Court Opinion

ID: 6628822
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 20:36:03.057168+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:58:53.416385
License: Public Domain

BROALDUS, P. J.
Replevin. This suit was commenced in a justice court where it was tried and judgment had from which appeal was taken to the circuit court. The plaintiff claims. to be entitled to the possession of sixteen radiators of the value of $133.83 in the possession of and detained by defendant.
The facts are that sometime in the fall of 19091, the defendant, Curtice', entered into a contract with Rood & McIntyre, a co-partnership engaged in the busi*126ness of selling and installing heating plants, to install one for him at Independence, Missouri. It was shown that this co-partnership carried a stock of material in their own store at Kansas City which they drew on in carrying out the contract with defendant; hut that they ordered the radiators in question from the plaintiff. Plaintiff’s sale to Rood & McIntyre was unconditional and on time. They were shipped from plaintiff’s factory in Illinois about January 5, 1910, to Rood & McIntyre at Kansas City, Missouri. When they arrived at Kansas City the tags were changed by. the consignee from the firm name to that of defendant at Independence and were delivered to him, and were in his possession at the time plaintiff’s suit was begun. The plaintiff gave no replevin bond, consequently the property remains in the possession of defendant.
On January 17, 1910, Rood & McIntyre filed their petition in bankruptcy at which time plaintiff first learned of their insolvency. There was evidence that Curtice had made some payment to said co-partnership on the said contract, but the radiators were not installed in his building. The plaintiff recovered judgment which the court set aside upon motion of defendant for a new trial. Prom the action of the court in setting aside the judgment plaintiff appealed.
The action of the court must be upheld for the reason that under the facts plaintiff w^as not entitled to recover because it was'not entitled to the possession of the property in controversy. The sale to Rood & McIntyre was unconditional and passed to them the title to the property. Because the co-partnership went into bankruptcy did not affect the right of property in the radiators so far as plaintiff was concerned. At the time the suit was begun the trustee in bankruptcy had not asserted his right to the property, but he may do so at any time as the title to the same is in the bankrupt co-partnership. And the fact that plaintiff *127cannot under the circumstances enforce a material man’s lien on the defendant’s building does not give-it the right of possession. Its remedy like that of' every other creditor is to file its claim in the bankrupt court and have it allowed against the estate of the bankrupts.
Appellant contends that it had the right to rescind the contract of sale of the materials. We know of' no law to that effect. Plaintiff has no grounds for rescission of the contract except that the purchasers failed to pay for the goods. Plaintiff having failed to show any right to the possession of the goods the cause is affirmed.
All concur.