Opinion ID: 532532
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Meaning of [B]ooking

Text: 24 As a general matter, the objective of contract interpretation is to give effect to the expressed intentions of the parties. See, e.g., Hartford Accident & Indemnity Co. v. Wesolowski, 33 N.Y.2d 169, 171-72, 350 N.Y.S.2d 895, 898, 305 N.E.2d 907, 909 (1973); Morlee Sales Corp. v. Manufacturers Trust Co., 9 N.Y.2d 16, 19, 210 N.Y.S.2d 516, 518, 172 N.E.2d 280, 282 (1961); 4 S. Williston, Williston on Contracts Sec. 600, at 280 (3d ed. 1961). Where the language of the contract is unambiguous, and reasonable persons could not differ as to its meaning, the question of interpretation is one of law to be answered by the court. Rothenberg v. Lincoln Farm Camp, Inc., 755 F.2d 1017, 1019 (2d Cir.1985); see United States Naval Institute v. Charter Communications, Inc., 875 F.2d 1044, 1048 (2d Cir.1989); Sutton v. East River Savings Bank, 55 N.Y.2d 550, 554, 450 N.Y.S.2d 460, 462, 435 N.E.2d 1075, 1077 (1982); 3 A. Corbin, Corbin on Contracts Sec. 554, at 222 (1960). 25 Contract language is not ambiguous if it has a definite and precise meaning, unattended by danger of misconception in the purport of the [contract] itself, and concerning which there is no reasonable basis for a difference of opinion. Breed v. Insurance Company of North America, 46 N.Y.2d 351, 355, 413 N.Y.S.2d 352, 355, 385 N.E.2d 1280, 1282 (1978). Language whose meaning is otherwise plain does not become ambiguous merely because the parties urge different interpretations in the litigation. The court is not required to find the language ambiguous where the interpretation urged by one party would strain[ ] the contract language beyond its reasonable and ordinary meaning. Bethlehem Steel Co. v. Turner Construction Co., 2 N.Y.2d 456, 459, 161 N.Y.S.2d 90, 93, 141 N.E.2d 590, 593 (1957). 26 If the terms of a contract are unambiguous, the obligations it imposes are to be determined without reference to extrinsic evidence, see Teitelbaum Holdings, Ltd. v. Gold, 48 N.Y.2d 51, 56, 421 N.Y.S.2d 556, 559, 396 N.E.2d 1029, 1031 (1979); West, Weir & Bartel, Inc. v. Mary Carter Paint Co., 25 N.Y.2d 535, 540, 307 N.Y.S.2d 449, 452, 255 N.E.2d 709, 712 (1969), modified on other grounds, 26 N.Y.2d 969, 311 N.Y.S.2d 13, 259 N.E.2d 483 (1970), and trade custom and usage is not admissible to contradict or qualify its provisions, see Armour & Co. v. Celic, 294 F.2d 432, 438 (2d Cir.1961); Matter of Western Union Telegraph Co., 299 N.Y. 177, 184, 86 N.E.2d 162 (1949). 27 The district court properly applied these principles. The term booking as used in the Agreement is not ambiguous. The term has a commonly understood meaning in the context of freight carriage, one that has no connotation of limitation as to the identity or provenance of the customers whose reservations are accepted or for whom arrangements are made. The court properly rejected Lifschultz's contention that the term could reasonably be read as comprising only business obtained from new customers. 28 Since the term booking as used in the Agreement is unambiguous, the district court correctly declined to examine the evidence of trade usage in order to interpret the contract. While we would not endorse a suggestion that Lifschultz had the burden of proof in this matter or that it had some obligation to come forward with evidence that the interpretation it urged was universally accepted, we agree with the district court's conclusion that the trade usage evidence was not admissible on the interpretation issue. 29 Finally, we reject Lifschultz's argument that the judgment against it should be reversed on the ground that there was no enforceable contract. Its contention is that since it never meant to pay Hunt a fee based on any business from customers not introduced to Lifschultz by salesmen placed by Hunt, there was no meeting of the minds. This contention has no merit. Since the contested term was unambiguous, a contract was formed, whatever unexpressed intention Lifschultz may have had. See Hayward v. Wemple, 152 A.D. 195, 198, 136 N.Y.S. 625, 628 (2d Dep't), aff'd without opinion, 206 N.Y. 692, 99 N.E. 1108 (1912).