Opinion ID: 158323
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Issue for Jury

Text: 23 Having determined that Fischer's § 4-2-305 statutory action was an action at law, we next consider whether the particular issue was proper for determination by the jury. Specifically, we must decide whether the determination of a reasonable price must be resolved by the jury in order to preserve the right to a jury's resolution of the ultimate dispute. Markham, 517 U.S. at 377. To do so, we look to history to determine whether the issue or analogous ones, were decided by judge or by jury in suits at common law at the time the Seventh Amendment was adopted. Del Monte Dunes, 119 S.Ct. at 1643. If history provides no clear answer, we look to precedent and functional considerations. Id. 24 In this case, we can find no precise analogue for this issue at common law because the courts were not in the business of determining a price if the parties failed to include the price term in the agreement. See Boatwright, 46 F.2d at 388. A similar issue arose, however, in quasi-contract 7 actions where, after goods have actually been delivered and accepted, . . . the defendant is bound to make reasonable compensation therefor, whether the agreement under which the benefit was received was too indefinite for enforcement or not. 1 Corbin, supra § 99. Claims for quasi-contract arose and developed under the common law writ of assumpsit and, as a result, were historically brought in the courts of law. See 1 Dan B. Dobbs, Law of Remedies § 4.2(3) (1993); see also Austin v. Shalala, 994 F.2d 1170, 1176-77 (5th Cir. 1993) (quasi-contract action requires jury trial because it falls under the common law writ of general assumpsit, a legal action at common law). Generally, in quasi-contract actions courts have submitted the question of the value of the goods or services to the jury. District of Columbia v. Campbell, 580 A.2d 1295, 1303 (D.C. App. 1990) (question of value of services in quantum meruit action submitted to jury); Baker v. Brown's Estate, 294 S.W.2d 22, 27 (1956) (same); Rodgers v. Levy, 199 S.W.2d 79, 81 (Mo. Ct. App. 1947) (reasonable value of labor and materials submitted to jury in quantum meruit suit); Paper Stylists, Inc. v. Fitchburg Paper Co., 9 F.R.D. 4, 5 (N.D. N.Y. 1949) (right to jury in quasi-contract action seeking money damages); Foulger v. McGrath, 95 P. 1004, 1005 (Utah 1908) (reasonable value of labor and material used to construct buildings properly submitted to jury on theory of quantum meruit); Toole v. Bearce, 39 A. 558 (Me 1898) (reasonable price was question for jury to determine in quantum meruit action); but see DCB Const. v. Central City Devel. Co., 940 P.2d 958, 961-62 (Colo. App. Ct. 1996) (quasi-contract claim for unjust enrichment tried to judge). Thus, the comparison with quasi-contract actions supports our conclusion that a reasonable price under § 2-305 is a question for the jury. We next turn to precedential and functional considerations. 25 A number of courts have submitted the question of a reasonable price under U.C.C. § 2-305, and similar U.C.C. provisions, to the jury, providing further support for the conclusion that determining a reasonable price is properly a jury question. See Havird Oil Co., Inc. v. Marathon Oil Co., Inc., 149 F.3d 283, 290 (4th Cir. 1998) (question of whether seller's price was reasonable was submitted to jury, but verdict for the plaintiff set aside by court because of insufficient evidence of unreasonableness); Adams v. G.J. Creel & Sons, Inc., 465 S.E.2d 84, 86 (S.C. 1995) (question of reasonable price is generally for jury); Grumman Credit v. Rivair Flying Service, 845 P.2d 182, 186 (Okla. 1992) (question of whether sale was commercially reasonable under U.C.C. § 9-504 submitted to jury); W.I. Snyder Corp. v. Caracciolo, 541 A.2d 775 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1988) (whether seller made a reasonable effort to resell goods at a reasonable price is question for jury); Landrum v. Devenport, 616 S.W.2d 359, 362 (Tex. Ct. App. 1981) (where buyer and seller of limited edition automobile did not specify price, question of reasonable price was for the jury); TCP Ind., Inc. v. Uniroyal, Inc., 661 F.2d 542, 549 (6th Cir. 1981) (determination of whether price set by seller was commercially reasonable was question for jury); Standard Coal Co. v. Stewart, 269 P. 1014 (Utah 1928) (pre-UCC case holding that reasonable price is question for jury); 26 Finally, we look to functional considerations. In actions at law predominantly factual issues are in most cases allocated to the jury. Del Monte Dunes, 119 S.Ct. at 1643; see also Baltimore & C. Line v. Redman, 295 U.S. 654, 657 (1935). Allowing the jury to decide factual issues preserves the right to a jury's resolution of the ultimate dispute. Del Monte Dunes, 119 S.Ct. at 1644 (internal quotations omitted). The issue in the present case, the reasonable price of goods, is a question of fact, not one of law. 1 Corbin supra § 99; see also Great Western Distillery Products, Inc. v. Wathen Distillery Co., 74 P.2d 745, 747 (Cal. 1937) (a reasonable price is a question of fact dependent on the circumstances of each particular case). Evidence submitted to determine a reasonable price may include the parties' course of dealing, course of performance, usage of trade, or the fair market value of the goods, or a formula agreed upon by the parties. See 1 White and Summers, Uniform Commercial Code § 3-8 (1995). Consideration of this evidence does not require a judge to construe a contract. See Markman, 517 U.S. at 381. Thus, we see no reason to remove this question from the province of the jury. 8 27 In light of the relevant historical, precedential and factual considerations, we conclude that the question of a reasonable price for goods under § 4-2-305 is a question for the jury. Accordingly, the district court erred by striking Fischer's jury demand.