Koehler v. Richman

143 A. 82, 6 N.J. Misc. 756, 1928 N.J. Misc. LEXIS 3
CourtCamden County Circuit Court, N.J.
DecidedApril 27, 1928
StatusPublished

This text of 143 A. 82 (Koehler v. Richman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Camden County Circuit Court, N.J. primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Koehler v. Richman, 143 A. 82, 6 N.J. Misc. 756, 1928 N.J. Misc. LEXIS 3 (N.J. Ct. App. 1928).

Opinion

Donges, J.

This suit is brought to recover the balance of commissions alleged to be due to J. R. Tucker, Incorpo[757]*757rated, from the defendant. This case is submitted to me for determination without a jury, upon stipulated facts.

The following agreement was entered into:

“October 20th, 1925.
J. E. Tucker, Inc.,
313 Market St.,
Camden, N. J.
Dear Sir:
In consideration of your effecting sale of premises known as 428, 430, 432, 434 Broadway, Camden, N. J., for one hundred and forty-two thousand [$142,000] dollars, to do which you were authorized, we hereby agree to pay you five per cent, commission on one hundred thousand [$100,000] dollars, commission amounting to five thousand [$5,000] dollars and three per cent, commission on forty-two thousand [$42,000] dollars, commission amounting to twelve hundred and sixty [$1,260] dollars, total commission amounting to sixty-two hundred and sixty [$6,260] dollars.
One thousand [$1,000] dollars of the above-mentioned commission is handed you herewith; and we agree to pay you one thousand [$1,000] dollars on November 24th, 1925, and one thousand dollars [$1,000] on December 24th, 1925; balance of commission amounting to thirty-two hundred and sixty [$3,260] dollars to be paid at time of final settlement, March 20th, 1926.
Yours very truly,
[Signed] Wm. Eichmak.”

By the terms of the agreement of sale which was dated October 20th, 1925, $5,000 was paid on the execution of the agreement, $5,000 was payable November 24th, 1925, and another $5,000 was payable December 24th, 1925. Settlement was to take place March 1st, 1926, when a first mortgage of $100,000 and a second mortgage of $10,000 were to be executed and delivered, the balance of the purchase price of $17,000 was to be paid in cash. The agreement of sale [758]*758was between William Eichman and Flora S., his wife, of the first part, and “J. E. Tucker, Inc., agent for Samuel Spring, of the city and county of Camden and State of New Jersey,” of the second part.

The defendant paid to Tucker $1,000 on account of commissions on October 20th, 1925, and on November 24th, when the second installment of $5,000 was paid by check of J. E. Tucker, Incorporated, the sum of $1,000, being the second installment on commissions, was paid. The installment of $5,000 coming due on the 24th of December, 1925, was not paid. An extension was requested by J. E. Tucker, Incorporated, and granted to a date in January, on which date Eichman threatened to forfeit the deposit money, whereupon Tucker recorded the contract and requested a further extension to the first day of March, 1926, and a still further extension to April 15th, 1926, both of which were granted. On or about April 15th, 1926, Tucker, Incorporated, advised defendant that the contract would not be performed on the part of the hujier, and the settlement never took place, due to the default of the purchaser. On June 8th, 1926, plaintiff, Koehler, was appointed, by order of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, receiver of J. E. Tucker, Incorporated, and has qualified and is now acting as such receiver.

The authority of J. E. Tucker, Incorporated, to act for Spring appears by the following correspondence between said J. E. Tucker, Incorporated, and Spring:

“October 12th, 1925.
Eeceived of Samuel Spring the sum of ten thousand [$10,000] dollars to be used in the purchase of real estate at the discretion of the undersigned, fifteen thousand [$15,000] dollars in addition to be placed in the hands of the undersigned on or before three weeks from this date.
[Signed] J. E. Tucker, Inc.
Accepted: J. E. Tucker, Pres.
[Signed] Samuel Spring.”

[759]*759“October 13, 1925.

J. R. Tucker, Inc., and Mr. J. R. Tucker, President,

Federal Street,

Camden, N. J.

Dear Mr. Tucker:

In reference to our conversation yesterday and the $10,000 which I left on deposit with you at that time, I understand that the arrangement we entered into included the following understanding:

(1) That title to all property acquired by you with my money would be taken in the name of J. R. Tucker, personally as trustee, or in my own name as I should elect.

(2) That you in no way have any authority to commit me to any obligation in excess of $25,000 agreed upon.

(3) That the money which I deposit with jrou shall, as usual, be deposited in a special trustee or agency account by you.

(4) That you will keep me advised of each and every deal that you make and let me have for my records copies of all papers or contracts entered into.

The above is the usual precaution which I think a company of your size would take to protect its customers. I am happy to follow your discretion in the purchase or sale of such properties in Camden or immediately adjacent thereto which you may deem advisable. I am hopeful that you will give me some action plus some pleasant surprises.

I have checked over my financial commitments here and I see no reason whatsoever why I shall not be able to send you the additional $15,000 before the end of this month.

Kindly let me known when you are next coming to New York so we can go to lunch together. If I can be of any service to you in your plans hereabouts, I shall be happy to co-operate Avith you because it is always my theory of doing business that things must be mutual and one must give as well as take.

After the way Mr. David Stern spoke to me about you I haven’t any hesitation to trust you as I have. The amount [760]*760of money involved means a good deal of money to me because I am not a wealthy man, but having confidence in Camden by reason of my observation' there and of you by reason of what Mr. Stern said, I look forward to my arrangement in Camden with confidence.

Yours very truly,

[Signed] Samuel Spring

S. Spring,

SS-m Secretary-Treasurer.

“October 16th, 1925.

Mr. Samuel Spring, Secretary-Treasurer,

First National Pictures, Inc.,

383 Madison Ave.,

New York City.

Dear Mr. Spring:

I am in receipt of your letter of October 13th, outlining the basis on which I am to handle the money you are placing with me to invest. The terms as outlined in your letter are according to our verbal agreement, so that your letter will serve as a contract between us.

I have already made a purchase in your account and will give you your copy of the agreement when I see 3rou in New York the coming week.

Very truly yours,

JRT:KT [Signed] J. R. Tucker, Inc.”

“November 5, 1925.

Mr. J. R. Tucker,

313 Market St.,

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Bluebook (online)
143 A. 82, 6 N.J. Misc. 756, 1928 N.J. Misc. LEXIS 3, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/koehler-v-richman-njcirctcamden-1928.