Finnell v. Bromberg

381 P.2d 221, 79 Nev. 211, 1963 Nev. LEXIS 104
CourtNevada Supreme Court
DecidedMay 2, 1963
Docket4580
StatusPublished
Cited by20 cases

This text of 381 P.2d 221 (Finnell v. Bromberg) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nevada Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Finnell v. Bromberg, 381 P.2d 221, 79 Nev. 211, 1963 Nev. LEXIS 104 (Neb. 1963).

Opinions

[213]*213OPINION

By the Court,

Badt, C. J.:

This appeal requires a determination of the rights and obligations of the parties under an option from Finnell to Bromberg for the purchase of certain corporate stock owned by the former. The trial court found that Bromberg had notified Finnell of his exercise of the option to purchase the stock and tendered the option price thereof, [214]*214and that upon Finnell’s rejection Bromberg was entitled to judgment for damages in the amount of the difference between the option price and the price to which the stock had advanced on the exchange at the time of Finnell’s breach. Judgment was entered in favor of Bromberg- in the sum of $99,484.93. A statement of the facts follows.

The option was in the following words:

“The undersigned hereby grant to Leo Edwin Bromberg the option to purchase the corporate stock hereinafter referred to on the following terms and conditions:
“1. The option covers the stock of Barnhart Morrow Consolidated represented by Certificate No. TB558 for 45,000 shares, Certificate No. TB559 for 61,060% shares, Certificate No. TB560 for 10,000 shares.
“2. The option can be exercised only after March 1, 1959 and before June 23, 1959 by notice in writing and tender of the purchase price in the form of cashier’s check or money order.
“3. The purchase price of said shares shall be 60(5 per share for shares represented by Certificate Nos. TB559 and TB560 and 75(5 per share for shares represented by Certificate No. TB558.
“4. In consideration of this option the undersigned acknowledges receipt of the sum of $5,000.00 which sum represents consideration for this option and is not to be deemed as part of the purchase price for said stock.
“Dated: 2 January 1959
“/s/ Mrs. Imogene C. Wilson
“/s/ Mrs. Florence C. Jones
“/s/ Mrs. Leone C. Finnell”

On May 20, 1959, Bromberg sent the following telegram to Finnell and her sisters, the other two optioners.1

“I HEREBY EXERCISE OPTION TO PURCHASE BARNHART-MORROW CONSOLIDATED CERTIFICATE NO. TB558 FOR 45,000 SHARES AT 75(5 PER [215]*215SHARE, NO. TB559 FOR 61,060% SHARES AT 60‡ PER SHARE AND NO. TB560 FOR 10,000 SHARES AT 60 PER SHARE, FOR A TOTAL CONSIDERATION OF $76,386.40. PLEASE DEPOSIT SAID CERTIFICATES EVIDENCING SAID NUMBER OF SHARES WITH THE BANK OF AMERICA, WIL-SHIRE SWEETZER BRANCH, 6507 WILSHIRE BOULEVARD, LOS ANGELES 48, CALIFORNIA, ESCROW NO. 9748, AND BANK OF AMERICA WILL MAKE PAYMENT FOR SAID SHARES IMMEDIATELY UPON RECEIPT FROM YOU. BANK OF AMERICA WILL MAIL YOU ESCROW INSTRUCTIONS FOR SIGNATURE TODAY. KINDEST PERSONAL REGARDS.”

On the same date he wrote Mrs. Finnell at her Reno address and Mrs. Jones and Mrs. Wilson at their respective Los Angeles addresses, in virtually the same words and figures contained in the telegram.

On the same date the Bank of America, Los Angeles, wrote Finnell at Reno as follows:

“We enclose a copy of escrow Instructions for your signature. When we are in receipt of this Instruction signed by all parties and the Stock certificates listed therein, we will present the Certificate and proceed as per Instruction.
“If the cashier’s check in the amount of $76,386.40 is to be divided between Imogene C. Wilson, Florence C. Jones and Leone C. Finnell in this escrow, we will require written instructions signed by all three as to the exact amount of the checks to be issued to each party, otherwise we will issue one check in the amount of $76,386.40 payable to the order of all three. A self-addressed envelope is enclosed for your convenience in returning the signed escrow instruction to this office.”

The escrow instructions referred to contained, first, some two pages of printed matter holding the bank harmless against everything “except gross negligence or willful misconduct,” and authorized the bank, in the event of any controversy between the parties or with any third person, to await the settlement thereof by [216]*216final appropriate legal proceedings, “notwithstanding anything in the following instructions to the contrary.” This is followed by the provision for the payment by Capital Factors of $25,000 and for payment by Bromberg of $51,386.40, making a total of $76,386.40, which was to be delivered by cashier’s checks to Finnell and her two sisters.2 It is then provided: “Upon issuance of the above mentioned cashier’s check, the undersigned [Wilson, Jones, and Finnell] will have no further interest in this escrow.”

It is then provided that Bromberg deposit a $25,000 note payable to Capital Factors and 38,500 shares of Barnhart Morrow stock (furnished by Barnhart Morrow), “whereupon Capital Factors will have no further interest in this escrow.”

The bank is then to hold the residue of the stock until it has received $85,000 with orders for stock per a written form attached and such sum is to be used for payment by the banks of bills in accordance with an attached list, and Barnhart Morrow is to deposit its note for $85,000 for delivery to Bromberg when payment of the bills has been made. The escrow may then be closed.

The form attached to the escrow instructions whereby subscribers to Barnhart Morrow stock deposit their money, provided that all such funds “be held by you until the entire block of shares to be sold through this escrow has been so deposited as set forth in the escrow instructions.”

The parties entered into a stipulation as to the facts, including the following:

“On or about January 2, 1959, plaintiff and defendant entered into an option agreement * * *. Under this agreement defendant gave to plaintiff an option to purchase 71,060% shares of the stock of Barnhart Morrow Consolidated at the price of sixty cents a share. The option could be exercised between March 1, 1959, and June 23, 1959. Plaintiff paid defendant and her two sisters $5,000.00 for said option.
[217]*217“On or about May 20, 1959, plaintiff had caused to be deposited in escrow with the Bank of America, Wilshire-Sweetzer Branch, in Los Angeles $76,386.40. * * * From this amount $42,636.40 was to be paid to defendant when she deposited in the escrow the stock called for by the option.
“On or about May 20, 1959, plaintiff wired and wrote to defendant, advised her of his exercise of the option, that the bank would make payment to her immediately upon the receipt of the shares and that the bank would send escrow instructions for her signature. By letter dated the same day the bank sent the escrow instructions to defendant.
“On May 20, 1959, the market price of the stock was $2.00 per share.
‡ ‡ ‡
“After March 31 and prior to May 20, a Mr. Turnbull told defendant that she did not need to deliver the stock.
“There is some conflict in the testimony as to telephone calls concerning the delivery of the stock by defendant. Portions of that testimony were:

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
381 P.2d 221, 79 Nev. 211, 1963 Nev. LEXIS 104, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/finnell-v-bromberg-nev-1963.