Antoszewski v. City Plumbing Co.

151 N.W. 635, 185 Mich. 215, 1915 Mich. LEXIS 958
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 18, 1915
DocketDocket No. 17
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 151 N.W. 635 (Antoszewski v. City Plumbing Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Antoszewski v. City Plumbing Co., 151 N.W. 635, 185 Mich. 215, 1915 Mich. LEXIS 958 (Mich. 1915).

Opinion

Stone, J.

In September, 1911, the complainant was, and had been for some time, engaged in the business of shoe repairing, and owned the premises involved in this suit, known as 1278 Rivard street, in the city of Detroit, which he, with his family, occupied as a homestead. The property was incumbered by a mortgage of $1,200. The homestead was all the property which complainant owned, and he claims that he was ignorant of business affairs and uneducated. Having occasion to employ a plumber to do some work in his house, he called in the defendant Frank B. Kuczynski, a countryman of his, with whom he had no previous acquaintance. The said defendant informed complainant that he was looking around with a view of buying some property. A few days later, when the work was completed, said defendant called on the complainant and was informed that complainant would sell his homestead to him if he wanted to buy. A price was stated, and then said defendant asked complainant what he thought of the idea of going into partnership with him in the plumbing business.

The complainant claims that he stated he was ignorant of such business, and that such a partnership would be impossible, to which the defendant replied that it could be made possible. A few days later said defendant and his wife visited complainant’s home, and further efforts were made to induce complainant to enter into the proposed partnership. The said defendant told complainant that he would take the latter into partnership if the complainant would first pay him the sum of $1,500, which sum the defendant stated he needed at that time. Complainant [218]*218replied that he had no money, and said defendant offered to take complainant’s interest in the homestead in lieu of the $1,500 in cash, and complainant claims that he was induced by the said defendant to enter into the proposed partnership, and that, before the articles were drawn up, the complainant asked said defendant how much the latter was- worth. Said defendant thereupon made out a statement of all his assets which he was to turn into the partnership to represent his three-fourths interest therein. In this statement said defendant represented that the property which he was turning over to the partnership was worth the sum of $5,535.32, less $300 for unpaid materials. Complainant claims that said defendant also agreed to take an inventory of his stock, and that he showed complainant the material he had at that time, and also took him out to a few places in the city and showed him work which he had started. Complainant, claiming that he was very ignorant of the value of such stock, inquired of said defendant whether what was shown him was worth nearly $6,000, and said defendant assured complainant that such was the fact, and that a close inventory would prove it to be worth even more.

On the 22d day of February, 1911, an agreement of copartnership was drawn and signed by the said parties. Under the firm name of Kuczynski & Antoszewski, the business to be carried on was that of plumbing in the city of Detroit, term to be one year, and such further period as the partners might agree upon. The capital of said firm was stated to be $5,500, of which sum defendant was to contribute three-fourths and complainant one-fourth in cash or property, and the partners were to share in the profits and losses in the same proportion. Among other things, the articles provided that each of said partners should be permitted to draw from the fund of [219]*219the firm a salary, said defendant to receive $4 a day for the first year, and complainant $2 a day, after which time both partners were to receive the same amount.

Said complainant and wife conveyed to said defendant and his wife the said homestead, and in return for this the said defendant executed a bill of sale of an undivided one-fourth of his assets to the complainant.

It is the claim of the complainant that the valuation placed on his homestead was $2,900; that complainant was to put into the business an interest in that property which would represent the sum of $1,500; the $1,200 mortgage to be assumed by the said defendant, and the difference of $200 was to be paid by said defendant to complainant in cash. Of this amount the complainant claims that he received $150 from said defendant. It is the further contention of the complainant that an understanding was had between him and the said defendant at that time, by which the complainant and his family were to occupy the second floor of the premises conveyed to said defendant and wife, as long as the complainant should stay in the business with said defendant, and that he was not to pay any rent for the period so stated. The complainant continued to live there, in pursuance of this understanding, without paying rent until some time after this suit was commenced, when unsuccessful attempts were made to eject complainant therefrom, and later said defendant threw complainant’s household goods out of the house during complainant’s absence.

Complainant claims that, notwithstanding repeated requests, he was never able to obtain. an inventory from the said defendant as promised. It is the further claim of complainant that during the existence of the partnership the said defendant continually [220]*220urged the complainant to incorporate their business. This was finally agreed to. On December 12, 1911, articles of incorporation were drawn up with the said defendant and Josephine Kuczynski, his wife, and complainant, as corporators. All three subscribed the articles of incorporation, and the same were put in evidence. The name assumed by the corporation was “City Plumbing Company.” It provided for a capital stock of $15,000, but that only $8,000 were subscribed; the shares being of the par value of $100. Article 7 of said articles reads as follows:

“The amount of said stock actually paid in at the date hereof is the sum of eight thousand ($8,000) dollars, of which amount two thousand six hundred and ten ($2,610) dollars has been paid in cash, and five thousand three hundred and ninety ($5,390) dollars has been paid in other property, an itemized description of which, with the valuation at which the item is taken, is as follows, viz.: Crooks, cast iron pipes and fittings now at shop, at 1278 Rivard street, $50; 400 feet of lead pipe, $80; 400 feet of soil pipe, $200; soil pipe fittings at 1278 Rivard street, $60; small pipe fittings, plumber’s materials and plumbing tools, all in shop at 1278 Rivard street, $2,050; plumbing materials and tools in store at 1278 Rivard street, $850; one Buick car, runabout, model 1910, numbered 663, $1,055; credits for work done and money outstanding, secured and unsecured, belonging to Frank Kuczynski and Anthony Antoszewski, $1,045. Said outstanding accounts are owned by Frank Kuczynski and Anthony Antoszewski, doing business under the firm name of the City Plumbing Company, a copartnership to which the corporation succeeds.”

The said three parties subscribed the articles of incorporation; and all three made oath that the property described in article 7, which was taken in payment of stock, was worth the sum of $5,390.

Complainant received 20 shares of stock for his one-fourth interest in the partnership. The said defendant, Frank B. Kuczynski, received 59 shares, and his [221]*221wife, Josephine Kuczynski, received one share.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
151 N.W. 635, 185 Mich. 215, 1915 Mich. LEXIS 958, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/antoszewski-v-city-plumbing-co-mich-1915.