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O. B. MORGAN v. TOM E. IBBERSON

Minnesota Supreme Court1943-05-28No. No. 33,463
215 Minn. 293

Summary

Holding. The court affirmed the trial court's award of $11 for care through December 25, 1941, and its denial of the veterinarian's claim for subsequent charges, finding the evidence supported that the owner validly demanded return of the dog and that tender of payment was not required when refusal was predetermined.

A veterinarian brought suit to recover charges for boarding and treating a client's dog with distemper from mid-December 1941 through mid-March 1942. The dog's owner demanded its return on December 25 and offered payment for care through that date, but the veterinarian refused to release the animal, claiming the demand was made outside office hours. The trial court found that the owner had made valid arrangements for pickup and that the veterinarian wrongfully refused delivery, therefore awarding the veterinarian only the $11 owed through December 25 and denying any compensation for subsequent care and boarding.

The veterinarian appealed, challenging both whether an effective demand for return had been made and whether the owner had properly tendered payment. The appellate court rejected both arguments, finding sufficient evidence supported the trial court's factual determination that the demand was valid. The court also held that formal tender of payment was unnecessary because the veterinarian had already indicated it would refuse the dog's release regardless of payment, making any tender ceremony futile.

Summary generated by law.co from the public-domain opinion. The opinion text itself is public domain.

Key issues

  • Whether a demand for delivery of an animal was timely and effective
  • Whether formal tender of payment is necessary when the recipient has indicated refusal
  • Scope of a veterinarian's right to retain an animal for boarding charges

Procedural posture

The appeal challenges the trial court's order denying the plaintiff's motion for amended findings or a new trial following judgment that awarded limited recovery for veterinary services.

Authorities cited

No cited authorities resolved to law.co cases yet.

Opinion

majority opinion

Per Curiam.

This is an appeal from an order denying plaintiff’s alternative motion for amended findings or a new trial.

On December 15, 1941, defendant took his cocker spaniel dog, which was suffering from a severe case of distemper, to plaintiff’s pet hospital for treatment. There was no contractual arrangement to leave the dog there for any definite period of time. From defendant’s testimony it appears that on December 24 his wife made-arrangements to have the dog called for on the next day. Pursuant to such arrangement, on December 25 defendant made demand for delivery of the dog at 8:30 a. m. and was ready to pay the $11 admittedly owing for the keep of the dog up to that date. Upon, plaintiff’s refusal to deliver the dog to defendant, plaintiff was informed that he could keep it. Subsequently plaintiff sent no statement to defendant for the care of the dog, nor did he attempt to deliver it to him.

Plaintiff sued to recover for medical care, food, and shelter for the-dog from December 15, 1941, to March 11, 1942. Defendant counterclaimed for the reasonable value of the dog. At the commencement of the trial plaintiff moved to file a supplemental complaint to-include all accumulated charges to date, which request was denied.. The court made findings of fact and conclusions of law awarding; plaintiff the sum of $11 for the care of the dog from December 15 to-December 25, 1941, and denying defendant any relief under his. counterclaim.

Plaintiff complains that no effective demand for the delivery of the dog was made and that delivery was properly refused because-the demand was not made during office hours. Defendant asserts, that arrangements were made over the telephone on December 24 to call for the dog the next day. This was denied by plaintiff. Thus-, there was presented the usual fact question, which was determined adversely to plaintiff. The evidence was such as to justify the-court in finding that plaintiff wrongfully refused to deliver the dog-on December 25 and that therefore there could be no valid claim for its care or keep subsequent to that date. From this finding it: follows also that no prejudice could result to plaintiff from the court’s refusal to permit him to file a supplemental complaint.

Plaintiff also urges that a proper tender was not made. It is clear that a tender in the instant case would have been futile and useless. When defendant requested delivery of the dog plaintiff asserted that he had no right to demand delivery outside of office hours. There was no dispute as to the amount owing up to that time for the dog’s care. The only objection plaintiff raised was that demand for delivery was not made during office hours. It is clear, therefore, that a tender would have been refused. A tender is unnecessary where it would be an idle ceremony. 6 Dunnell, Dig. & Supp. § 9612. Smith v. Jordan, 13 Minn. 246 (264), 97 Am. D. 232; Brown v. Eaton, 21 Minn. 409; Matteson v. U. S. & Canada Land Co. 103 Minn. 407, 115 N. W. 195; Ibs v. Hartford L. Ins. Co. 121 Minn. 310, 141 N. W. 289, Ann. Cas. 1914C, 798. When it is clear that a tender would have been refused, the law does not requix’e the vain and useless act of making it. Ibs v. Hartford L. Ins. Co. supra. A tender is waived when the tenderee assumes any position which would render it, so long as such position is maintained, a vain and idle ceremony. Smith v. Jordan, supra.

Plaintiff’s position, therefore, that the court should have held that a proper tender was not made is not well taken. Reviewing the evidence, it is clear to us that only issues of fact were presented, upon which there was sufficient evidence to sustain the court’s findings. We conclude, therefore, that there is no merit to this appeal.

Order affirmed.