Court Opinion

ID: 3544063
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-05 22:55:32.539709+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:55:49.831079
License: Public Domain

The parol evidence introduced by the defendants tending to prove a contemporaneous oral contract entered into by the agents of the plaintiff and the defendants to the effect that the price should be other than the written contract price was in violation of the parol evidence rule and, therefore, not admissible.
(a) All conversations and parol agreements between the parties prior to or contemporaneous with the written agreement are so merged therein that they cannot be given in evidence for the purpose of showing a contract or understanding different from that expressed in the agreement. (Secs. 7520, 10517, Rev. Codes 1921; 3 Jones' Commentaries on Evidence, 2d ed., secs. 1483, 1484; Riddell v. Peck-Williamson Heating etc. Co., 27 Mont. 44,69 P. 241; Arnold v. Fraser, 43 Mont. 540,117 P. 1064; Rowe v. Emerson-Brantingham Imp. Co., 61 Mont. 73,201 P. 316; Burnett v. Burnett, 68 Mont. 546, 219 P. 831;Swan v. LeClair, 77 Mont. 422, 251 P. 155; 22 C.J., sec. 1380.)
(b) The doctrine that separate or collateral oral agreements are not within the parol evidence rule has no application to this case. (See Wigmore on Evidence, 2d ed., sec. 2430; Jones' Commentaries on Evidence, 2d ed., sec. 1490; Seitz v. Brewersetc. Co., 141 U.S. 510, 12 Sup. Ct. 46, *Page 126 35 L. Ed. 837; Williston on Contracts, sec. 638; Naumberg v. Young,44 N.J.L. 331, 41 A. 1116.) Tested by the standards referred to in the above authorities, the evidence introduced by the defendants here was not admissible on the theory that it constitutes a contract collateral to the written one. There are several cases which hold that an agreement to rescind or refund a portion of the contract payment is not a separate or collateral agreement of any kind within any exception to the parol evidence rule. (Berry v. Guilliot, (Tex.Civ.App.) 250 S.W. 482;First Nat. Bank v. Fickert, 51 Cal. App. 99, 196 P. 112;Pickrell  Craig Co. v. Bollinger-Babbage Co., 204 Ky. 314,264 S.W. 737; Auto Outing Co. v. McFrederick, 146 Md. 106,125 A. 886; Burchill v. Hermsmeyer, (Tex.Civ.App.)212 S.W. 767; Atlanta Journal Co. v. Power, 27 Ga. App. 280,108 S.E. 121.)
(c) The doctrine that an oral agreement which operates as an inducement to the written contract is not within the parol evidence rule has no application to this case. (See Jones' Commentaries on Evidence, 2d ed., sec. 1492; Armington v.Stelle, 27 Mont. 13, 69 P. 115, 94 Am. St. Rep. 811; Kelly
v. Ellis, 39 Mont. 597, 104 P. 873.) If evidence of an oral agreement which is the inducement for a written agreement is admitted where the oral promise relates to the subject of the contract, then the very essence of the parol evidence rule is destroyed. Whenever there is a parol agreement on the same subject matter as the written agreement, the parol agreement is always necessarily an inducement to the written agreement. The wisdom of the parol evidence rule has been too long recognized to be overthrown by such a flimsy device.
(d) The doctrine that an executed parol agreement is not within the parol evidence rule has no application to this case. It would seem that it should be clear that section 7569, Revised Codes 1921, relied upon, can have no application to a prior or contemporaneous oral agreement, for it is an absurdity to talk about altering something which does not exist. It would seem obvious that it must relate to subsequent parol agreements. (SeeNitsche v. Security Benefit Assn., 78 Mont. 532, *Page 127 155 P. 1052; Jones' Commentaries on Evidence, 2d ed., sec. 1500.)
The contention of defendants that the testimony was admissible on the theory of estoppel is merely another effort to nullify the parol evidence rule, for in a sense it may be said in any case, where an oral contract is made prior to or contemporaneously with a written contract, that the party with whom it has been made has acted in reliance on it. The very object of the parol evidence rule is to prevent reliance upon such a parol agreement and to substitute a written agreement as the sole memorial of the contract of the parties.
