Case Name: WASSON v. O'GARA COAL CO.
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1912-05-29
Citations: 199 F. 770
Docket Number: No. 1,885
Parties: WASSON v. O’GARA COAL CO.
Judges: Before BAKER, SEAMAN, and KOHESAAT, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: Federal Reporter
Volume: 199
Pages: 770–771

Head Matter:
WASSON v. O’GARA COAL CO.
(Circuit Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit.
May 29, 1912.)
No. 1,885.
Contracts (§ 348 ) — Assumption of Contract — Presumption.
Where defendant purchased the mine of the Morris Coal Company which had a contract for the sale of coal to plaintiif, the fact that such contract with a written assignment indorsed thereon by the coal company was left by it, together with the deed, abstracts, and other eon- tracts, In the office of defendant’s attorney at the time the sale was closed, raised a presumption that defendant assumed the contract, which, however, was rebuttable by proof to the contrary.
pad. Note. — For other cases, see Contracts, Cent. Dig. §§1754-1780; Dec. Dig. § 348. ]
In Error to the Circuit Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Illinois.
Action by C. M. Wasson against the O’Gara Coal Company. Judgment for defendant, and plaintiff brings error.
Affirmed.
L. O. Whitnel and W. Y. Choisser, for plaintiff in error.
M. S. Whitley, for defendant in error.
Before BAKER, SEAMAN, and KOHESAAT, Circuit Judges.
For other oases see same topic & § number in Deo. & Am. Digs. 1907 to date, & Rep’r Indexes’
For other eases see same topic & § number in Dec. & Am. Digs. 1907 to date, & Rep’r Indexes

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
Wasson had a contract with the Morris Coal Company for the sale and delivery to him of certain amounts of coal. O'Gara obtained from the Morris Company an option to purchase its mine. In the option there was a provision that existing contracts between the Morris Company and its customers should be filled by O'Gara or his assigns. O'Gara elected to purchase for the O'Gara Coal Company. The deed to the O'Gara Company contained no assumption of the Wasson contract, nor did the O'Gara Company execute any separate instrument of assumption.
Wasson's action being for damages on account of the O'Gara Company's refusal to carry out the Morris Company's contract, the burden of proving the assumption was on him. The option was purely executory, and any terms not embodied in the final transaction must be deemed waived. To show that his contract was included Wasson proved that his contract, with a written assignment indorsed thereon by the Morris Company to the O'Gara Company, was left by the Morris Company together with the deed, abstracts, and other contracts in the office of the attorney who acted for the O'Gara Company at the time the transaction was closed. The trial court treated this as prima facie evidence of an assumption. Was-son contends that it was irrebuttable. Inasmuch as the Wasson contract may have been among the other papers by oversight or fraud, the court properly permitted the O'Gara Company to prove that it explicitly rejected the Wasson contract and notified the Morris Company that the purchase would not be made if the Wasson contract was included. On Wasson's behalf evidence in rebuttal of the O'Gara Company's position was introduced; and the dispute of fact was submitted to the jury under instructions to which no exceptions were taken.
We find no error in the record, and the judgment is accordingly affirmed..