who thoroughly understood such machinery and was able to manipulate and handle it so as to secure the best results of which it was capable."
as actual necessity required, making the expense of the work as moderate and reasonable as the circumstances permitted."
"the same authorizes the jury to allow the defendant, and to deduct from the claim of the plaintiff as a part of the expense of changing the mill over so as to make it conform to the contract, the cost of the new machinery put into the mill, amounting to $1,100."
"they find the issue herein in favor of the defendant, but that the defendant is not entitled to recover damages against the plaintiff in excess of the plaintiff's claim against the defendant."
Judgment was rendered on the verdict, and the plaintiff sued out this writ of error.
The principal position taken in the argument for the plaintiff is that the defendant, having received and retained the machinery furnished under the contract sued on, was bound to pay the contract price, and, in support of this position, cases were cited holding that under a contract to manufacture or to furnish a chattel satisfactory to the purchaser, the purchaser, if he takes possession of and uses it, thereby conclusively accepts it as satisfactory and binds himself to pay the whole contract price.
Considering the instructions given at the plaintiff's own request, and the grounds on which the plaintiff excepted to the other instructions of the court, it is, to say the least, doubtful whether this point is open. But, assuming it to be open, it clearly cannot be sustained, and the cases cited are inapplicable.
during the time requisite to obtain new machinery elsewhere. The rule of damages adopted by the court below, of deducting from the contract price the reasonable cost of altering the construction and setting of the machinery so as to make it conform to the contract, is the only one that would do full and exact justice to both parties, and is in accordance with the decisions upon similar contracts. Benjamin v. Hillard, 23 How. 149; Railroad Co. v. Smith, 21 Wall. 255; Marsh v. McPherson, 105 U. S. 709 , 105 U. S. 717 ; Cutler v. Close, 5 Car. & P. 337; Thornton v. Place, 1 Mood. & Rob. 218; Allen v. Cameron, 3 Tyrwh. 907, 1 Cr. & M. 832.
The notice given by the defendant to the plaintiff "to put the mill in repair so as to do good work" was sufficient to cover all alterations necessary to accomplish that end.
No error is shown in the exclusion of Geissner's testimony as to the rental value of a mill which he had never seen and knew nothing of. Whether a witness called to testify to any matter of opinion has such qualifications and knowledge as to make his testimony admissible is a preliminary question for the judge presiding at the trial, and his decision of it is conclusive unless clearly shown to be erroneous in matter of law. Perkins v. Stickney, 132 Mass. 217, and cases cited; Sorg v. First German Congregation, 63 Penn.St. 156.

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