Court Opinion

ID: 9464193
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 23:27:18.384371+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:38:30.395669
License: Public Domain

K. K. HALL, Circuit Judge,
concurring:
I concur with the result of the majority opinion, but for a different reason.
The contract between Sumatrop and Soya called for delivery on board of 10,000 tons of soybean meal. Until the entire amount was delivered on board, nothing was due Sumatrop upon which garnishment could attach, unless there was an agreement between the parties to alter the contract to accept partial performance. I cannot agree with the majority opinion that the executo-ry contract in this case became executed as the meal was loaded. If that had been the case, the amount due from Soya would have been $34,560 instead of $35,000. To the contrary, as the majority opinion states, evidence discloses that Soya and Sumatrop agreed on a freight of $35,000 for the partial shipment. In my opinion, the key to this case is the date of agreement as to the $35,000. From the record, the exact date cannot be determined with certainty, however, I am persuaded and a reasonable view of what occurred indicates that it was after April 30 and before May 9.
It is unreasonable to believe that the sequence of the events of May 12 happened by accident. The circumstances make it plain that the defendants got together, agreed to the reduced shipment, and tried to figure a way to defeat the attachment of April 30. This resulted in the delayed surrender of the bills of lading and the appearance by Sumatrop. The writ of garnishment of May 9 issued in the meantime. The defendants attempted to use the law in such a way as to avoid its sting. This court is not restrained from proceeding backward from known facts to find what previously occurred.
I believe the court below erred in allowing carefully arranged timing and connivance to skirt equity and to defeat the attachment.
I would reverse and remand this case on equitable grounds rather than equating the creation of the ship’s lien for freight with a partial execution of the contract for af-freightment.