C. A. Bryant Co. v. Hamlin Independent School Dist.

• Decision Date: 21 May 1925
• Docket Number: (No. 1724.)<SMALL><SUP>*</SUP></SMALL&gt
• Citation: 274 S.W. 266
• Parties: C. A. BRYANT CO. v. HAMLIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DIST.
• Court: Texas Court of Appeals

274 S.W. 266

C. A. BRYANT CO. v. HAMLIN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DIST.

(No. 1724.)^*

Court of Civil Appeals of Texas. El Paso.

May 21, 1925.

Rehearing Denied June 25, 1925.

Appeal from District Court, Jones County; W. R. Chapman, Judge.

Action by the Hamlin Independent School District against the C. A. Bryant Company. From a judgment for plaintiff, defendant appeals. Reversed and remanded.

Stinson, Coombes & Brooks, of Abilene, for appellant.

Thomas & Pope, of Anson, and C. L. Black, of Austin, for appellee.

HIGGINS, J.

The appellee brought this suit against appellant, alleging:

"That by a course of correspondence in writing during the year 1920 plaintiff and defendant entered into a contract whereby the defendant was to erect and install at or near its school building at Hamlin, Tex., a system of what is known as Pease chemical toilets; that as a part of said contract the defendant was to place all equipment necessary for the installation of said toilets, f. o. b. Hamlin, Tex., and also to, and did, furnish what the defendant claimed as a competent man to install said system at Hamlin, Tex., and further, as a part of said contract, the defendant guaranteed in writing the said toilet system to be odorless, sanitary, and satisfactory in every respect, and to be in accordance with laws pertaining to same now in effect; that said written guaranty on the part of defendant was dated June 24, 1920, and said guaranty that said system would be satisfactory was to be performed at Hamlin, Tex., and according to said guaranty was at said point to be in every way satisfactory to plaintiff in said case; that pursuant to said contract, and for the purpose of installing said chemical system, the plaintiff erected buildings on its school lot near its public school building, for the purpose of containing and housing the said chemical toilet system, and for the defendant herein to install said chemical system in said buildings so erected by plaintiff."

Additional averments were to the effect that the plaintiff had paid $1,000 upon the contract price and given its note for the balance; that the system did not comply with the guaranty, and by reason of defective installment of the same the foundation of the buildings housing same had been undermined, and the buildings, which cost $2,500 had been ruined, and the toilet system was "absolutely worthless to the plaintiff." Wherefore "defendant has breached its contract and its guaranty to this plaintiff as above set forth, at Hamlin, in Jones county, Tex., and is therefore liable to this plaintiff for the full amount paid to it on said contract, together with interest on same from December 1, 1920, and liable for a cancellation of said note above described for the principal sum of $980, executed by plaintiff and defendant, and liable for all damages caused to the said brick buildings housing said installation system, which plaintiff alleges to be the sum of $2,000." Wherefore judgment was prayed for the $1,000 paid, cancellation of the note given, and $2,000 damages to the buildings in which the system was housed.

The only correspondence evidencing a contract between the parties is a letter dated June 24, 1920, written by the defendant to H. D. Neff, superintendent of schools at Hamlin, and an order for the toilets, dated July 27, 1920. The pertinent provisions of the letter are as follows:

"I thought best to write you confirming quotations I made to you on toilets. We agree to furnish 16 or 18 toilets, like number being on each side of the building, complete in every respect, for $110 per seat, f. o. b. Hamlin. We further agree to furnish an installation man thoroughly competent to install same at $6 per day and his expenses. This will mean railroad fare and hotel bill. We absolutely guarantee the toilet system to be odorless, sanitary, and satisfactory in every respect, and to be in accordance with any laws pertaining to same now in effect."

The order is not copied in the statement of facts but is thus described:

"Order dated July 27, 1920, on C. A. Bryant & Co., Dallas, Texas, for 18 Pease chemical toilets, amount, $1,980 f. o. b. Hamlin, signed W. E. Benson, President."

The evidence shows appellant furnished a man who installed the system at the plaintiff's expense; that a few months after installation the system became very offensive and insanitary, and the septic tanks would not drain. The evidence does not clearly disclose the cause of its failure to function properly, but tends to show that the foundations of the housing buildings were not sufficient, in consequence of which the floors of the buildings sunk, thus causing damage to the drainage of the system.

Various special issues were submitted, all of which were answered in favor of the plaintiff. The first three issues and answers are as follows:

"Special Issue No. 1. — Did defendant guarantee in writing to plaintiff that the toilets in question would be odorless, sanitary, and satisfactory in every respect? Answer: Yes.

"If you answer special issue No. 1 in the affirmative, then you will answer special issue No. 2, as follows:

"Special Issue No. 2. — Did plaintiff, in purchasing the toilets in question from defendant, rely upon the written guaranty of defen...