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1 Seld. Notes 186

Moffat v. Wood

New York Court of Appeals

Decided December 31, 1853

New York Court of Appeals · decided 1853-12-31

<p> Commission merchants; conversion Toy; partnership. </p>

Decided 1853-12-31

¶1Where goods are sent to commission merchants for sale on commission, upon specified terms, and they subsequently place them in the hands of another merchant *187for sale on the same terms, such act is a conversion of the goods to their own use, and renders them liable in trover.

¶2The position of the commission merchant is' one of personal trust and confidence, which cannot be delegated by him to another without the consent of the consignor.

¶3Whether, where goods are held by a copartnership for sale on commission, at the time of its dissolution, the conversion of them to his own use by the partner who retains them, charged with the duty of closing the joint business, renders the other partner liable for the conversion — Quere t

¶4But if it renders both liable, the owner cannot in such case waive the tort, and recover the value of the goods in an action against both for goods sold. Their joint liability in tort could only be established by force of the joint contract of bailment; which, being an express contract to account for the goods as bailees, could not be disregarded and a contract of sale implied. An express contract leaves no room for an implied one.

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