Court Opinion

ID: 9443726
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-03 19:28:56.031077+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:29:35.094809
License: Public Domain

BRATTON, Circuit Judge
(dissenting).
Plaintiff never became committed to purchase the wool unless the commitment was made in the course of the verbal discussion which preceded the filling out of the so-called wool purchase contract and the signing of it by the defendant. And unless plaintiff did make such commitment there was a complete lack of mutuality of contract. Therefore, the crucial question in the case was whether in the course of the verbal discussion a firm commitment was made on the part of plaintiff to purchase the wool. Three witnesses testified in respect to that question. They were G. A. Hanson, vice president and a director of plaintiff, William A. Kelley, a representative of plaintiff in the purchase of wool in Colorado, and the defendant. Hanson and Kelly each testified to statements by Hanson in the verbal discussion which if made constituted a firm commitment of purchase. But the defendant testified in minute detail concerning the discussion and his testimony disclosed that no statement was made which constituted a firm commitment of purchase. He further testified that he signed the so-called wool purchase contract; that he thought Hanson signed it for plaintiff as purchaser; that he learned later that Hanson had merely signed it as a witness to the signature of defendant; that he did not “anticipate” making an oral contract; and that he thought it was a written contract.
The learned trial court of long experience found that in the discussion “no firm commitment was made on behalf of plaintiff to purchase defendant’s 1951 wool clip.” It is my view that this critical and dispositive finding of fact is supported by substantial evidence; and that it is not clearly erroneous, due regard being had for the opportunity of the court to observe the witnesses while testifying, to appraise their credibility, and to weigh their testimony. Accordingly, I would affirm the judgment.