Case Name: ROBERT J. STUART v. THE STATEN ISLAND CLAY COMPANY
Court: New Jersey Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New Jersey
Decision Date: 1900-12-29
Citations: 65 N.J.L. 546
Docket Number: 
Parties: ROBERT J. STUART v. THE STATEN ISLAND CLAY COMPANY.
Judges: 
Reporter: New Jersey Law Reports
Volume: 65
Pages: 546–547

Head Matter:
ROBERT J. STUART v. THE STATEN ISLAND CLAY COMPANY.
Argued June 11, 1900
Decided December 29, 1900.
A corporation cannot evade liability on a contract made by its general manager, upon the ground that the making of the contract was not within the scope of his powers, when it appears that the contract was made by him in pursuance of specific instructions from the vice president and managing director, each having full power to confer upon him such authority.
On rule to show cause.
Before Depue, Chief Justice, and Justices G-ummere and Port.
For the plaintiff, Olio Grouse.
For the defendant, Sherrerd Depue.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
This suit was brought by the plaintiff to recover moneys claimed to be due to him from the defendant upon a certain contract, made by plaintiff with the general manager of the defendant company, for the construction of certain "crab rack cars." The case was tried by the court, without a jury, and resulted in a finding in favor of the plaintiff for the contract price of the "cars."
The defendant now seeks to set aside the finding, upon the ground that the making of the contract was not within the scope of the powers of its general manager.
The proofs show otherwise. Even if it be conceded, as argued by counsel of the defendant, that the position of general manager of a corj)oration does not carry with it the power to make such a contract as that now sued upon, it cannot benefit the defendant, for it plainly appears from the proofs that this particular contract was made by its general manager in pursuance of specific instructions received by him from its vice president, and also from its managing director, each of whom had full power to confer upon him authority to make the contract.
The rule to show cause should be discharged.