Opinion ID: 1498889
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Right to Cancel Contract.

Text: Right to cancel contract. Appellant contends it had the legal right to cancel the contract because it lacked necessary definiteness and mutuality; because of lack of authority of its agent to make a contract for a definite period; and because of failure to perform by appellee. The agreement is said by defendant to lack definiteness and mutuality because plaintiff did not agree to purchase or distribute any specific quantity of beer. Petersen (owner of plaintiff) testified that Lichty (agent for defendant) asked him what quantity he thought they could distribute in number of cases, and Petersen told him, I thought about an average of 2,000 cases per month, and Lichty said that was satisfactory, and that he didn't expect me to go that high on my estimate. Whether or not this is an agreement to purchase a definite or approximate quantity is not important here. This is not a contract of sale, but one of sales agency. A contract of sales agency is not void for uncertainty, indefiniteness, or lack of mutuality, so called, because no definite quantity is named in the contract. Marrinan Medical Supply Co. v. Fort Dodge Serum Co., 8 Cir., 47 F.2d 458, 462; E. I. DuPont De Nemours & Co. v. Claiborne-Reno Co., 8 Cir., 64 F.2d 224, 228, 89 A.L.R. 238, certiorari denied 290 U.S. 646, 54 S.Ct. 64, 78 L.Ed. 561. In such contracts, uncertainty as to amount is inherent in their very nature. Where territory is to be exploited and orders to be solicited by salesmen, the number and amount of such orders cannot, of course, be foretold. They can be determined only by the potential demand of the territory and the diligence of the salesmen. Contracts of factorage or sales agency are not invalid for such uncertainty, and we hold that the present contract is not on that account invalid. Marrinan Medical Supply Co. v. Ft. Dodge Co., supra, 47 F.2d page 462. Defendant's argument to the effect that the lack of an agreement to take or distribute a specific quantity makes the agreement uncertain cannot be sustained nor can the argument that it was not to endure a definite period be given validity  because there is evidence that it was to continue for a year. The second reason  lack of authority of the agent of defendant  is not properly before us. The answer: admits that its agent, Howard Lichty, negotiated with the plaintiff regarding the plaintiff acting as an agent in the sale of defendant's products, and that as a result of said negotiations an oral agreement was entered into. Such lack of authority to make the particular contract alleged in the petition was not raised in the pleadings, the evidence or objections thereto, requests to charge nor objections to the charge. The motion for directed verdict was general in form. An elaborate motion for new trial was filed with no mention of this point. A point never presented to the trial court cannot be raised on appeal for the first time. Booth v. Gilbert, 8 Cir., 79 F.2d 790, 792; Atlantic Brewing Co. v. William J. Brennan Grocery Co., 8 Cir., 79 F.2d 45, 47, 48. The third reason  failure of plaintiff to perform  raises an issue of fact which is determined against appellant, since there was evidence of complete performance, except as to promptness of payments and, as to such payments, evidence of waiver or forgiveness.