Fulcher v. Nelson

159 S.E.2d 519 (1968)

273 N.C. 221

Daniel W. FULCHER v. Norwood NELSON.

No. 111.

Supreme Court of North Carolina.

March 6, 1968.

*521 Nelson W. Taylor, Beaufort, for plaintiff appellee.

Wheatly & Bennett, Beaufort, for defendant appellant.

BOBBITT, Justice.

The gravamen of plaintiff's action is the alleged breach by defendant of his contractual obligation to "trade back" if plaintiff was "not happy with car." Although seeking to rescind, plaintiff does not base his alleged right to do so on fraud or breach of warranty. He bases it solely on the ground the contract gave him the right to "trade back," that is, to rescind.

Whether the court erred in overruling defendant's motion for nonsuit depends upon the validity of the special contract provision. Interpretation thereof is prerequisite to a determination of its validity.

"Persons sui juris have a right to make any contract not contrary to law or public policy." 2 Strong, North Carolina Index 2d, Contracts § 1. Whether defendant acted wisely or foolishly when he *522 agreed to "trade back" if plaintiff was "not happy" with the Cadillac is not material. Roberson v. Williams, 240 N.C. 696, 700-701, 83 S.E.2d 811, 814.

The trial judge interpreted the words, "if not happy with car," as used in the special provision of the contract of January 10, 1966, to mean if not satisfied with the Cadillac. We agree. In this connection, satisfaction is a synonym for happiness. 19 Words and Phrases, p. 59; Black's Law Dictionary, Fourth Edition, p. 846.

"It has been questioned whether an agreement in which the promise of one party is conditional on his own or the other party's satisfaction contains the elements of a contractwhether the agreement is not illusory in character because conditioned upon the whim or caprice of the party to be satisfied. Since, however, such a promise is generally considered as requiring a performance which shall be satisfactory to him in the exercise of an honest judgment, such contracts have been almost universally upheld." 5 Williston on Contracts, § 675A, pp. 189-190.

"Where, from the language of a contract, it is doubtful whether the parties intended that one party should have the unqualified option to terminate it in case of dissatisfaction or whether the intention was to give the right to terminate only in the event of dissatisfaction based upon some reasonable ground, the contract will be construed as not reposing in one of the parties the arbitrary or unqualified option to terminate it." 17 Am.Jur.2d, Contracts § 496. This rule is applicable where the satisfaction or dissatisfaction of the purchaser relates to mechanical fitness. 5 Williston, op. cit., § 675B; Simpson on Contracts, Second Edition, § 149, p. 309; 1 Restatement, Contracts, § 265, p. 380; Olson v. Larson, 48 N.D. 499, 184 N.W. 984.

Plaintiff's dissatisfaction with the Cadillac, as distinguished from general dissatisfaction with the terms of the trade, is the ground on which he asserts a contractual right to "trade back." We are of opinion, and so hold, the contract conferred this right to "trade back" if plaintiff's election was made in good faith on account of his dissatisfaction with the condition in which he found the Cadillac. The instructions of the trial judge were in substantial accord with this interpretation of the special contract provision.

Plaintiff's testimony tends to show that, on January 10, 1966, shortly after he obtained possession of the Cadillac, he discovered the muffler and other portions of the car were badly rusted, that the bottom of the car had been newly sprayed with an undercoating; and that he notified defendant that very day that he was "unhappy with that car," referring to the Cadillac. (Our italics.) Defendant objected to the admission of plaintiff's testimony as to the physical condition of the Cadillac, contending defendant made no representations or warranties as to its condition. However, this evidence was competent as bearing upon whether plaintiff's election to "trade back" was made in good faith on account of the condition in which he found the Cadillac.

Plaintiff's testimony tends to show defendant, when advised that plaintiff was dissatisfied with the Cadillac, told plaintiff he had sold the 1961 Ford he had received as a trade-in from plaintiff, that defendant promised to bring to plaintiff another car in place of the 1961 Ford for use in making the "trade back"; and that, notwithstanding plaintiff's repeated demands that defendant "trade back" and defendant's repeated promises to do so, defendant failed to bring to plaintiff such other car or otherwise comply with his obligation to "trade back."

Defendant contends his motion for judgment of nonsuit should have been granted because it appears from plaintiff's evidence (1) that plaintiff did not deliver to defendant the title certificate for the 1961 Ford, *523 and (2) that plaintiff disposed of the Cadillac in June, 1966, and could not thereafter return it to defendant. These contentions are untenable.

Plaintiff testified defendant did not call upon him for the title certificate for the 1961 Ford; and that, on January 10, 1966, defendant told plaintiff he had already sold the 1961 Ford and it was not available for return to plaintiff.

With reference to plaintiff's disposition of the Cadillac in June, 1966, plaintiff testified he did not dispose of the Cadillac until defendant had failed, notwithstanding plaintiff's repeated demands to "trade back," that is, return the money and car (or equivalent) he had received in exchange for the Cadillac. Under these circumstances, it would be of no benefit to defendant for plaintiff to store the Cadillac or, if subject to a lien, to permit the repossession and sale thereof by the holder of such lien. As indicated below, the reasonable market value of the Cadillac on January 10, 1966 (not the allowance therefor as a trade-in or its reasonable market value in June, 1966) is the significant factor in determining the amount of damages, if any, plaintiff is entitled to recover.

