CHAPTER 21: PERFORMANCE & BREACH OF SALES & LEASE CONTRACTS 259
installments between October 1 and the following March 15. The winter is the
warmest on record, however, and after the last agreed delivery, Midstates has
accepted only 30,000 gallons of the oil. When North American tenders the rest of the
oil, Midstates refuses to take it, citing the weather and claiming to be acting in good
faith. Will North American succeed in a suit against Midstates for breach of contract?
A2. Signal Sets Company contracts to deliver one hundred 55-inch 3D HD television sets to
a new retail customer, Tuner TV Store, on May 1, with payment to be made on
delivery. Signal tenders delivery in its own truck. Tuner’s manager notices that some
of the cartons have scrape marks. Tuner’s owner phones Signal’s office and asks
whether the sets might have been damaged as they were being loaded. Signal assures
Tuner that the sets are in perfect condition. Tuner tenders Signal a check, which Signal
refuses, claiming that the first delivery to new customers is always for cash. Tuner
promises to pay the cash within two days. Signal leaves the sets with Tuner, which
stores them in its warehouse pending its “Grand Opening Sale” on May 15. Two days
later, Tuner’s stocker opens some of the cartons and discovers that a number of the
sets are damaged beyond ordinary repair. Signal claims Tuner has accepted the sets
and is in breach by not paying on delivery. Will Signal succeed on these claims?
Explain.