Pacific Gas & Electric Co. v. G.W. Thomas Drayage
Citation
69 Cal. 2d 33 (1968)
Facts
Stub — to be completed.
Issue
Stub — to be completed.
Holding
Stub — to be completed.
Rule
Extrinsic evidence is always admissible to show the meaning of written contract terms, even if the language seems plain on its face; the court must provisionally admit extrinsic evidence to determine whether the language is reasonably susceptible to the offered interpretation.
Significance
Traynor’s rejection of the “plain meaning” rule; California’s liberal parol evidence approach — courts should not decide contract meaning based solely on the written words without considering the context in which they were used.