A M Bisley & Co Ltd v Thompson

A M Bisley & Co Ltd v Thompson [1982] 2 NZLR 696 is a cited case in New Zealand regarding express terms in a contract.[1][2] It highlights one of the exceptions to the parol evidence rule, that is contracts that are partly written, and partly oral contracts.

A M Bisley & Co Ltd v Thompson
CourtCourt of Appeal of New Zealand
Full case name A M Bisley & Co Ltd v Thompson
Decided14 October 1982
Citation[1982] 2 NZLR 696
Court membership
Judges sittingWoodhouse P, Cooke J, Sir Clifford Richmond

Background

edit

Thompson ordered a grain dryer to be installed by A M Bisley on his crop farm so he could harvest his grain crops early.

In the written contract, the "estimated delivery date" was a vague "ASAP", however, it had been orally promised to be installed by the next harvest. However, A M Bisley ordered the grain dryer from an overseas manufacturer late, resulting in the grain dryer not being fully installed on Thompson's farm in time.

This unfortunately left Thompson unable to harvest his barley crop early when a storm destroyed his crop.

As a result of this, Thompson refused to pay Bisley for the grain dryer.

Bisley ultimately sued him for the cost of the grain dryer, and Thompson filed a counterclaim for breach of contract for the loss of his barley crop.

The District Court ruled in favour of both claims, meaning that Thompson did not have to pay Bisley's for the grain dryer.

Both parties appealed.

Held

edit

The Court of appeal dismissed both the appeals.

References

edit
  1. ^ Chetwin, Maree; Graw, Stephen; Tiong, Raymond (2006). An introduction to the Law of Contract in New Zealand (4th ed.). Thomson Brookers. p. [page needed]. ISBN 0-86472-555-8.
  2. ^ Walker, Campbell (2004). Butterworths Student Companion Contract (4th ed.). LexisNexis. p. 81. ISBN 0-408-71770-X.