Baker v. Ratzlaff case brief

Baker v. Ratzlaff case brief summary
564 P.2d 153 (1977)

CASE SYNOPSIS

Defendant farmer appealed the judgment of the Finney District Court (Kansas), which found in favor of plaintiff popcorn buyer in a breach of contract action. The farmer appealed and asserted that the trial court erred in its finding that he breached the contract. The popcorn buyer cross-appealed, contesting the amount of the judgment.

CASE FACTS
A popcorn buyer and farmer entered into a sales contract under which the farmer was to produce the popcorn and the popcorn buyer was to buy it at certain times for a set price. After the farmer had delivered two truckloads of popcorn, he terminated the contract and sold his popcorn to another buyer. The popcorn buyer filed suit for breach of contract. The trial court found that the farmer terminated the contract so that he could sell the popcorn at a better price. The trial court found for the popcorn buyer and awarded him damages. Both parties appealed.

DISCUSSION

• The court held that the trial court had properly found that the farmer had breached the contract because the farmer failed to show that the trial court relied on extrinsic evidence in making its decision, and the farmer terminated the contract in bad faith. 
• The court held that the award of damages to the popcorn buyer was proper because there was substantial evidence to support the finding of the trial court.

CONCLUSION
The court affirmed the judgment of the trial court awarding damages to the popcorn buyer.


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