Court Opinion

ID: 9518372
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 00:51:24.451222+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:28:46.287261
License: Public Domain

Quinn, J.
(dissenting in part). I concur in Judge Gillis’ resolution of the $559.03 credit issue. Defendant should not have received this credit.
I cannot agree with the balance of the opinion. Defendant counterclaimed for damages for breach of the agreement. This counterclaim was filed October 23, 1970. My reading of this record convinces me that this contract was mutually rescinded February 12, 1969 and all rights and duties thereunder were discharged, 5A Corbin, Contracts, § 1236, pp 533-545.
Furthermore, the record convinces me that defendant never expected to recover the expenses experienced in preparing for and acting as plaintiffs distributor, and, except for plaintiffs suit, no claim therefor ever would have been made. I base this conclusion on the following items contained in the record:
1. Stanley Brown’s testimony that such expenses were at the risk of the distributor.
2. His testimony that plaintiff never promised reimbursement for these expenses.
3. Agreeing to rescission without asserting such a claim.
4. Exhibit 7, a letter from defendant to plaintiffs office manager dated July 8, 1969 written in response to a telephone call from the manager requesting payment of defendant’s account with plaintiff. In the letter, defendant specifies his expenses on the Eberhard venture for the first time but makes no claim for reimbursement. Rather, *274these expenses are asserted as a reason for defendant’s belief that plaintiffs attempts to collect the account are unjustified.
5. By seeking damages of $5,000 in his counterclaim based on expenses previously specified in the amount of $16,800, see Hesse v Diehl, 279 Mich 168, 173; 271 NW 721, 722-723 (1937).
I would reverse and remand this cause for entry of a judgment for plaintiff against defendant in the amount of $4,244.18 plus all statutory interest and costs of all courts.