Blau v. Kolla

55 Pa. D. & C. 604, 1945 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 226
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County
DecidedSeptember 12, 1945
Docketno. 2080
StatusPublished

This text of 55 Pa. D. & C. 604 (Blau v. Kolla) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Blau v. Kolla, 55 Pa. D. & C. 604, 1945 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 226 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1945).

Opinion

Sloane, J.,

This is an equity suit under the Bulk Sales Act of 1919.

Statement of the pleadings

A. Bill of Complaint

Plaintiff, a business broker, brings her bill of complaint against defendants, Jacob Kolia, the seller, and Daniel Mulholland, the purchaser, of a restaurant and taproom business, 458 E. Wyoming Avenue, Phila[605]*605delphia; she avers that, as broker, she was instrumental in bringing about the sale. On or about September 15, 1944, Kolia, the seller, orally employed her to procure a purchaser for his business; on or about November 20, 1944, plaintiff, by her employe Joseph Abrams, introduced Mulholland to Kolia as a possible purchaser; on December 6, 1944, an agreement of sale of the business for $5,500 was made between the owner, Kolia, and Mulholland, the purchaser; the sale actually took place by payment and delivery on January 4, 1945.

Plaintiff avers that both defendants knew she was a creditor of Kolia to the extent of the $550 commission due her as broker (10 percent of the sale price is the usual commission, plaintiff asserts); that despite this knowledge of her status as a creditor they violated the provisions of the Bulk Sales Act of May 23, 1919, P. L. 262, 69 PS §521 et seq., in that Mulholland failed to demand or receive a statement setting forth Kolia’s creditors; that he failed to notify plaintiff of the proposed sale, and failed to see to the proper application of the purchase money.

Plaintiff prays the sale be declared void and fraudulent; that Mulholland be held liable as receiver and the property purchased by him be held for the benefit of Kolia’s creditors; that Mulholland be restrained from selling oí disposing of the stock and fixtures; that plaintiff be declared a creitor of Kolia in the sum of $550; that Mulholland be decreed to pay plaintiff’s claim with costs and interest.

B. Answer

Defendants filed a single answer denying the making of the contract with plaintiff, denying that they violated the provisions of the Bulk Sales Act, and averring compliance with the terms of the act.

I decide: (a) whether Kolia is indebted to plaintiff, and, if so, in what amount; and if he is, (6) whether [606]*606plaintiff’s prayers under the Bulk Sales Act should be granted.

Findings of fact

1. On and before September 15, 1944, plaintiff, Dorothy S. Blau, trading as Blau Brothers, was licensed to engage in the brokerage of business enterprises and real estate.

2. Defendant, Jacob Kolia, was the owner of a taproom and restaurant business at 458 E. Wyoming Avenue, Philadelphia, on or about the said date.

3. On or about September 15, 1944, defendant, Jacob Kolia, entered into an oral agreement with plaintiff, through her agent and employe, Joseph Abrams, whereby Kolia engaged plaintiff to obtain a purchaser for his business and agreed to pay a commission of 10 percent of the sale price, then set at $5,000.

4. (a) Thereafter, plaintiff promoted the sale of the business by advertising and soliciting buyers. Plaintiff sent approximately 30 people to inspect the business. Plaintiff negotiated an agreement of sale of the business to two ex-servicemen, which agreement was canceled because the buyers were unable to obtain a loan for the balance of the purchase price.

(6) Plaintiff introduced defendant, Daniel Mulholland, to defendant, Jacob Kolia, as a prospective purchaser, and conducted the preliminary negotiations for the purchase of the business between these two defendants on or about November 20, 1944. The purchase price was set at $5,500 by Kolia, and defendant Mulholland agreed to pay this amount. No agreement of sale was executed at that time because Mulholland wished to be certain that the lease under which Kolia held the property would be assigned to him.

5. (a) Defendant Kolia, on or about December 10, 1944, informed plaintiff, through Joseph Abrams, that he had changed his mind and was not going to sell his place of business.

[607]*607(6) Notwithstanding this, on December 5, 1944, defendants Kolia and Mulholland had executed an agreement of sale, and the actual sale took place by payment and delivery of possession on January 4,1945.

6. Defendant, Mulholland, knew that plaintiff effected the sale between defendants, and knew that defendant Kolia was indebted to plaintiff for a commission of $550, and in that amount was Kolia’s creditor.

7. Plaintiff was not informed of the sale, and was not paid her commission.

8.' An affidavit purporting to comply with the Bulk Sales Act, setting forth that Kolia had no creditors, was given by Kolia to Mulholland.

Discussion

In September 1944 Abrams, plaintiff’s employe, met defendant Kolia, who told Abrams he wanted to sell his place of business at 458 E. Wyoming Avenue, Philadelphia, a taproom and restaurant. An oral agreement was made between them (Abrams acting for plaintiff) whereby plaintiff agreed to obtain a purchaser for the business, and defendant agreed to pay 10 percent of the purchase price as commission, the sale price then being fixed at $5,000. Plaintiff then undertook to promote and advertise the sale of the business, and approximately 30 persons were sent to inspect it. Abrams introduced defendant Mulholland to defendant Kolia as a prospect, sometime around November 20, 1944. Mulholland, after inspecting the place, told Abrams he was very much interested in purchasing. The parties met and had a discussion in which it developed the property was held by Kolia under a lease, and Mulholland wanted to be sure he could get a proper lease before purchasing the business. Kolia subsequently notified Abrams that he had changed his mind and was not going to sell his business. This notice was given approximately December 10, 1944. Yet, before [608]*608that, on December 5, 1944, the two defendants had actually executed an agreement of sale. They made final settlement on January 4,1945, Mulholland paying the purchase price and taking possession on that day.

Kolia did testify he made no agreement with plaintiff regarding the sale of his business, or to pay 10 percent of the purchase price as commission; and that he decided to sell, and sold it to Mulholland on his own, because of some neighborhood incident. But he admitted that Mulholland had been brought to him by Abrams. The agreement of sale was dated December 5,1944, only two weeks after Mulholland and his wife had been taken to inspect the place and discuss the sale with Kolia. Mulholland confirmed Abrams’ testimony that Abrams had taken him and his wife to Kolia, and had been present during the preliminary negotiations. Mulholland testified that he asked for and received from Kolia at the time of the execution of the agreement of sale, an affidavit stating that there were no creditors or outstanding obligations at the time of sale. This affidavit is dated December 5,1944, and was offered in evidence by defendants. When asked about the commission to Blau Brothers, Mulholland answered that he thought the affidavit would cover that.

To me it is pretty clear there was this oral arrangement between Kolia and Abrams, and that in its performance, plaintiff was the one who brought Mulholland to Kolia. The sale of the business came about through plaintiff’s efforts.

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Bluebook (online)
55 Pa. D. & C. 604, 1945 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 226, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/blau-v-kolla-pactcomplphilad-1945.