Court Opinion

ID: 9600372
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 01:26:19.22349+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:09:03.846812
License: Public Domain

PORTER, Justice
(dissenting).
I find myself in disagreement with the solution of this cause contained in the majority opinion. I am concerned with the interpretation placed upon that part of the contract between the parties reading as follows :
“That the said parties of the first part hereby agrees to sell to the parties of the second part, all of the baled alfalfa hay now located on feed lot site at the home place of Cecil Green Menan, Idaho which would total approximately 840 tons, more or less, * * *_»
Appellants by their answer denied that respondents delivered and appellants received 840 tons of hay or any hay in excess of 651 tons; and affirmatively alleged that the hay was so stacked that it was impossible for appellants to make an- investigation of the quantity thereof prior to the making *285of the contract. The trial court rejected appellants’ proof as to the quantity of hay delivered by respondents and received by appellants and granted a motion for directed verdict in favor of respondents apparently on the ground that appellants’ proof tended to vary the terms of the written contract.
The majority opinion approves the action of the trial court upon the ground that the “approximately 840 tons” of hay mentioned in the contract was merely a descriptive estimate and not of the essence of the contract. The case of Holland v. Rock, 50 Nev. 340, 259 P. 415, cited in the majority opinion in support of such position, holds that the defendant therein could not refuse to accept delivery of a certain lot of sheep because less in number than the estimate, but did not hold that the plaintiff could collect and the defendant was bound to pay fair the sheep that were not delivered. The other case cited in the majority opinion as supporting the same is Biglione v. Bronge, 192 Cal. 167, 219 P. 69. This case was concerned with the sale of an entire crop of growing grapes estimated at 130 tons. The court pointed out that where both parties have equal means of knowledge as to quantity, the naming of quantity is not regarded as in the nature of a warranty but only as an estimate or opinion of the probable amount.
The effect of knowledge was recognized in Baird v. Gibberd, 32 Idaho 796, at page 802, 189 P. 56, at page 57, the court saying:
“The statements as to the amount of hay were mere expressions of opinions; respondent was in as good a position to judge of the facts as were appellants; whatever the quantity of hay may have been that was actually in the stack was as much within the knowledge of the former as the latter.”
The respondents harvested the hay; and at the time the dispute arose, they admitted possession of a book, which they agreed to but did not show to appellants, setting out the location and number of the stacks and the number of bales in each stack. Respondents had superior means of knowledge.
I am of the opinion that the amount of hay to be delivered and received was both all the hay in the feed lot and approximately 840 tons more or less. The phrase “more or less” would permit some small variation but would not encompass a variation of 189 tons. Whether the naming of the 840 tons be called an estimate, a representation or a warranty, it was a covenant on the part of respondents. While the delivery of all the hay in the feed lot might be thought sufficient to prevent appellants from rescinding the contract, it is not a sufficient compliance with the covenant to permit respondents to collect for 189 tons of hay they did not deliver and to compel appellants to pay for same. The reasonable market value of the hay not delivered should be deducted from the total purchase price. The trial court erred in' not receiving evi*286dence as to the amount of hay delivered and in granting the motion for directed verdict. The judgment should be reversed and the cause remanded for new trial.
TAYLOR, C. J., concurs in the foregoing dissent.