Berry v. Solomon

137 P.2d 386, 60 Ariz. 333, 1943 Ariz. LEXIS 96
CourtArizona Supreme Court
DecidedMay 10, 1943
DocketCivil No. 4539.
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 137 P.2d 386 (Berry v. Solomon) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Arizona Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Berry v. Solomon, 137 P.2d 386, 60 Ariz. 333, 1943 Ariz. LEXIS 96 (Ark. 1943).

Opinion

McALISTER, C. J.

This is an appeal by Lawrence J. Berry from a judgment against him in favor of Samuel Solomon and Harry Solomon.

The case is here on the pleadings, the jury’s answers to interrogatories, the findings of the court and conclusions of law. The complaint alleges that on November 1, 1936, the plaintiff, Berry, and one Harry Solomon entered into a partnership agreement in the real estate business in Tucson, Arizona, and that shortly thereafter it was extended to include Samuel Solomon, with Harry Solomon as manager of the business. The title to the partnership property was to be taken in the name of Samuel Solomon for the benefit of the partnership and the three partners each agreed to invest therein $3,000, or an aggregate of $9,000, constituting the original investment, one-third of the assets belonging to each of the partners who would share equally in the profits and losses. By November, 1937, plaintiff had advanced, for the benefit *335 of the partnership, further sums totaling $7,400, to be used for the partnership, and the sums thus advanced were to become a first lien upon all the partnership property.

At the end of 1937, the partnership had acquired 12 lots in the City of Tucson and three separate parcels of land lying outside the city, and all advances of plaintiff were used by Samuel Solomon for the purchase of these properties; the receipts from the properties received by Samuel Solomon and Harry Solomon on or before February, 1938, totaled approximately $6,500, $4,000 of which was profit, but no accounting thereof was made by them to plaintiff. Samuel Solomon and Harry Solomon placed mortgages against the partnership property in various amounts and received the proceeds from the properties without the knowledge or consent of plaintiff who has never received any part of such profits nor an accounting therefor.

In January, 1938, plaintiff came to Tucson from his home in New York City to ascertain, so far as possible, the status of the partnership, and the defendants then and there falsely, fraudulently and grossly misrepresented the facts concerning the affairs of the partnership and entered into a conspiracy to cheat and defraud the plaintiff. Samuel Solomon falsely and fraudulently represented to plaintiff that they had invested in the business $13,000, and they offered to convey to plaintiff an undivided one-half interest in and to the partnership properties, and the plaintiff, reposing confidence in defendants, accepted such offer and received a deed thereto from Samuel Solomon. The plaintiff soon afterwards gave to Samuel Solomon a general power of attorney authorizing him to deal with the property and business of the partnership as he thought fit, but revoked it later that year.

*336 On July 15, 1940, plaintiff, at Samuel Solomon’s request,-delivered to him a second power of attorney which was recorded on July 20, 1940. Samuel Solomon desired the last mentioned power of attorney, thus fraudulently procured by him, for the purpose and with the intent of conveying the properties of the partnership in their entirety to third parties, and immediately after it was delivered to him, he fraudulently, willfully and for the purpose of hindering, delaying and defrauding plaintiff, and without his knowledge or consent, conveyed it to John A. Parker and Effie Parker, his wife. Thereafter, John A. Parker and his wife conveyed all this property back to the defendant, Samuel Solomon, who now holds the title thereto, and unless enjoined therefrom will hypothecate, encumber and convey such properties in an effort to deprive plaintiff of his right therein. Samuel Solomon has for a long time collected the rental's upon such properties amounting to approximately $325 each month and unless enjoined will dissipate them.

The complaint prayed for an injunction restraining Samuel Solomon from encumbering or conveying the property; that the rentals be impounded; that an accounting of the affairs of the partnership be had; and that there be paid over to him whatever amount is rightfully his; that plaintiff be declared to be the lawful, beneficial and equitable owner of a constructive trust in and to the properties and entitled to all of said property free and clear of any claim of defendants.

The answer of Samuel Solomon admitted the partnership dealings in real property and that plaintiff and his brothers, A. W. Berry and Arthur Berry, advanced certain sums to this defendant with full power to invest in real estate as he saw fit, and that title to all the holdings would be held by defendant. During 1937, and January, 1938, plaintiff and his *337 brothers advanced the snm of $9,700, which was applied toward purchasing and improving the properties.

In January, 1938, plaintiff returned to Tucson and inspected all the properties and the transactions defendant had in connection with the purchase, conveyance and mortgaging of said properties, and at that time claimed 60% of the properties, but it was finally agreed between plaintiff and defendant that each should have an undivided one-half interest therein. Plaintiff accepted the same in full accord and satisfaction of his claim against the defendant and this defendant delivered a deed to plaintiff for such interest on January 18, 1938.

On or about February 14, 1938, plaintiff executed a special power of attorney to this defendant and again on April 13, 1938, he executed a general power of attorney in his favor. Plaintiff agreed that this defendant should charge the sum of $100 monthly for services in the management of the property and that he would advance his share of the money to pay off obligations; that a monthly accounting should be given to plaintiff. The powers of attorney were revoked in November, 1938, but again in July, 1940, plaintiff gave another power of attorney to this defendant, which he later revoked. The plaintiff indicated that his brothers had some interest in the money advanced and that he was the agent of his brothers in all the Arizona transactions, but did not state what each of them had advanced in money. This defendant having been fully advised, in order to protect his own interest and the interest of all the parties, temporarily placed the title to all the property in the name of John A. Parker and wife and thereafter the properties were reconveyed to him by Parker and wife.

This defendant now has the legal title to these properties and an undivided one-half interest in and to them is held in trust for plaintiff. Defendant denies *338 misrepresenting any facts concerning said properties, but alleges he kept the plaintiff fully advised of all dealings, and denies that he obtained the powers of attorney through fraudulent misrepresentations, but that they were delivered to him voluntarily.

Defendant denies the allegation that he converted the money to his own use, but alleges that all moneys have been accounted for to plaintiff and denies that plaintiff is entitled to an accounting for the reason that he has received an accounting each month from the beginning of 1938.

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Related

Kostolansky v. Lesher
387 P.2d 804 (Arizona Supreme Court, 1963)
Solomon v. Solomon
157 P.2d 605 (Arizona Supreme Court, 1945)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
137 P.2d 386, 60 Ariz. 333, 1943 Ariz. LEXIS 96, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/berry-v-solomon-ariz-1943.