King v. Davis

1945 OK 362, 164 P.2d 639, 196 Okla. 277, 1945 Okla. LEXIS 565
CourtSupreme Court of Oklahoma
DecidedDecember 22, 1945
DocketNo. 31914.
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 1945 OK 362 (King v. Davis) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
King v. Davis, 1945 OK 362, 164 P.2d 639, 196 Okla. 277, 1945 Okla. LEXIS 565 (Okla. 1945).

Opinion

ARNOLD, J.

This action was commenced in the district court of Pitts-burg county by Fletcher Davis against W. C. King and Jeanne M. King to recover the balance of the commission for the sale of real estate. Plaintiff alleged, in substance, that he is and at all times therein stated was a broker buying and selling real and personal property for a commission; that on or about the 1st day of April, 1942, the defendants, W. C. King and Jeanne M. King, employed and authorized him to sell certain real property therein described for the sum of $8,500, for which they orally agreed to pay a commission of 5 per cent; that he has performed all conditions on his part, and on or about the 1st day of May, 1942, found a purchaser, viz., J. T. Downey and Rose Downey, who were willing, able, and ready to pay said sum of $8,500 for said property; that after some negotiations, said J. T. Downey and Rose Downey did buy said property and did pay said sum of $8,500 therefor; that he has been paid the sum of $212.50 and defendants are indebted to him and he prayed judgment for the balance of $212.50.

Defendants, W. C. King and Jeanne M. King, filed separate answers. The answer of W. C. King admitted that Davis introduced him to J. T. Downey; admitted that negotiations started which resulted in the sale of the land for $8,500, but alleged that in order to make the deal it was necessary for him to furnish an abstract, pay the 1942 taxes, complete a pond, waive certain pasture rights, and give up certain stock fields to the purchaser; that he and Davis had in the past worked together on various land deals for their mutual advantage; that he, King, approached Davis and told him of the expenses which it would be necessary to incur and the concessions he would have to make to complete the deal and that he would not sell if Davis insisted on the full 5 per cent commission; that Davis thereupon agreed to accept one-half the usual commission or $212.50; that thereafter he paid Davis a check for $212.50 marked “Com. Ranch Deal”; that Davis cashed the check and was thereby paid in full, and prayed that Davis take nothing. The answer of Jeanne M. King consisted of a general denial and an allegation that she never employed the plaintiff or authorized him to sell the land involved and was. in no way liable for a commission.

Plaintiff replied to these separate answers by general denial.

Upon trial of the case to a jury a verdict was returned in favor of plaintiff for the sum of $212.50 and judgment was entered thereon.

There are three assignments of error as follows: (1) error of the court in overruling the motion of defendants for a directed verdict; (2) error of the court in giving a certain instruction; (3) error in refusing to give a requested instruction.

Although several questions are argued in the briefs of the parties the vital question involved, as we view the record, is: Was the commission contract between plaintiff and defendants for a 5 per cent commission on the sale of this real estate or was the contract for a 2% per cent commission on such sale?

Plaintiff testified that he was a real estate broker and that W. C. King employed him to sell certain real estate located in Pittsburg county and agreed to pay him a commission of 5 per cent, which amounted to $425, on the sale price of $8,500; that he procured a purchaser who was ready, able, and willing to purchase the land; that he introduced him to W. C. King and that after some negotiations between them *279 the sale was finally consummated for the sum of $8,500; that there was some delay in consummating the transaction, but that it was completed early in September, and that on the 14th day of September the defendant, W. C. King, came to his office and tendered him a check for $212.50, same being a 2% per cent commission on the sale,' and that after considerable discussion between them as to the terms of their contract he accepted the check because he believed that he would get no more money from the defendant; that he informed defendant, when he accepted the check, that it was only half of his commission; that no controversy arose between him and King until after the sale was consummated.

J. T. Downey, the purchaser of the land, was a witness for plaintiff and testified that he saw the land advertised in the Kansas City Star and that he communicated with the plaintiff by letter to learn more of the details; that after receiving a letter from the plaintiff he made a trip to Pittsburg county and contacted him; that the plaintiff went with him to see the land, introduced him to the defendant, W. C. King, and that he and King went over the land together and discussed the price and other details; that he was then undecided and returned to his home in Pawhuska; from there he wrote another letter to the plaintiff offering $8,000 cash for the land; that he received a communication from the plaintiff advising him that the owner of the land would not take less than $12.50 an acre, or $8,500; that he thereupon returned to Pittsburg county and that on a third trip he closed the deal and purchased the land for cash.

Defendant, W. C. King, testified that he and his sister, Jeanne M. King, jointly owned the ranch in Pittsburg county; that he had authority from his sister to sell her part of the land; that he employed plaintiff to assist him in selling the land, but that because of expenses and concessions which he had to make in order to close the deal he told plaintiff he could only agree to pay him 2% per cent commission, or the sum of $212.50, and that plaintiff agreed to this; that some time after the deal was closed he met plaintiff for the purpose of paying the commission and that a dispute arose between them as to the percentage agreed upon as commission; that .after some discussion he tendered plaintiff a check for the sum of $212.50 in settlement of the controversy; that plaintiff protested at the time contending that they owed him the sum of $425; that after some discussion plaintiff offered to compromise for $300; that defendant declined this and insisted that the amount tendered was all that was owed; that plaintiff then accepted the check, which check bore the endorsement “Com. Ranch Deal”.

Conceding for the sake of argument, since the plaintiff Davis does not contend otherwise, that the case should have been submitted to the jury, it is apparent that the vital issue of fact which the jury was called upon to determine was whether the contract between the parties was for a 5 per cent or 2% per cent commission. At any, rate it was simply a question of fact as to which version of the transaction between them was correct. There was evidence in favor of plaintiff which reasonably supports the conclusion reached by the jury, under the well settled rule of this court, that the verdict of a jury on an issue of fact in a law action will not be disturbed where there is evidence reasonably tending to support the same and where no prejudicial error of law appears. Barry v. Kniseley et al., 56 Okla. 324, 155 P. 1168; McLaughlin v. Union Transp. Co., 177 Okla. 115, 57 P. 2d 868; McClellan v. Palmer, 184 Okla. 216, 86 P. 2d 325; City of Tulsa v. Caudle, 193 Okla. 6, 141 P. 2d 107.

The principal contention for reversal made by defendants in their brief is that the check for $212.50 given by W. C. King constitutes accord and satisfaction and is a full settlement of plaintiff’s claim. We are of the opinion, upon the record here presented, that *280

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Bluebook (online)
1945 OK 362, 164 P.2d 639, 196 Okla. 277, 1945 Okla. LEXIS 565, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/king-v-davis-okla-1945.