Plastileather Corp. v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co.
| Decision Date | 07 March 1972 |
| Citation | 361 Mass. 356,280 N.E.2d 402 |
| Parties | , 10 UCC Rep.Serv. 956 PLASTILEATHER CORPORATION v. The AETNA CASUALTY AND SURETY COMPANY. |
| Court | United States State Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts Supreme Court |
Walter E. Doherty, Jr., Boston, for plaintiff.
Andrew F. Lane, Boston, for defendant.
Before CUTTER, REARDON, BRAUCHER and HENNESSEY, JJ.
In this action of contract the plaintiff sought recovery under a marine insurance policy issued by the defendant for damage to a shipment of seventy-six bales of goatskins from Germany to Haverhill. The case was referred to an auditor. After the auditor's report was filed, the parties waived their right to trial by jury and their right to introduce testimony other than the report. The judge found for the defendant, and the plaintiff appealed under G.L. c. 231, § 96.
The record nowhere indicates that the auditor's findings of fact were to be final, either by the terms of the order of reference or by stipulation after the report was filed as in Pesce v. Brecher, 302 Mass. 211, 212, 19 N.E.2d 36, and Rivers v. Krasowski, 303 Mass. 409, 410, 22 N.E.2d 114. There was therefore no 'case stated' within G.L. c. 231, § 96, and the appeal must be dismissed. Norman v. Barnes, 298 Mass. 434, 438, 11 N.E.2d 475; Grossman Industrial Properties, Inc. v. Colley, 355 Mass. 578, 579, 246 N.E.2d 640, 642.
In the Grossman case we said, 'If, as is likely, it is too late to bring the case here by exceptions, the judge, if he deems that justice requires it, may in his discretion report the case.' In this case, however, the sole question sought to be presented is whether the auditor's findings support the judge's finding for the defendant, and we think they do. The issue has been fully argued. To avoid unnecessary further proceedings, therefore, we indicate the reasons for our opinion. See Wellesley College v. Attorney Gen., 313 Mass. 722, 731, 49 N.E.2d 220; McLaughlin v. Board of Appeals of Harwich, Mass., 269 N.E.2d 244. a
The bales in question were shipped from Madras, India, in 1963 and 1964, and were in a warehouse in Offenbach, Germany, when they were sold to the plaintiff in June, 1965. They were inspected at the warehouse, and their external appearance and outer wrappings did not reveal any external evidence of water damage. They were then taken by truck from Offenbach to Hamburg, Germany, loaded on a marine carrier under the control of the Holland America Line and taken to Rotterdam. They were taken by the vessel 'Soestdyk' from Rotterdam to Boston and by truck from Boston to Haverhill, where seventy-one bales arrived on August 5, 1965. Because of an error the other five bales arrived later. Some of the goods in each group arrived in a damaged condition indicating 'old water damage.' The bales were then dry and their burlap wrappers, though some were torn and loose, were not stained or discolored.
The insurance policy insured the merchandise against the perils of transportation from Offenbach to Haverhill. The Holland America Line issued a 'clean' bill of lading at Hamburg showing that the goods, which were then wrapped entirely in burlap covering, were 'in apparent good order and condition.' The damage did not occur after the goods left Rotterdam, and if no presumption is applicable the plaintiff did not sustain its burden of proof that the damage occurred somewhere between Offenbach and Rotterdam. Solely on the basis of a presumption arising from the issuance of the 'clean' bill of lading, the auditor found that the damage occurred between Hamburg and Rotterdam, and found for the plaintiff. The judge, without explanation, found for the defendant and must have disagreed as to the existence or effect of the presumption.
It seems to be common ground that in an action against the carrier the bill of lading issued by it would be 'prima facie evidence of the receipt of the merchandise therein described.' 27 Stat. 445, 46 U.S.C. § 193 (1970). See § 3(4) of the Federal Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 49 Stat 1208, 46 U.S.C. § 1303(4) (1970). Compare G.L. c. 106, § 7--301(1); Richards v. Doe, 100 Mass. 524, 526; Canney v. American Exp. Co., 222 Mass. 348, 349, 110 N.E. 967; L. L. Cohen & Co. Inc. v. Director Gen. of Railroads, 247 Mass. 259, 265, 142 N.E. 75; anno. 33 A.L.R.2d 867, 872--879. The plaintiff contends that the same rule is made applicable against the insurer by the Uniform Commercial Code, G.L. c. 106, § 1--202, under which a bill of lading 'authorized or required by the contract to be issued by a third party shall be prima facie evidence...
To continue reading
Request your trial
-
Joseph Freedman Co., Inc. v. North Penn Transfer, Inc.
...as to all circumstances which were open to inspection and visible, the goods were in good order. Plastileather Corp. v. Aetna Casualty & Sur. Co., 361 Mass. 356, 358-359, 280 N.E.2d 402 (1972). Canney v. American Express Co., 222 Mass. 348, 349, 110 N.E. 967 (1916). Richards v. Doe, 100 Mas......
-
Industria De Calcados Martini Ltda. v. Maxwell Shoe Co., Inc.
...did not bar the judge from finding the shoes were defective when received by Maxwell. See Plastileather Corp. v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 361 Mass. 356, 358, 280 N.E.2d 402 (1972). Martini's contention that Maxwell got exactly what it bargained for is based on its claim that Southline issued ......