Court Opinion

ID: 7160730
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 16:16:05.968004+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:15:21.747996
License: Public Domain

Martin, J.
delivered the opinion of the court.
The defendant is appellant from a judgment in a redhibitory action, setting aside the sale of a female slave and her two children.
The defence in this court, relates to the want of a tender of the slaves. The petitioner alleges that she tendered said slaves back to the defendant on condition of refunding the price, and is now ready to deliver them back on the terms aforesaid. This is certainly a sufficient allegation. A witness has sworn that at the request of the plaintiff he called on the defendant and stated to him the defects in the slave, of which she complained; and further stated to him that she would not keep the slaves, but insisted on returning them and rescinding the contract. The defendant said he could not do this, as he was acting for a person in Mississippi; that he would give other slaves in exchange at certain prices, which the plaintiff declined.
At the trial the plaintiff’s counsel entered on the minutes of the court and prayed that it be made a matter of record, that “ he then tendered a reconveyance of the slaves in question, together with an offer to pay all the costs up to that time.” This was refused by the defendant’s counsel, as it should have been made before the institution of the suit.
We are of opinion that the testimony fully establishes the allegations of the petition, so far as it became necessary to support a redhibitory action. In the case of Janin v. Franklin, 4 La. Rep. 198, the judge who was then the organ of this court, said, that “ until the vendee offers to return the slave, he cannot have an action for the price.” When the vendor rejects the offer, there is no necessity of bringing the slave, and making an actual tender to him. This would be always useless, and very often extremely inconvenient. The vendor and vendee of the slave may be at a great distance from each other. The former cannot say that no opportunity has been offered to [600] *733him to accept what he had declared his unwillingness or inability to receive. In the present case the vendor declared that he was acting for a person who resided in another State; that he had other slaves which he would give in exchange at a 'certain price; but that he should not x’esoind the contract. On this, it appeax's to us the plaintiff might well institute her action.
When the case came on for trial, the plaintiff’s counsel ex abundanU comtela, made what is called a tender to the adverse counsel, which he refused. It does not appear necessary to express any opinion on this matter.
Our attention has been called to a bill of exceptions taken by the defendant’s counsel to the refusal of the district judge to instruct the jury, or give certain chai'ges in relation to the question before them. As the bill of exceptions does not state any specific proposition, on which the instructions or charges required, were predicated, we are unable to test the correctness of the decision of the judge a quo in refusing them. We must therefore assume that he did his duty.
On the merits, the case was tried by a jury; and their verdict is clearly supported by the evidence before them and ought not to be disturbed.
It is therefore adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the district court be affixuned with costs.
END OP VOL, IX,