Testimony concerning an offer of settlement alleged to have been made on behalf of the plaintiff was not admissible. (Jones' Commentaries on Evidence, 2d ed., secs. 1052, 1053; Huffine v.Lincoln, 53 Mont. 474, 164 P. 888; Barker v. Bushnell,75 Ill. 220; Manistee Nat. Bank v. Seymour, 64 Mich. 59,31 N.W. 140; Olson v. Peterson, 33 Neb. 358, 50 N.W. 155; StateBank v. Dutton, 11 Wis. 371; Louisville etc. Ry. Co. v.Wright, 115 Ind. 378, 16 N.E. 145, 17 N.E. 584, 7 Am. St. Rep. 432; Golden v. Bilbo, 192 Iowa, 319, 184 N.W. 643; Tennant
v. Dudley, 144 N.Y. 504, 39 N.E. 644; H.D. Taylor  Co. v.J.H. Jonas  Sons, 118 Cal. App. 208, 4 P.2d 797; West
v. Smith, 101 U.S. 263, 25 L. Ed. 809.)
"The rule against the admission of parol evidence to vary or contradict a written contract does not apply where the writing as to which it is sought to introduce the evidence is collateral to the issue involved and the action is not based upon such writing." (2 Nichols on Applied Evidence, p. 1259; 22 C.J., p. 1282; Campion v. Downey, 77 Cal. App. 125, 245 P. 1098;First Nat. Bank v. California Nat. Bank, 100 Cal. xvii, 35 P. 639; Garrison v. Salkind, 285 Pa. 265, 132 A. 125.)
"Proof is admissible of any collateral parol agreement or independent fact, which does not interfere with the terms of the written contract, though it may relate to the same subject-matter; *Page 128 
and whether such collateral agreement was made or independent fact occurred contemporaneously with, or as preliminary to, the main contract in writing, is quite immaterial." (10 R.C.L. 1035; 2 Williston on Contracts, p. 1235; 22 C.J., p. 1282; Armington
v. Stelle, 27 Mont. 13, 69 P. 115, 94 Am. St. Rep. 811;Cohn v. Dunn, 111 Conn. 342, 149 A. 851, 70 A.L.R. 740;Danielson v. Bank of Scandinavia, 201 Wis. 392, 230 N.W. 83, 70 A.L.R. 746; Roof v. Jerd, 102 Vt. 129, 146 A. 250,68 A.L.R. 235; Kelly Plow Co. v. London, 59 Tex. Civ. App. 208,125 S.W. 974.)
There is one line of cases that is squarely in point here. They are the cases permitting the showing of an oral agreement for a set-off, counterclaim or credit. That such an agreement may be shown was established by this court in the case of Bennett
v. Tillmon, 18 Mont. 28, 44 P. 80. (Wigmore on Evidence, 2d ed., sec. 2436; Jordan Piano Co. v. Lewis, (Del.)154 A. 467; Edmundson v. Ballard, 149 Va. 798, 141 S.E. 776; Payne
v. Nicholson, 100 Fla. 1459, 131 So. 324; Bromfield v.Trinidad Nat. Investment Co., 36 F.2d 646.)
We disagree with counsel for the appellant in their contention that the doctrine that an oral agreement which operates as an inducement to a written contract is outside the parol evidence rule has no application in this case. On the contrary, we believe that it has direct application. "It is a settled rule of law that one contract may be the consideration of another, the inducement to the execution thereof, and, where an independent parol agreement has been made as an inducement to the making of a written contract, the former may be proved and enforced, though not referred to in the latter." (New York Life Ins. Co. v.Thomas, 47 Tex. Civ. App. 149, 104 S.W. 1074; DeRue v.McIntosh, 26 S.D. 42, 127 N.W. 532; Locke v. Murdoch,20 N.M. 522, 151 P. 298, L.R.A. 1917B, 267; Mitchell v. FayetteBank  Trust Co., 149 Okla. 64, 299 P. 498; Glass v.O'Toole, 36 Ohio App. 450, 173 N.E. 214; Pope v. Hennessey, (Tex.Civ.App.) 38 S.W.2d 834; Southwestern Co. v. Smith, (Tex.Civ.App.) 48 S.W.2d 456.) *Page 129 
If the court should take the view that the oral agreement for refund is within the restriction of the parol evidence rule, it is admissible upon the theory of an executed agreement. The contract being a single contract, must stand or fall in its entirety.
