Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

250 S.W.2d 605

Bryan Tractor & Implement Co. v. Pagel

Court of Appeals of Texas

Decided June 25, 1952

Court of Appeals of Texas · decided 1952-06-25

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently October 1956

2 state decisions

Key passage — most relied on by later courts

““7. Fraud and defalcation. — In all cases of fraud, * * * ' suit may be brought in the county where the fraud was committed * *”

quoted by 1 later decision, including Owen-Pewthers v. Timberlake

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1952-06-25

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

HUGHES, Justice.

¶1This is a venue case in which Bryan Tractor and Implement Company appeals from an order overruling its plea of privilege to be sued in Brazos County where it resided.

¶2Appellee is Ed O. Pagel who sued appellant for damages alleged to have been sustained in the purchase and use, by appellee, of a cotton picking machine sold by appellant.

¶3To sustain venue in Milam County appel-lee relies upon Subd. 7, art. 1995, Vernon’s Ann.Civ.St. which provides that in all cases of fraud suit may be brought in the county where the fraud was committed.

¶4Appellant contends that the evidence is insufficient to show fraud.

¶5Appellee testified that he purchased a Rust Cotton Picker from appellant through its Manager, Mr. Ted Hopkins. That Mr. Hopkins and a mechanic came to appellee’s home in Milam County and there represented to him that' the machine would pick 95% of his cotton. Appellee requested that the picker be demonstrated but was told the company did not permit this.

¶6Relying on these representations appellee bought the cotton picker.

¶7When put to use the machine destroyed about 30% of the cotton and appellee, after picking twelve acres with the machine, returned to the manual method of harvesting his crop.

¶8Efforts were made by appellant to adjust the picker but his mechanic finally despaired saying “he just didn’t believe it was ever going to pick cotton successfully.”

¶9Appellant takes the position that the above evidence constitutes nothing more than trade talk or promises of future per*606formance and hence not actionable as a species of fraud.

¶10We cannot agree.

¶11It was not mere idle talk that the machine would pick 95% of appellee’s cotton. This was a statement of fact, a very material fact. Nor was this statement a promise on the part of appellant to periom some act in the future. Appellant did not promise to do anything. The statement made was as to the present capacity of the machine to pick cotton. This was a statement of fact and since there is evidence that this representation was not true it is actionable if relied on by appellee to his damage. This the evidence clearly shows.

¶12The fact that appellant did not manufacture the machine and that the representations as to its ability may have been innocently made and with the utmost good faith is immaterial. 20 Tex. Jur. p. 149.

¶13The judgment of the trial court is affirmed.

¶14Affirmed.

/250/sw2d/605 · .json · Public domain