Arco Bag Co. v. Facings, Inc.

• Decision Date: 09 June 1958
• Docket Number: Gen. No. 47263
• Citation: 151 N.E.2d 438,18 Ill.App.2d 110
• Parties: ARCO BAG CO., Inc., an Illinois corporation, Appellee, v. FACINGS, Inc., an Illinois corporation, and William E. Decker, an individual, Appellants.
• Court: United States Appellate Court of Illinois

Page 438

151 N.E.2d 438

18 Ill.App.2d 110

ARCO BAG CO., Inc., an Illinois corporation, Appellee, v. FACINGS, Inc., an Illinois corporation, and William E.

Decker, an individual, Appellants.

Gen. No. 47263.

Appellate Court of Illinois, First District, First Division.

June 9, 1958.

Rehearing Denied July 1, 1958.

Irving Goodman, Chicago, for appellants.

Marvin Riman and Abe M. Linderman, Chicago, for appellee.

ROBSON, Justice.

This is an appeal from a judgment against defendants for breach of contract. Plaintiff and defendant, Facings, Inc., entered into contracts whereby it is purported plaintiff agreed to lease and the defendant to hire, with the option to purchase, four lift trucks. Facings, Inc. failed to meet its payments as provided in the contracts and plaintiff repossessed the trucks and brought this action for the balance due under the contracts, a total of $3,000 in attorney's fees, and $133.57, the cost of repossessing the trucks. William E. Decker, who had signed each contract in an individual capacity, was joined as a defendant. The case was tried without a jury and a judgment for $24,283.57 was entered in favor of plaintiff against both defendants. The principal question presented on appeal is whether or not the contracts contain any provision indicating, as part of the agreement, a predetermination of the extent of defendant's liability upon default.

Three of the contracts were executed on April 29, 1955; the fourth is dated June 1, 1955. In substance each provides that the total amount due for the use of each truck shall be $5,400, payable at the rate of $150 per month; that the lessee is given an option to purchase the equipment at the termination of the lease for a price of $400 provided that the total rental has been paid, the option to be exercisable at any time during the term of the lease and no later than ten days after its termination; that in the event of the lessee's default or insolvency the lessor may enter the lessee's premises and repossess the equipment. Other provisions of the contracts relate to repairs, operators, liability for loss or damage, insurance, taxes, title, inspection, nonwarranty of equipment by the lessor, possession, and assignments. The contracts also contain the following two provisions:

'Nonwaiver:

'Time is of the essence, Lessor's failure at any time to require strict performance by Lessee of any of the provisions hereof shall not waive or diminish Lessor's right thereafter to demand strict compliance therewith or with any other provision. Waiver of any default shall not waive any other default. Lessor's rights hereunder are cumulative and not alternative.'

'Miscellaneous:

'Lessee will not change or remove any insignia or lettering on the equipment. All notices relating hereto shall be mailed registered to Lessor or Lessee at its respective address above shown or at any later address last known to the sender. In case of any default by Lessee hereunder all sums due and to become due hereunder shall, at the option of Lessor or any assignee of Lessor, become payable forthwith. Lessee waives all rights under all exemption emption laws. Lessee admits the receipt of a true copy of the Equipment Lease. This lease is irrevocable for the full term hereof and for the aggregate rental herein reserved, and the rent shall not abate by reason of termination of Lessee's right of possession and/or the taking of possession by Lessor or for any other reason, and delinquent installments of rental shall bear interest at the highest lawful rate. In case of any default by Lessee hereunder, Lessor may sell the equipment or may re-lease the equipment for a term and a rental which may be equal to, greater than, or less than the rental and term herein provided. Any proceeds of sale, received within 60 days after repossession, or any rental payments received under a new lease made within such 60 days for the period prior to the expiration of this lease, less Lessor's expenses of taking possession, storage, reconditioning and sale or re-leasing, shall be applied on the Lessee's obligations hereunder, and Lessee shall remain liable for the balance of the unpaid aggregate rental set forth above. Lessee's liability shall not be reduced by reason of any failure of Lessor to sell or re-let within such 60 days.'

Defendant, Facings, Inc., paid the amount due under the contracts for the month of May, 1955. The payments for June were not made at the appointed time. The president of plaintiff corporation contacted Facings, Inc. The president of Facings, Inc. promised to make payment, but failed to do so and, in the middle of June, referred plaintiff to defendant Decker. On June 30, 1955, Facings, Inc. sent a check for $600 to plaintiff. The check was returned by the bank for insufficient funds. During June plaintiff contracted Decker's office, although no written demand for payment was ever sent to Decker. Plaintiff's president and secretary, Ben Linderman, testified that he could not specifically recall speaking directly to Decker. Decker testified that he had spoken to Linderman by phone in the middle of June, that this conversation was his first knowledge of any default by Facings, Inc., and that he then told Linderman that he would 'do something about it.'

On July 27, 1955, plaintiff's attorney, Abe Linderman, who is also an officer of plaintiff, went to the premises occupied by defendant corporation to repossess the trucks. Abe Linderman then called Decker and informed him of the action he was taking. Decker offered to send a check within the hour. Linderman declined the offer and proceeded to repossess the trucks. Subsequently plaintiff filed this action against Facings, Inc. and Decker to recover the balance of the payments on each truck for the entire term of each lease. Defendants answered alleging that the repossession was wrongful, that Decker was at all times ready, willing, and able to pay the amounts due. Both defendants filed counterclaims for business losses, loss of capital and punitive damages, all of which they alleged became due them as a result of the arbitrary, wrongful, and malicious repossession of the trucks by plaintiff. Plaintiff produced no evidence to establish its damages and the court found all of the issues in favor of plaintiff under the contract provisions related heretofore in this opinion.

The parties have referred to the contracts in question as 'sale-lease' or 'lease-purchase' agreements. They have characterized the monthly payments to be made under each contract as rent. This terminology is of no significance, for, where the total amount of 'rent' payable for goods is substantially equivalent to their value and the 'lessee' has the option of purchasing the goods after all rent is paid, the contract is, in all legal effect, a contract of conditional sale and is in fact recognized as such by the plaintiff. Breece Veneer & Ranel Co. v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 7 Cir., 1956, 232 F.2d 319; Austin-Western Road Machinery Co. v. Veal, 5 Cir., 1940, 115 F.2d 112. This court must determine whether or not the contracts in question specifically provide that upon default by the lessee or purchaser, and repossession by plaintiff, plaintiff is entitled also recover the total amount of monthly payments designated in each contract, or, in effect, substantially all of the stipulated purchase price for each truck.

The nonwaiver clause in the contracts clearly states that plaintiff's rights are cumulative and not alternative. Plaintiff's right to repossess the trucks is set forth in the provision...