It cannot be argued that the doctrine of the executed oral agreement applies only as to the part which is executed, since here, so far as the year 1929 is concerned, it is the last part which is executed, and the contract must stand or fall as an entirety. Moreover, the doctrine of part performance applies in the application of section 7569, Revised Codes 1921, in the same way that it applies in cases involving the statute of frauds. California has the same statute (Civ. Code, sec. 1698). The supreme court of that state held that the principle of part performance did apply, in the case of Pearsall v. Henry,153 Cal. 314, 95 P. 154, 159; the same conclusion was reached by the Washington supreme court in the case of Gerard-Fillio Co.
v. McNair, 74 Wash. 368, 123 P. 462.
The case is removed from the operation of the parol evidence rule by the conduct of the parties under the doctrine of estoppel. (McIntyre v. Dawes, 71 Mont. 367, 229 P. 846;Andersonian Investment Co. v. Wade, 108 Wash. 373,184 P. 327; Bertelson v. Arthur, 138 Wash. 445, 244 P. 695.)
The plaintiff brought this action to recover the balance due on account for certain gasoline sold and delivered to the defendants. The defendants filed counterclaims, asserting they were entitled to certain refunds on gasoline purchased during the year 1929 in excess of the amount due plaintiff, and seeking affirmative judgment in their favor.
The defendants were the Ford dealers in four towns in Ravalli county, Montana, engaged in the sale of gasoline at each of these points. Late in the year 1927 plaintiff and defendants entered into written contracts for the sale and purchase of gasoline for the year 1928. Similar contracts were *Page 130 
made between the same parties for the purchase and sale of gasoline during the year 1929. Two separate contracts were made each year covering the requirements of the defendants at two of the towns in which they operated, but all were in the same form and differed only as to names of towns and amounts of gasoline to be delivered.
The contracts for the year 1929 provided "price to be charged for gasoline delivered at [naming two towns] to be four cents per gallon less than the sellers [plaintiff] quoted tank wagon price at [naming one of above towns] on date of shipment." They contained numerous other provisions not necessary to be here considered. No mention was made in any of the contracts of any refund or reduction of such prices.
The defendants were permitted to testify on the trial of the cause, over objection, that at the time the contracts for both years were negotiated it was orally agreed between the defendants and agents of the plaintiff who presented the contracts for their signature, that if at any time the contract price for gasoline purchased was more than the "spot market price" (by which it was meant current wholesale tank car price), the defendants were to receive a refund of the difference between these two prices. The defendants testified in reference to the contract for the year 1928, they received certain refunds by check, and in other instances the gasoline was billed to them at a lower price than specified in the contract. During portions of that year the two prices were identical. They further testified with reference to the year 1929 they paid the contract price for the gasoline furnished during the first ten months. The gasoline was billed to the defendants on the basis of the spot market price, being somewhat less than the contract price during November and December.
The plaintiff's witnesses denied the oral agreements, the authority of its representatives to so agree, and testified with reference to the reductions and refunds during the year 1928 that they were voluntarily made and only partially reflected the difference between the two prices. The defendants testified that they did not know the spot market price for gasoline *Page 131 
during the year 1928, but they believed when they received the reductions and refunds the plaintiff was fully performing the oral contracts.
The prepared written contracts as executed were presented to the defendants by a representative of the company. After the defendants had executed the same, they were transmitted to the home office of the plaintiff at Denver, where they were executed on behalf of the plaintiff by another of its officers. The defendants were permitted to testify, over objection, as to a statement made by one of the representatives of the plaintiff in a conversation had in November, 1929, as follows: "Well, Mr. Battson asked me if we would not consider settling our whole differences providing he was able to persuade his home office to make a settlement on the basis of fifteen hundred or two thousand dollars."
The trial resulted in a verdict and judgment in favor of the defendants, being the amount of refund which they claimed due, less the purchase price of the gasoline sold as alleged in the plaintiff's complaint. Motion for new trial was made, heard and denied. The appeal to this court is from the judgment.
The plaintiff by numerous specifications of error seeks to review the correctness of the court's ruling in receiving evidence tending to establish the oral contracts for refunds of the purchase price of gasoline. Plaintiff insists that the admission of this testimony was in violation of the parol evidence rule (sec. 7520, Rev. Codes 1921), and that the testimony did not come within any of the statutory exceptions (sec. 10517, Id.).
