Cockrell v. Maxcey

202 S.W.2d 293, 1947 Tex. App. LEXIS 917
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedApril 9, 1947
DocketNo. 9628
StatusPublished
Cited by6 cases

This text of 202 S.W.2d 293 (Cockrell v. Maxcey) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Cockrell v. Maxcey, 202 S.W.2d 293, 1947 Tex. App. LEXIS 917 (Tex. Ct. App. 1947).

Opinion

HUGHES, Justice.

Appellants are James Cockrell and Mr. and Mrs. H. E. DuBois, who are the members of the Cockrell Realty Firm, of Lampa-sas, Texas. Appellee is H. R. Maxcey, who was the owner of the Hotel Maxcey in Mc-Camey, Texas.

Appellants sued to recover a commission of $1,200 allegedly earned under a written listing executed by appellee, authorizing the [294]*294Cockrell Realty Firm to show and offer for sale the hotel “completely furnished as is” for the sum of $25,000, and agreeing to pay 5% of the sale price as a commission.

A jury heard the case and two special issues were submitted to it, the first inquiring if James Cockrell procured for appellee purchasers of the hotel property in the persons of Judge J. C. Abney and Judge Sylvester Lewis. This issue was answered “No”. The second issue inquiring as to whether these gentlemen were ready, able and willing to purchase the property was unanswered.

Appellants moved for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, on the ground that there was no evidence to support the verdict of the jury and because under the undisputed evidence they had shown themselves entitled to recover the commission sued for. This motion was denied and judgment was rendered that appellants take nothing by their suit. Appellants’ motion for a new trial was overruled and this appeal taken.

We agree with appellants’ contention that there was no evidence to support the verdict of the jury.

The written listing executed by appellee authorizing the Cockrell Realty Firm to offer the hotel property for sale was procured under the following circumstances: Appellee had purchased a ranch in Lam-pasas County and Judge Abney had examined the abstract for him. In connection with this purchase a loan of $15,000 was made to appellee by some company for whom the Cockrell Realty Firm was agent, and in the course of the transaction appellant Cockrell became acquainted with ap-pellee. Mr. Cockrell testified that Judge Abney had told him that appellee owned an 85-room hotel which he wanted to sell, and that since the Firm had obtained a loan for him, a listing of the hotel could probably be obtained. Appellee’s only testimony as to what he told Judge Abney about the hotel was:

“Q. While you were in Mr. Abney’s office, did you mention that you owned a hotel in McCamey, Texas? A. Yes.”

Mr. Cockrell, on the day the loan transaction was closed, talked with and obtained the listing of the hotel from appellee.

The day following Mr. Cockrell talked with Judge Abney about the hotel and Judge Abney became interested in purchasing it, but wanted to talk with one or two people and would let him know in a few days. Later Judge Abney told Mr. Cock-rell that Judge Sylvester Lewis and he were going to look at the property, which they did. They then informed Mr. Cockrell that they were interested in buying the hotel. Mr. Cockrell advised appellee to this effect and a meeting was arranged, Mr. Cockrell accompanying appellee to Judge Abney’s office, where, after some discussion, a contract was executed, dated July 3, 1946, by the terms of which appellee agreed to sell the property to Abney and Lewis for $24,000.

Judge Abney testified that Mr. Cockrell was the first person who talked with him about his buying the property; that he hadn’t given a thought to the matter until Mr. Cockrell came to his home and submitted it to him as a proposition.

Apellee testified that Mr. Cockrell told him he had a sale for the hotel and that Judge Abney and Judge Lewis were the purchasers, and that immediately thereafter he entered into the contract of July 3, in the presence of Mr. Cockrell. He also testified that the contract and forfeit check were turned over to Mr. Cockrell for delivery to the Peoples National Bank. Appel-lee’s attorney also mailed to the Cockrell Realty Firm the deed, with instructions to place it in escrow in the bank.

The above facts are not controverted, nor are there any circumstances to be found in the record casting doubt or suspicion threon. They conclusively show that appellant Cockrell did procure purchasers for the hotel property under his listing from appellee.

Since a sale of the hotel property was not actually consummated, we are required to examine and decide other questions raised in order to determine whether appellants are entitled to judgment.

Appellee contends that appellants can in no event recover because the contract between the purchasers and himself was no more than an option on their part to buy or pay liquidated damages, relying princi[295]*295pally upon the case of Moss & Raley v. Wren, 102 Tex. 567, 113 S.W. 739, 120 S.W. 847.

The material part of the original contract provides:

“Said bank is further instructed that in the event said title shall be approved and the said Abney & Lewis shall fail or refuse to pay said $15,000 on or before August 3, 1946, then said bank shall return said deed to the said Maxcey and shall also deliver to him said $2,400 which shall be kept and retained by him as agreed and liquidated damages occasioned by such failure or refusal on the part of the said Abney & Lewis, and thereupon this contract shall be of no further force or effect.”
This contract was not carried out within the time prescribed and a new agreement was entered into between the parties on August 7, 1946, which provided that the time for performance was extended to September 2, 1946, before which date appellee was required to deliver to purchasers three specific curative instruments, and: “In the event said curative material can be produced by the said party of the first part within the time and in the manner above provided, said parties of the second part do hereby agree and are hereby bound .to accept title to said property and to pay for same as provided in said original agreement, attached hereto and made a part hereof”; and concluding: “Otherwise than is herein stated said original contract shall continue and shall remain in full force and effect.”

It is our view that under the express provisions of the contract of August 7, the purchasers were legally bound to buy and pay for the hotel property upon appel-lee furnishing the specified curative instruments in proper form and within the time prescribed, and that the remedy of specific performance would have been available to appellee to compel compliance. ■ The language of the new contract is repugnant to any option which the purchasers may have had under the original contract, and to such extent is abrogated and superseded the original agreement.

A binding contract of sale having been entered into between appellee and purchasers, appellants’ services as brokers had been fully performed. 7 Tex.Jur., p. 467; Seabrook Independent School Dist. v. Brown, Tex.Civ.App., 195 S.W.2d 828, error refused, and authorities there cited.

Under such circumstances a finding that the purchasers' are ready, able and willing is unnecessary. Roderick v. Elliott, Austin, Tex.Civ.App., 17 S.W.2d 102.

Independent of our above holding as to the nature of the contract, and should it in fact be a mere option, appellee having been in default of performance, no defense to this suit would be shown.

In Hamburger & Dreyling v. Thomas, 103 Tex. 280, 126 S.W.

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202 S.W.2d 293, 1947 Tex. App. LEXIS 917, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cockrell-v-maxcey-texapp-1947.