Court Opinion

ID: 5611772
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-01-11 04:03:32.678536+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:37:07.849840
License: Public Domain

Luke, J.
The determination of this case depends upon the construction of a contract. The part in controversy is as follows: “That for and in consideration of the promises and agreements hereinafter contained, to be kept and performed by the party of the second part, the company promises and agrees to sell and deliver to the party of the second part, free on board cars at Winona, Minnesota, or, at its option, at any of its regular places of shipment, any and all medicines, extracts, and other articles manufactured or sold or which may hereafter be manufactured or sold by it, unless prevented by fire, insurrection, invasion, strikes, or other cause, at the usual and customary wholesale prices, as the party of the second part may reasonably require for sale by him from time to time, from the date hereof until the first day of March, 1916, as hereinafter provided, in the following described territory, excepting the incorporated municipalities therein located, to wit: - In the State of-Georgia, Evans County.” The plaintiffs in error (defendants) contend that the court erred in holding that the contract did not grant exclusive rights to the sale of the medicines in the county of Evans, excepting the municipalities in that county. The defendant in error contends that no exclusive right was given to the sale of the medicines in Evans County except the municipalities therein. We are of the opinion that when the contract is properly construed (especially when the contract as a whole is read), exclusive right to the sale of the medicines, etc., is granted in the county of Evans, excepting the municipalities. The very fact that the municipalities are excepted is a strong indication that it was the purpose and intent of the parties to grant exclusive right of sale in the remainder of Evans county. Of course, by the terms of the contract the purchaser could only expect delivery for sale of such *310number of articles and amount of goods as he might reasonably require for sale from time to time. Differing as we do with the trial judge in his construction of the contract, we hold that he erred in sustaining the demurrers to the pleas of the defendants, and in thereafter rendering judgment in favor of the plaintiff.

Judgment reversed,

Broyles, C. J., and Bloodworth, J., concur.