The test as to when parol evidence varies, adds to or[1, 2]  contradicts a written contract was announced by this court in Hosch v. Howe, 92 Mont. 405, 16 P.2d 699, 700, quoting from Professor Wigmore as follows: "The chief and most satisfactory index is found in the circumstance whether or not the particular element of the alleged extrinsic negotiation is dealt with at all in the writing. If it is mentioned, covered or dealt with in the writing, then presumably the *Page 132 
writing was meant to represent all of the transaction on that element."
One of the important subjects dealt with in the written contracts was the price to be paid by the defendants for the gasoline purchased. The defendants' testimony tends to prove an oral contract to refund portions of this price, which was within the inhibition of the parol evidence rule, applying the foregoing test, unless some of the other recognized exceptions to the rule apply.
The correct application of this rule is illustrated in the following cases: Riddell v. Peck-Williamson Heating Ventilating Co., 27 Mont. 44, 69 P. 241; Arnold v. Fraser,43 Mont. 540, 117 P. 1064; Rowe v. Emerson-BrantinghamImplement Co., 61 Mont. 73, 201 P. 316; Burnett v.Burnett, 68 Mont. 546, 219 P. 831; Swan v. LeClair,77 Mont. 422, 251 P. 155.
One of the exceptions on which defendants rely is that the written agreements were only collaterally in issue. Plaintiff did not count on the written contracts in its complaint. Defendants in their counterclaims relied on the oral agreements. Plaintiff by its reply pleaded the written agreements as a defense to the counterclaims. Defendants assert the only issues in the case are those made up by the complaint and the answer;[3]  but such is an erroneous conclusion in view of the fact that where counterclaims are involved and an affirmative judgment is sought against the plaintiff, the issues arising on the counterclaims are triable as if they arose in an action brought by the defendants against the plaintiff. (Sec. 9329, Rev. Codes 1921.) Therefore, in determining the application of this exception to the rule on which defendants rely, the issues which were being tried are those arising on the counterclaims and[4]  reply. An oral agreement, in order to be collateral within the meaning of the exception of the rule under discussion, must relate to a subject distinct from that to which the written contract applies. (Jones' Commentaries on Evidence, 2d ed., sec. 1490; Seitz v. Brewers' RefrigeratingMach. Co., 141 U.S. 510, 12 Sup. Ct. 46, 35 L. Ed. 837; Rowe v. *Page 133 Emerson-Brantingham Implement Co., 61 Mont. 73, 201 P. 316.)
It has frequently been held that oral contracts with reference to reduction of the price to be paid as provided in written contracts are inadmissible. (Reid v. Diamond Plate-Glass Co., (C.C.A.) 85 Fed. 193; Auto Outing Co. v. McFrederick,146 Md. 106, 125 A. 886; Pickrell  Craig Co. v. Bollinger-BabbageCo., 204 Ky. 314, 317, 264 S.W. 737; Berry v. Guilliot, (Tex.Civ.App.) 250 S.W. 482.)
Counsel for the defendants attempt to distinguish between an agreement to reduce the price and an agreement for a refund. We are, however, unable to subscribe to any such distinction, as in both types of agreement the result is the same — a change in the price specified by the written agreement through the medium of parol evidence. In order for oral testimony to come within the exception, it must not in any way conflict with or contradict what is contained in the written contract. The written contract must remain intact after the reception of the parol evidence. (10 R.C.L. 1038.)
It is insisted that an oral contract which is the inducement[5]  of the written contract may be received in evidence. We recognize the existence of such a rule, but its application turns on the question of the admissibility of the evidence to establish fraud. The exception does not apply to a case in which the oral promise relates directly to the subject of the written contract, even though the claim be that the complaining party signed the instrument in reliance on such promise. (Jones' Commentaries on Evidence, 2d ed., sec. 1495; Armington v. Stelle, 27 Mont. 13,69 P. 115, 94 Am. St. Rep. 811; Kelly v. Ellis,39 Mont. 597, 104 P. 873.)
The cases cited by defendants in support of their contention fall into two classes: (1) Where the testimony is admitted on the theory of fraud to avoid the enforcement of the contract, as illustrated by the case of Glass v. O'Toole, 36 Ohio App. 450,173 N.E. 214. (2) Where a written contract was entered into and a contemporaneous oral agreement at the same time relating to the same subject matter but not to the *Page 134 
same subject, as illustrated by the case of New York Life Ins.Co. v. Thomas, 47 Tex. Civ. App. 149, 104 S.W. 1074. There the life insurance company in writing engaged an agent to sell life insurance, and as an inducement for the signing of the writing, promised orally to pay the agent his moving expenses to the place of such employment. These and similar authorities cited are without application to this case.
