Edwards v. Trulis

212 So. 2d 893
CourtDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida
DecidedFebruary 22, 1968
DocketJ-217
StatusPublished
Cited by13 cases

This text of 212 So. 2d 893 (Edwards v. Trulis) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court of Appeal of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Edwards v. Trulis, 212 So. 2d 893 (Fla. Ct. App. 1968).

Opinion

212 So.2d 893 (1968)

Harry EDWARDS, Appellant,
v.
Tom D. TRULIS, Appellee.

No. J-217.

District Court of Appeal of Florida. First District.

February 22, 1968.
Rehearing Denied August 30, 1968.

*894 M. Howard Williams, Tallahassee, for appellant.

Benjamin W. Redding, of Barron & Hilton, Panama City, for appellee.

WIGGINTON, Chief Judge.

Appellant sued appellee for a brokerage commission allegedly due him under an oral contract between the parties involving an unconsummated sale of registered stock in a Florida corporation. Appellee defended on the ground, among others, that appellant was not a registered dealer or salesman in securities under the provisions of the uniform sale of securities law, Chapter 517, Florida Statutes, F.S.A., and therefore could not legally act as broker in the transaction or contract for the payment to him of a commission for the attempted sale of the securities involved.

At the hearing before the court on appellee's motion for summary judgment, it was stipulated that at no time material to the cause was appellant a dealer or salesman registered with the Securities Commission *895 pursuant to the provisions of F.S. Chapter 517, F.S.A. Restricting its consideration of the motion for summary judgment to the above-mentioned defense only, the trial court found that there existed in the pleadings, depositions and affidavits on file in the cause no genuine issue of any material fact, and that appellee was entitled to judgment as a matter of law. From the summary judgment rendered in appellee's favor this appeal is taken.

The primary question presented for our decision is whether a contract between the owner of registered corporate stocks in Florida, and a person who has failed to register as a dealer or salesman pursuant to the requirements of F.S. Chapter 517, F.S.A., whereby the seller agrees to pay the salesman a commission for his services in selling corporate stocks owned by the seller, is contrary to the public policy of this state and therefore void ab initio.

The uniform sale of securities law in effect in this state provides that no dealer or salesman as defined in the act shall engage in the business of selling any securities except in connection with transactions exempt under Section 517.06 of the act, unless he has been registered as a dealer or salesman in the office of the Securities Commission pursuant to the provisions of the statute.[1] The act further provides that the Commission, in the name of the state, may institute suit to enjoin any person who acts or attempts to act as a dealer or salesman of securities within this state without first being duly registered as provided therein.[2] Any one violating the provisions of the act shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction punished by fine or imprisonment in the state penitentiary.[3]

There can be little doubt but that the foregoing statute was enacted pursuant to the police power granted by the Constitution of Florida, and establishes the policy that the public be protected against fraudulent and deceptive practices in the sale and marketing of securities. Under these circumstances it must be held as a matter of law that any contract made in violation of its terms, provisions or requirements is void and confers no enforceable rights on the contracting parties.

The case of McManus v. Fulton[4] decided by the Supreme Court of Montana involves facts essentially similar in all material respects to those in the case sub judice. There a salesman or dealer in securities sought to recover from the owner of corporate stock a commission which the owner agreed to pay for the salesman's services in procuring a purchaser for the stock which the owner was desirous of selling. The owner defended on the ground that the dealer was not registered in accordance with the requirements of the securities act of Illinois in which state the contract was made, and where the services were allegedly performed. In holding the contract to be contrary to public policy and void, that court said:

"Where a statute designed for the protection of the public prescribes a penalty, that penalty is the equivalent of an express prohibition, and a contract in violation of its terms is void, * * *
* * * * * *
"`Whenever a statute is made for the protection of the public, a contract in violation of its provisions is void,' said Judge Kerrigan in Brandenburg v. Miley Petroleum Exploration Co. (D.C.) 16 F.2d 933, holding that a contract employing salesmen to sell corporate stock is void, when salesmen are not licensed to sell under the California Securities Act (St. 1917, p. 673, as amended). * * *
* * * * * *
"`The great weight of authority is that where a party comes into court seeking *896 to enforce a contract which is against public policy or is prohibited by public law, the court will refuse to aid either party and will leave them where they have placed themselves, and in refusing to enforce such contracts the court does not act for the benefit, or for the preservation of the alleged rights, of either party, but in the maintenance of its own dignity, the public good and the laws of the state' — and cases cited. Estate of Smythe v. Evans, 209 Ill. 376, 70 N.E. 906."

In Brandenburg v. Miley Petroleum Exploration Co.[5] a complaint filed by a securities dealer claimed judgment for commissions earned under a contract for services rendered in the sale of securities in California. The demurrer to the complaint alleged that at the time the contract was executed and the services allegedly performed, plaintiff was not registered as a dealer or salesman under the securities act of California, thereby rendering the contract void. In sustaining the demurrer on the grounds asserted, the court said:

"* * * Contracts made by unlicensed persons, performance of which requires them to do the acts for which they should have been licensed, are void. 42 A.L.R. 1226, note; * * *."

In Zerr v. Lawlor[6] a registered securities salesman sued for commissions allegedly owed him for services performed under a contract with defendant in procuring a sale of the capital stock owned by defendant. The contract upon which suit was brought provided that the owner would pay the salesman a commission of 25% of the sales price of the stock, although the securities act in effect in that state restricted the payment of a sales commission to not more than 20% of the sales price. Since the terms of the contract violated the provisions of the statute with respect to the maximum amount of commission which could be paid, the court, in denying recovery, said:

"Not only has the petition failed to allege a compliance with the requirements of the Blue Sky Law, but it has in terms set up a contract that is in violation of the statute, and void upon its face. The law says not more than 20 per cent. of the sales price shall be paid for commissions and the petition alleges a contract for commissions of 25 per cent. and bases a recovery thereon. On its face the petition fails to state a cause of action, and a judgment based thereon is illegal and void."

The above-cited decisions dealing specifically with claims for brokerage commissions by unregistered dealers and salesmen are based upon principles of law recognized and adhered to by the courts of this state. In Local No.

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Bluebook (online)
212 So. 2d 893, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/edwards-v-trulis-fladistctapp-1968.