Keith v. Kellermann

169 F. 196, 1909 U.S. App. LEXIS 5443
CourtU.S. Circuit Court for the District of Southern New York
DecidedMarch 29, 1909
StatusPublished
Cited by11 cases

This text of 169 F. 196 (Keith v. Kellermann) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Southern New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Keith v. Kellermann, 169 F. 196, 1909 U.S. App. LEXIS 5443 (circtsdny 1909).

Opinion

WARD, Circuit Judge.

October 17, 1908 at Boston, Mass., the parties executed the following agreements;

“Agreement made this 17th day of October, 1908, between Benjamin F. Keith of Brookline in the county of Norfolk and commonwealth of Massachusetts, hereinafter called the first party, and Annette Kellermann at present of Boston in the county of Suffolk and said commonwealth, hereinafter called the second party, witnesseth that in consideration of the promises of each of the parties herein set forth it is agreed as follows:
“First. The second party agrees to render professional services for the first party from the 19th day of October, 1908, to the 3d day of May, 1909, in performing the following acts, to wit, trick and fancy diving, toe dancing, Diabolo, as many times, in such theaters and other places and on such days as may be determined by said first party.
“Second. Said second party agrees not to present either privately or publicly during the term thereof, or any renewal hereof as hereinafter provided, any act or specialty in any place other than those designated by the first party or for any person other than the first party without the consent of said first [198]*198party in writing, and a violation hereof shall entitle the first party to cancel this agreement.
“Third. The second party agrees to eliminate any portion of her acts or performances whenever so requested by said first party or his representatives and agrees to abide and be bound by rules and regulations now or hereafter adopted by said first party in his various theaters.
“Fourth. The first party agrees to pay the second party three hundred dollars ($300.00) at the end of each week after the last performance on Saturday for services rendered or produced by said second party* as hereinbefore provided, provided, however, that said second party complies with each and every agreement and condition by her to be kept and performed as above set forth.
“Fifth. If the first party is prevented by fire or by public authority, city, state or federal, from operating any theater wherein the second party is to perform or produce hereunder, the first party may cancel this agreement for the time that he is prevented from so operating.
“Sixth. This contract shall be renewed with all its conditions and agreements on the part of both parties to be kept and performed for any one or all of three theatrical seasons each of thirty weeks and beginning on the 4th day of October, in the year 1909, on the 3d day of October, in the year 1910, and on the 2d day of October, in the year 1911, if the first party desires to renew said contract and notifies the second party that he intends so to renew on or before the 15th day of August in each of said years. Such notice shall be sufficient if sent by the first party by mail to the last and usual place of abode of said second party known to said first party.
“In witness whereof said parties have hereunto set their hands and seals this 17th day of October, 1908.”
“Agreement made this 17th day of October, 1908, between Benjamin F. Keith of Brookline in the county of Norfolk and commonwealth of Massachusetts, hereinafter called the manager, and Annette Kellermann now of Boston in . the county of Suffolk .and said commonwealth, hereinafter called the performer, witnesseth that in consideration of the promises of each of the parties herein set forth it is agreed as follows:
“First. The performer agrees that during the summer season of the year 1909 she will solely under the management and direction of the manager render her professional services as a performer in the open air and elsewhere in such acts, in such places, on such days, and at such times, as the manager directs. Said season is to begin as soon after the 1st day of June, 1909, as the weather conditions permit.and suitable fittings and other necessary preparations have been made for the production of said services, but in no ease later than the 1st day of July, and is to terminate on such date in the month of September in said year as the manager shall determine.
“Second. Said performer further agrees that during said summer season and during the period between the close of her engagement with said manager for the season of 1908-09, as provided in another agreement between the same parties dated the 17th day of October, 1908, and the opening of said summer season, she will perform or exhibit in no places other than those determined by the manager without his consent in writing, nor will she accept any engagement or make any contract so to operate without said consent in writing.
“Third. Said manager agrees to assume all expense necessary or incidental to the fitting up and getting ready for the production of the performer’s acts and exhibitions as herein provided.
“Fourth. It is further agreed by both parties that the proceeds of the enterprises herein provided for, after all running expenses have been deducted, shall be equally divided between said parties, but no salary or living expenses for either party is to be included in said running expenses.
“Fifth. It is further agreed that this contract with all its agreements and conditions on the part of both parties to be performed shall be renewed for any or all of the summer seasons, and for the periods between the winter and summer seasons so fai: as applicable thereto, in the years 1910, 1911 and 1912 if the manager desires so to renew and gives notice of his intention so to renew to the performer on or before the 15th day of May in each of said years, and said seasons are to begin and terminate as is provided in this con[199]*199tract for the summer season for the year 1909. A. notice to the performer will be sufficient if sent to the last and usual place of abode of the performer known to the manager.”

It will be seen that together the documents cover public performances to be given by the defendant from October 19th to May 3d, called the winter season, and from June 1st or as soon thereafter as the weather should permit and the necessary preparations could be made, but not later than July 1st, to such date in September as the plaintiff should determine, being the summer season. Between the two seasons the defendant agreed not to perform anywhere except with the plaintiff’s consent.

The defendant, admitting that the first agreement is one for employment, contends that the second is a partnership; but I think that it is also a contract for employment. The plaintiff is described as the “manager,” the defendant as the “performer.” The defendant agrees to perform in such acts on such days and at such times as the plaintiff shall direct. Between the winter and summer seasons the defendant agrees not to perform at all except with the plaintiff’s consent. The plaintiff is to meet all expenses necessary for the production of the defendant’s exhibitions and has the option to be declared on or before May 15th, in each year to renew the contract on the same conditions for the summer seasons of 1910, 1911, 1912, or either of them.

While it is true that the sharing of profits is a most distinctive feature of partnerships, such sharing in the case of contracts for the loan of money or for personal services is generally a method of measuring conpensation.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
169 F. 196, 1909 U.S. App. LEXIS 5443, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/keith-v-kellermann-circtsdny-1909.