Condon v. Callahan

115 Tenn. 285
CourtTennessee Supreme Court
DecidedSeptember 15, 1905
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 115 Tenn. 285 (Condon v. Callahan) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Tennessee Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Condon v. Callahan, 115 Tenn. 285 (Tenn. 1905).

Opinion

MR. Justice Wilkes

delivered the opinion of the Court.

This is a hill by the executrix of M. J. Condon, deceased, to settle up the partnership that existed between M. J. Condon and the defendant Geo-. W. Callahan.

This partnership was entered into for the purpose of constructing certain railroad work, and there is no controversy about its terms, nor the proportionate interests of the parties thereunder.

The partnership entered into an important and very expensive contract for railroad construction around Keo-gan Tunnel, near Harriman, Tenn. Soon after the work was commenced M. J. Condon was killed, and the work was carried on and the contract was completed by Callahan, as surviving partner, by the consent of the executrix.

[288]*288It was one of tlie terms of the partnership that the services of each member of the firm should be compensated for by similar services of the other member of the firm, and there was no contract as to the status of the parties in the event either died.

The profits were from time to time divided and when a final settlement was attempted to be made Callahan claimed certain items of expense which it was alleged were not in accord with the partnership contract.

Thereupon this bill was filed to have the partnership of M. J. Condon and Callahan wound up and the rights of the parties determined.

The contract resulted in a profit of some $67,000, and there was a fund of $6,119.87 in the East Tennessee National Bank to the credit of M. J. Condon & Co., where it was originally deposited, and where it had ever since remained until paid into court.

The chancellor passed upon the rights of the parties, and declared the proportion in which they should share these funds, and adjudicated the costs. The complainants prayed a broad appeal, and the defendant Callahan prayed an appeal from so much of the decree as failed to charge the estate of M. J. Condon with twelve and one-half per cent, profit upon the gross amount of work which was sublet by M. J. Condon & Co. to Ed. L. Condon and M. J. Condon on a prior contract in South Carolina, and because he was refused proper salary as walking boss in connection with the work at Harriman, and for his services in completing the Harriman contract.

[289]*289In the court of chancery appeals a number of assignments were made by both parties, and the decree of the chancellor was affirmed, except that the defendant Callahan was allowed an additional sum of $903.73, on account of the South Carolina contract, and both parties have appealed to this court.

The first assignment made by the defendant Callahan is that the chancellor and the court of chancery appeals should have allowed him $6,300 compensation for carrying out and completing the contract made by M. J. Condon & Co. to build the railroad around Keogan Tunnel, which resulted in a profit to the firm of about $67,000. For this service he was actually allowed by the chancellor and the court of chancery appeals the sum of $2,700.

Upon this feature of the ease the complainants assign as error that Callahan should not have been allowed any compensation whatever for his services after the death of his copartner, M. J. Condon.

We will consider these assignments of error together.

The court of chancery appeals report that it was a provision of the contract between the partners that each of them should devote his entire time to the business of the partnership and that the work of one partner should offset the work of the other.

That court reports that Callahan, in negotiating with Mrs. Condon and her son for a settlement, was willing to accept the $2,700 for his services. They further report that she at first agreed to this allowance, but afterwards repudiated her agreement.

[290]*290■ That/court says? that,. while the weight of the proof tends to show that Callahan performed double service, in addition to the service of a walking boss, and that his extra service, aside from his walking’ boss service, was .worth the sum claimed by him, still that his own valuation of his services when the settlement was attempted between him’and. Mrs:. Condon was the most reasonable .basis to accept.'

• -That court declined to allow Callahan $150 per month for services as walking boss, because those services were rendered as surviving partner, in the prosecution and completion of the work; and the amount allowed him of $2,700 was allowed him by that court presumably upon the idea- that it was a proper compensation for his services in carrying out the contract, and these services were rendered as surviving partner.

So that, as we view the findings of the court of chancery appeals, the $2,700 allowed to Callahan by that court was for his services as surviving partner, and not simply as walking boss.

The question presented, then, is whether, under the contract between the partners and the facts developed in this record, the defendant Callahan should be allowed anything for his services as surviving partner, and, if so, how much.

As we construe the contract, it is not that neither partner should receive anything for his services, but that the work of the. one should offset the work of the other. In other words, it was contemplated that the services of [291]*291each would be; worth- the same, and that each should receive Ms-share of the -compensation-in the services-of the other. - •;

On account of the death of M. J: Condon, he was unable to comply with his part of the contract and-do his part- of the service.

We think the law in such case would imply that the partner doing the whole of the work should have reasonable compensation for that part of it which would have been done by the deceased partner, if he had lived; or, in other words, he was entitled to- compensation for that part of his work which his deceased partner would have contributed.

Now, the general rule is that, as between partners, the- surviving partner is entitled to make no charge for his services in winding up the partnership. Still this rule does not apply in all cases, but only to cases where the business is immediately put an end to and no further work is done, except to close up the matter of account as between the partners, pay the debts, and distribute the surplus, if any.

In the case of Godfrey v. Templeton, 86 Tenn., 167, 6 S. W., 49, it is said:

“It is well settled that surviving partners will not generally be allowed compensation for services rendered in winding up and settling the business of the firm; but that is not this case. The business of the firm was continued for the sake of profit, and the object was accomplished, resulting beneficially alike to the surviving partners and [292]*292the estate of the deceased partner; the continuance of the business even for a longer time being expressly authorized by the will of the deceased partner, and with the knowledge and consent of the administrator with the will annexed.”

In the present case the contract was continued by Callahan, as surviving partner, with the express consent of the executrix and sole legatee.

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115 Tenn. 285, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/condon-v-callahan-tenn-1905.