Degen v. Brooks

43 N.W.2d 755, 77 N.D. 514, 1950 N.D. LEXIS 148
CourtNorth Dakota Supreme Court
DecidedAugust 28, 1950
DocketFile 7204
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 43 N.W.2d 755 (Degen v. Brooks) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering North Dakota Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Degen v. Brooks, 43 N.W.2d 755, 77 N.D. 514, 1950 N.D. LEXIS 148 (N.D. 1950).

Opinion

*515 Grimson, J.

Plaintiff brings this action for the dissolution of a partnership and for an accounting of the partnership business. The defendant admits the partnership but alleges fraud in the securing of the partnership agreement and claims it never became effective. Defendant then counterclaims for the time which it is claimed the plaintiff failed to devote to the partnership business. Prior to the trial the partnership had been dissolved by mutual agreement. Upon the trial the District Court awarded the plaintiff a judgment for $1824.89. Prom that judgment both parties appealed and asked for a trial de novo.

The evidence shows the plaintiff had worked at the plumbing-trade since 1920 and had become a master plumber. The defendant also was a licensed plumber and had worked at the plumbing and heating trade for more .than fifteen years. He had also worked as a brakeman and' conductor on the Northern Pacific Railway- and had acquired considerable business experience. Neither party seems to have accumulated much property nor been in business of their own until 1947.

About the 1st of March 1947- the defendant established his own plumbing and heating- business at Jamestown under the name of Brooks Plumbing- & Heating-. Plaintiff and defendant had been acquainted for over 20 years and had at times worked for the same concern. About the middle of May 1947 the plaintiff approached the defendant for a partnership. After several conversations an oral agreement was ■ reached between them whereby a partnership was to be established on June 15, 1947, under the name of Brooks & Degen Plumbing & Heating. At that time the defendant listed the assets of his Brooks Plumbing & Heating concern at $3594.54. The plaintiff was to pay the defendant $2000.00 for a one-half interest therein and those assets were to form the capital of the new concern. Both parties were to devote the whole of their time to the- business enterprise. Defendant was to be business manager and have' charge of the office and accounts. He was also to have charge of the hot air heating and sheet metal work. Plaintiff was to have charge of plumbing and outside- installations.' Plaintiff paid to the defendant on this arrangement $300.00 cash and was to pay $1700.00 later. Plaintiff testified:

*516 “QOn what terms was this agreement made ?

A: Well, that was' on a 50-50 basis.

Q: What do you mean by 50-50 basis?

A: In dividing any profits.

Q: How about losses?

A: Well the losses as well as the pr'ofits. ...

Q: Was it agreed how'much of that $4000.00 you- would pay Mr. Brooks for a share of the business ?

A: I was supposed to pay half.

Q: How much would that half be ?

A: Approximately $2000.00.

Q: And how much of that did you pay at that time ?

A: I paid $300.00.

Q: What, if any, arrangements- were made by you and Mr. Brooks as to the payment of the balance of $1700.00?

A: Well, I was supposed to put it in as I could raise the money or it was agreed that he would take his balance, out of the profits of the business.

Q: Was anything said as to when this balance should be paid or anything along those lines ?

A: No, sir, not that I recall!”

Mr. Brooks- testified on direct examination:

“Q.p Did you converse relative to the partnership affairs ?

A: Yes sir.

Q: What transpired then ?

A: Well he put .it up to me this way: After I had explained to him that we couldn’t hire experienced help and that materials were very scarce,, (he said) that if I would take him with me we would hire a group of those G-.I. boys and train, them to be plumbers, and steam fitters and that he would — we would take an inventory and he would buy out one-half of my interest and pay cash for it.

Q: And did you arrive at that time at what a half interest would be ? . ■

AA few days later We did-take an inventory. -

Q: And what did you arrive at as being- the -half interest in the business — what the amount should be ?

*517 A: At that particular time the inventory was $3500 and some odd dollars.

Q: Did you consider your tools in the inventory?

A: The tools were not considered.

Q: When did you actually take -Mr. Degen into this business when you started operating as Brooks & Degen?

A: As of June 15,1947.

Q: Was there anything in writing between you and this gentleman?

A: No.

■ Q: Didn’t you tell Mr. Degen that you wanted a partnership agreement in writing ?

Q: Did that ever transpire ?

A: No sir.

Q: Why not?

A: Because I told him that he couldn’t be considered a partner until such time that he put in his equal share of capital.

Q: Did you ever ask him? •

A: Many, many times.

Q: Was there any discussion between you and Mr. Degen when you were to get the balance of $1700.00 which he was short out of the profits of .the business?

A: Never. He suggested that one day and I told him' that would be just like taking money out of one pocket and putting it into another, and I told him I had worked too hard for that money and I couldn’t do that.”

A: Mr. Degen told me that he would get his $2000.00 within ten days and the agreement — the conversation, that we had the evening we made the final deal was that there would be no partnership until we each had both of our money in there. Because I told him we couldn’t operate unless we had more money because I was operating to the very limit of my capital, and there was no chance of expanding on- the limited capital that I had, *518 so there would he no object in taking* in a partner and having no more money, and he agreed with me and it was understood between he and I on the agreement that there was no partnership until such time that we contributed our equal share in this business, and it was operated that way since.”

In answer to questions by the court, Brooks testified:

“Q. If Degen had put in what he was supposed to put in when you started this business would you have a capital of more than $4,000?

A: No, he was supposed to pay that to me personally.

Q: You put in the money that he was supposed to put in?

A: That is right; I put in the money for both of us.

Q: Except that $300.00?

A: Yes sir. He didn’t owe the business any money- — -he owed me personally.

On cross examination Mr. Brooks testified:

“Q: The next day you made the contract by accepting the proposition?

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Bluebook (online)
43 N.W.2d 755, 77 N.D. 514, 1950 N.D. LEXIS 148, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/degen-v-brooks-nd-1950.