The evidence in the record before us, when considered in the light most favorable to plaintiff, was sufficient to permit a jury to find that defendant, on January 10, 1966, breached his contractual obligation to "trade back." The motion for nonsuit was properly overruled.

We emphasize the words, "in the record before us," because the evidence is silent as to matters that may be material in respect of nonsuit and are material in respect of the measure of damages.

There is no reference in the complaint or in the evidence as to how the balance of $1,500.00 (of the contract price of $2,475.00) was to be paid or as to whether it was paid. Defendant, in his further answer and defense, alleged plaintiff "financed the balance of One Thousand Five Hundred ($1,500.00) Dollars." If financed, as defendant alleged, when, by whom and under what circumstances was it financed? What amount, if any, did defendant receive as a result of such financing?

The trial judge properly instructed the jury to disregard the evidence bearing upon the cost of repairs made during the period between January 10, 1966, and June, 1966, when plaintiff had possession of and was using the Cadillac.

With reference to damages, the court instructed the jury in substance, in accordance with plaintiff's allegation and contention, that plaintiff, if entitled to recover, was entitled to recover the difference between the reasonable market value of this particular Cadillac on January 10, 1966, and the contract price of $2,475.00. Plaintiff alleged this difference was $1,300.00. (It is noteworthy that the contract price of $2,475.00 as of January 10, 1966, less the trade-in allowance of $1,175.00 in June, 1966, is $1,300.00.) The instruction as to the measure of damages was erroneous.

"(T)he general rule is that a party who is injured by breach of contract is entitled to compensation for the injury sustained and is entitled to be placed, as near as this can be done in money, in the same position he would have occupied if the contract had been performed." Perkins v. Langdon, 237 N.C. 159, 169, 74 S.E.2d 634, 643; 2 Strong, North Carolina Index 2d, Contracts § 29. Where, as here, the action is to recover damages on account of defendant's breach of his contractual obligation to "trade back," that is, to rescind, plaintiff is entitled to be placed, as near as this can be done in money, in the same position he would have occupied if defendant's "trade back" obligation had been performed.

Under plaintiff's allegations and evidence, the breach by defendant of his contractual obligation to "trade back" occurred January 10, 1966. Compliance with this obligation by defendant required that *524 he refund to plaintiff the $75.00, return to plaintiff the 1961 Ford, and return to plaintiff such additional sum, if any, as defendant may have received from plaintiff, in exchange for the Cadillac. In the event of a "trade back," the contract price is not material. A "trade back" or rescission contemplates that each party be restored as near as possible to his original status. 17 Am.Jur.2d, Contracts § 512. Thus, if plaintiff is entitled to recover, the measure of damages would be as follows: (1) Determine what defendant received, to wit, the cash he received plus the reasonable market value of the 1961 Ford as of January 10, 1966. (2) Determine what plaintiff received, to wit, the reasonable market value of the Cadillac as of January 10, 1966. (3) If what defendant received exceeds what plaintiff received, plaintiff is entitled to recover the amount of such difference. Plaintiff's recovery, if his damages were so determined, would carry out defendant's express agreement that plaintiff should suffer no loss.

Defendant duly excepted to the court's instructions relating to the measure of damages. Error therein, in the respect noted, entitles defendant to a new trial. On account of the incompleteness of the evidence in respect of material matters, the new trial will be de novo as to all issues arising on the pleadings.

New trial.

LAKE, Justice (dissenting).

I dissent on the ground that the defendant's motion for judgment as of nonsuit should have been granted.

The alleged contract to "trade back with the plaintiff at any time within one (1) year" is so vague as to be meaningless and unenforceable. On what terms were the parties to "trade back" ? Was it anticipated that the defendant, a dealer in automobiles, would retain the Ford for a year while waiting for the plaintiff to make up his mind whether he wanted to keep the Cadillac? Was it anticipated that the plaintiff might use the Cadillac for any time from a few minutes up to just short of twelve months and then return it to the defendant and get back the Ford plus the full amount paid by him to the defendant? If not, on what terms were the parties to "trade back" ? The cause of action cannot be founded upon an alleged contract in which the defendant's undertaking is so uncertain that the court cannot possibly determine what would constitute full performance of it.

Furthermore, if a contract be construed as an undertaking by the defendant to restore to the plaintiff everything the plaintiff had turned over to the defendant upon the plaintiff's returning to the defendant the Cadillac, the plaintiff's evidence fails completely to show any damage sustained by the plaintiff as a result of the failure of the defendant to perform this undertaking. The record contains nothing whatever to show that the Cadillac was not worth more than the Ford plus all sums paid by the plaintiff to the defendant.

The plaintiff has not sued on the theory of breach of warranty or on the theory of fraud. His evidence does not establish a right of action against the defendant, assuming that one is alleged in the complaint, and the motion for nonsuit should have been allowed. Such judgment would not bar the plaintiff from instituting another suit for breach of warranty or for fraud and deceit, if he be so advised.

HIGGINS, J., joins in dissenting opinion.