Valjar, Inc. v. Maritime Terminals, Inc.

This is an appeal from a judgment setting aside a jury verdict awarding the plaintiff, Valjar, Inc., damages for breach of an alleged oral contract.

Valjar is engaged in the business of renting the services of cranes and their operating crews to its customers. The defendant, Maritime Terminals, Inc. (MTI), is the operator of Norfolk International Terminals (NIT). In May 1974, V. L. Reca, Valjar’s president, held a meeting with Ray Brewer and J. N. Crumbley, managerial employees of MTI, and a representative of the crane manufacturer. MTI was interested in making available to users of NIT’s…