The defendants urge that the testimony was admissible on the[6]  theory that it tended to prove an executed oral agreement. The record contains testimony with reference to reductions in price and some refunds under the 1928 contracts which were transactions apart from those under consideration. There were no refunds or reductions under the 1929 contracts other than the billing of the gasoline sold during the last two months of that year, but that would only amount to partial performance of the oral contracts. The defendants by their counterclaims were seeking to secure the further performance of these oral contracts for the year 1929.
Section 7569, Revised Codes 1921, provides that "a contract in writing may be altered by a contract in writing, or by an executed oral agreement, and not otherwise." An oral agreement altering a written agreement is not executed unless its terms have been fully performed, and performance on the one side is not sufficient. There must be a complete execution of the obligation of both parties in order to bring the modification within the terms of the statute. (Pearsall v. Henry, 153 Cal. 314,95 P. 154, 159; Henehan v. Hart, 127 Cal. 656, 657,60 P. 426; Thompson v. Gorner, 104 Cal. 168, 37 P. 900, 43 Am. St. Rep. 81; Platt v. Butcher, 112 Cal. 634, 44 P. 1060;Harloe v. Lambie, 132 Cal. 133, 64 P. 88. Also see Curtis
v. Parham, 49 Mont. 140, 140 P. 511; Armington v. Stelle, supra.)
Defendants insist that the oral testimony was admissible upon[7]  the theory of estoppel, arguing that because of its conduct with reference to the reductions and refunds under the 1928 contracts, plaintiff was not in a position to assert the contrary. They rely strongly upon the case of Andersonian *Page 135 Investment Co. v. Wade, 108 Wash. 373, 184 P. 327. The court there had under consideration an oral contract which was voidable by reason of the statute of frauds, and it was held that the defendants as a defense might prove such contract. This same court, in the later case of Lloyd v. Schwaegler, 126 Wash. 67,216 P. 884, recognizes that a voidable oral contract may be established as a defense but it may not be affirmatively[8]  enforced. Facts sufficient to constitute a defense may be insufficient to entitle one to affirmative relief. (Perkins
v. Allnut, 47 Mont. 13, 130 P. 1.)
The defendants urge in support of this contention cases decided with reference to the statute of frauds as creating an exception to the parol evidence rule. But these decisions are all founded upon the theory of the prevention of fraud. The parol evidence rule was adopted likewise to prevent the perpetration of fraud, and the legislature has said that the exclusion of testimony with reference to oral contracts conflicting with written contracts attains this desired result.
We conclude that the trial court was in error in admitting testimony with reference to the oral contracts for refunds on the agreed price of gasoline sold by the plaintiff to the defendants.
It becomes necessary to consider one further proposition urged[9]  by plaintiff. The defendants were permitted to offer testimony, over the objection of the plaintiff, to the effect that one Battson, an agent of plaintiff, inquired of the defendants if they would consider settling their whole differences provided he was able to persuade his home office to make settlement on the basis of fifteen hundred or two thousand dollars. The objection being overruled, plaintiff moved to strike this testimony on the ground that it amounted to an offer of compromise.
An offer of compromise is not an admission that anything is due. (Sec. 10684, Rev. Codes 1921.) An offer to compromise a controversy is not admissible in evidence. (Huffine v.Lincoln, 53 Mont. 474, 164 P. 888; 4 Nichols on Applied Evidence, 3344; 3 Jones on Evidence, 2d ed., sec. 1052.) Defendants *Page 136 
insist that this testimony was not within this rule — that it was merely a preliminary negotiation between the parties. All offers are merely negotiations until accepted. The testimony disclosed an offer made in an attempt to effect a settlement and, therefore, was clearly inadmissible. The following authorities support this view: H.D. Taylor Co. v. J.H. Jonas  Sons,118 Cal. App. 208, 4 P.2d 797; Golden v. Bilbo,192 Iowa, 319, 184 N.W. 643; Barker v. Bushnell, 75 Ill. 220.
In view of the conclusions reached, the other questions discussed in the briefs of counsel and on oral argument are unnecessary to a decision in this case.
The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded to the district court of Ravalli county, with direction to grant plaintiff a new trial.
MR. CHIEF JUSTICE CALLAWAY and ASSOCIATE JUSTICES MATTHEWS and STEWART concur.