Case Name: Thomas R. Dixon and Eliza N. Dixon v. Reuben Chadwick
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1856-03
Citations: 11 La. Ann. 215
Docket Number: 
Parties: Thomas R. Dixon and Eliza N. Dixon v. Reuben Chadwick.
Judges: 
Reporter: Louisiana Annual Reports
Volume: 11
Pages: 215–216

Head Matter:
Thomas R. Dixon and Eliza N. Dixon v. Reuben Chadwick.
Suit to rescind sale of slaves. Judgment for plaintiffs and damages allowed.
Want of tender under the circumstances of this case, is a fatal obstacle to plaintiffs* recovery.
Spofford, J., dissenting.
The well established rule requiring a tender where the tender is not impossible, nor even inconvenient, results from the general doctrine of commutative contracts, and affords a salutary check against fraud, concealment, and the after thoughts of self-interest. The vendor, warned in time, may take back his property and by attention save it. The vendee, who, having discovered a redhibitory defect, neglects to notify the vendor by an offer to restore the thing, seems to take the risk of its perishing from that cause upon himself. Spofford, J., dissenting.
APPEAL from the District Court, Tenth District, parish of Tensas, Snyder, J.
JParrar, for plaintiffs.
Beeves & Biscoe, for defendant,
cited, on the question of tender: Janin v. Traullin, 4 La. 198; Barret v. Bullard* 19 La. 281; Fazende v. Eagan, 9 Rob. 806 ; Bach v. Barret, 2 An. 955 ; Fisk v. Proctor, 4 An. 592.

Opinion:
Lea, J.
This is a suit to recover the price of two slaves sold by the defendant to the plaintiffs, in the capacity in which they present themselves before the court, on the ground of alleged redhibitory defects existing at the time of the sale. The defendant admits the sale, but avers that the slaves were sold as unsound; that he made a full disclosure of the fact that they were diseased, before the sale, and that the plaintiffs took upon themselves the risk of their recovery.
Preexisting redhibitory defects in both the slaves, being sufficiently established by the evidence, and admitted of record, it was incumbent upon the defendant to prove affirmatively, that he made a full disclosure with reference to their condition. It is shown that both of the slaves died of incurable maladies, although they received careful treatment under proper medical advice. No bill of exceptions was taken to the admission of any portion of the evidence offered on the trial, nor to the charge of the court under which the jury found a verdict for the plaintiffs. The evidence being conflicting and the solution of the issue between the parties being dependent exclusively upon the credibility of the witnesses, we do not feel at liberty to disturb the verdict of the jury, so far as it determines the question of factupon which it is based; but that fact carries with it a liability for damages. The defendant admits that he knew of the unsound condition of the slaves at the time of the sale. He is therefore liable in damages caused by the trouble and expense, shown to have been incurred during the sickness of the deceased slaves.
The evidence does not enable us to arrive at any other than an approxima-tive estimate of the value of these services. We think $100 will be a sufficient remuneration of all necessary charges incurred. Under the circumstances as disclosed by the evidence, we think a tender of the slaves to plaintiffs, was unnecessary, if not impracticable.
It is ordered, that the judgment appealed from be amended, so as to read as follows:
It is ordered, that the plaintiffs for themselves and for the use of their minor daughter, Mary O. M. Dixon, as set forth in their petition, do have and recover of the defendant, Beuben Chadwick, the sum of $900, with interest thereon, at the rate of five por cent, per annum, from the 11th day of December, 1854, till paid, with costs of suit, together with the costs of this appeal.