International Union of Operating Engineers Local 57 v. Chrysler Motors Corp., 620-A

• Decision Date: 07 November 1969
• Docket Number: No. 620-A,620-A
• Parties: , 7 UCC Rep.Serv. 22 INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL 57 et al. v. CHRYSLER MOTORS CORPORATION et al. ppeal.
• Court: Rhode Island Supreme Court

Page 271

258 A.2d 271

106 R.I. 248, 7 UCC Rep.Serv. 22

INTERNATIONAL UNION OF OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL 57 et al. v. CHRYSLER MOTORS CORPORATION et al.

No. 620-Appeal.

Supreme Court of Rhode Island.

Nov. 7, 1969.

[106 R.I. 252] Mildred W. Tracey, Frank J. McGee, Providence, for plaintiffs.

Carroll, Kelly & Murphy, Joseph A. Kelly, Providence, for defendants.

OPINION

PER CURIAM.

On July 3, 1968, International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 57, and John A. White, filed a complaint against Chrysler Motors Corporation and Philip Dwares Company. The complaint, which is entitled 'Complaint On A Contract of Sale,' alleges that on February 28, 1966, the defendant Dwares Company sold the plaintiff a 1966 Chrysler Imperial automobile which was manufactured by the defendant Chrysler Corporation; that defendants warranted that said automobile was reasonably fit for the general purpose for which it was sold, namely, for use as a passenger automobile, and that the plaintiff relied upon such warranties in purchasing said automobile; that on March 17, 1966, the plaintiff White, business agent for Local 57, while in the exercise of due care and operating the automobile in the city of Pawtucket, was injured in an accident caused by the failure of the engine of the automobile to return to idle when the accelerator was released; that the automobile had a defective throttle control cable which caused the failure of the engine to return to idle, which in turn caused the accident; that as a result of the breach of warranty of the defendants, plaintiff White sustained bodily injury and suffered loss of wages and great pain of body and mind.

The defendant Chrysler Corporation filed an answer and a motion to dismiss. Insofar as pertinent here, Chrysler Corporation based its motion to dismiss White's action on the following grounds:

'1. The complaint alleges a right of action for personal injury to the said John A. White, but does not allege that said action accrued any time within two years next before the commencement of this action.

'2. The complaint as to John A. White fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted in that the injury was sustained on March 17, 1966, and the summons was not issued until July 3, 1968, more than two years after the accrual of said right or cause of acton for personal injuries.'

The motion to dismiss was heard by a justice of the Superior Court who held, in a very brief decision, that defendant Chrysler Corporation could not be sued in contract; that it could only be sued in tort for personal injuries; and that, therefore, the statute of limitations had run. He did not pass on the effect of the statute of limitations on the other defendant, that matter being left for determination at a later time. An order was entered granting defendant Chrysler Corporation's motion and dismissing plaintiff White's action against Chrysler Corporation with prejudice on the ground that White did not commence his action within two years from the happening of the accident.

The narrow question raised by this appeal is whether the time for bringing the instant action is governed by the statute of limitations set forth in § 6A-2-725 of the Uniform Commercial Code of by G.L.1956, § 9-1-14.

We originally heard oral argments in this case on April 9, 1969. After that hearing, because we desired further argument on the question set forth above, we caused an order to be entered (255 A.2d 170) requesting the parties to file additional briefs limited to a consideration of the following question:

'Does § 6A-2-725 of the Uniform Commercial Code impliedly repeal G.L.1956, § 9-1-14 in cases involving actions for breach of warranty resulting in injuries to the person?'

We also asked for a statement as to who purchased the motor vehicle involved in this case. (See R.I., 255 A.2d 170.) The parties complied with such order and presented oral arguments on the supplemental briefs on October 7, 1969. Plaintiff White stated in an appendix to his brief that the automobile in question was purchased by Local 57 for his use.

Section 6A-2-725 reads as follows:

'Statute of limitations in contracts for sale.-(1) An action for breach of any contract for sale must be commenced within four (4) years after the cause of action has accrued. By the original agreement the parties may reduce the period of limitation to not less than one (1) year but may not extend it.'

Section 6A-2-715(2)(b) provides that consequential damages from the seller's breach include:

'(b) injury to person or property proximately resulting from any breach of warranty.'

The plaintiff contends that he can sue for breach of warranty even though there was no privity of contract, and that, therefore, the instant action is controlled by the four-year statute of limitations set forth in § 6A-2-725. He...