Court Opinion

ID: 9672673
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 03:58:43.824191+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:17.754639
License: Public Domain

STEINMETZ, J.
(dissenting). I disagree with the majority that the check presented and cashed in this case was an accord and satisfaction.
The $14,000 worth of computer programming services was an inducement to enter into the purchase of the equipment. There is nothing in this record nor the opinion to be persuasive that the services had a separate value above and in addition to the value of the equipment purchased. The programming services appear to bé a “throw-in” incentive to sell the equipment. The services may have been listed as a $14,000 value to the purchaser of the equipment, Flambeau; however, there is no evidence in the record as to the cost to Honeywell to provide those services or their actual value.
*120Flambeau did not disagree with the value of the equipment or the amount still owed on it. Its check paid for the amount due on the equipment which was not disputed minus the $14,000 for the unused programming services. It paid less than it owed on the equipment while not disputing the amount it owed on the equipment and therefore there was no accord and satisfaction.
Flambeau was not under the contract expected to pay $14,000 for programming services since it was a sales inducement only and therefore the unused services should not have been deducted from the undisputed equipment debt still owed.
I would hold that payment of part of the debt for the equipment which was not disputed did not discharge the debt altogether. The issue of $14,000 as a possible offset should have been tried to determine whether it had value independent of the equipment contract price.