Court Opinion

ID: 9811598
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-31 22:25:22.762443+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:19:12.934640
License: Public Domain

*353Furches, C. J.,
concurring.
I agree in the conclusion that there should be a new trial. As I remember the facts in the case, the defendant owned a cotton mill, which he was operating, and had been operating for some time. But thinking it would be profitable to do so, he concluded to enlarge his mill, and for that purpose built an addition to his mill-house, in which to place new machinery. He also made a contract with the plaintiff to furnish the new machinery necessary for this addition to his mill. The machinery was to be furnished at a specified price, to be delivered by a specified time, and to be paid for when delivered. The plaintiff furnished the machinery, but did not deliver it at the time specified in the contract, nor for some months afterwards. The defendant failing to pay for the machinery after it had been delivered by the plaintiff, this action was brought for the agreed price of the machinery bought by the defendant and delivered to him by the plaintiff. The defendant answered and admitted the contract and the receipt of the machinery, but alleged that it was not delivered at the time it was to have been delivered, whereby and by reason of which he sustained great loss and damage, which defendant set up by way of counter-claim and recoupment.
On the trial, the defendant undertook to prove speculative damages, and was allowed to introduce evidence to that effect, over tile objection of the plaintiff. This was error. The evidence of Wilson, as reported in the case, should not have been allowed, aiid the opinion of the Court so states.
But I do not understand that the old mill, as I will call it to distinguish it from the neAv mill or addition, was stopped on account of not receiving the new machinery. So I think the opinion of the Court erroneously allows the defendant damages for that. The defendant had no money invested in the machinery sued for, as he was to pay for it when delivered, and has never paid for it yet. He is, therefore, it seems *354to me, not entitled to any damages on that account, unless he is entitled to speculative damages'upon an estimate of what he could have made if the machinery had been delivered on time, as he claims he is.
Not being entitled to speculative damages, nor to damages for money invested in the machinery, as he had none invested, the only damages I can see that he is entitled to is the interest on the money invested in putting up the addition to his mill, preparatory to putting in the new machinery; for the reason that such a structure, without any machinery in it, could not be rented for any price.
The opinion of the Court allows the defendant to recover for "insurance, idle labor, deterioration, in machinery,” which he had not received nor paid for. This Court expressly held in Alpha Mills v. Steam Engine Co., 116 N. C., 797, that the plaintiff in that case could not recover for insurance.
MoNtgomeet, J.; concurs in the concurring opinion.