Levinton v. Poorvu

200 N.E. 9, 293 Mass. 338, 1936 Mass. LEXIS 1009

• Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
• Decided: January 30, 1936
• Status: Published

Opinion

Crosby, J.

This action of contract to recover for an alleged breach of an indemnification covenant was tried before a jury and a verdict was returned for the defendant. The case is before this court on the plaintiff’s exceptions to the denial of his motion for a directed verdict, to'the admission of evidence, to the denial of his requests for instructions to the jury, and also on the defendant’s exception to the allowance of a motion to amend one of the plaintiff’s requests for rulings.

The writing, dated April 24, 1923, upon which this action was founded, was an agreement for the purchase and sale of real estate, and contained, besides a description of the premises and the terms and conditions of sale, the following provision: “The Vendee hereby represents and declares that no brokers are involved in connection with this transaction and that the said Vendor is not to pay any commissions on account of this sale and agrees to hold the said Vendor harmless against all claims for commissions.” The agreement was signed by E. Gertrude Furlong, E. D. Levinton, agent, and E. D. Levinton as the vendors, and Harris Poorvu, the vendee. The sale was consummated.

By a writ dated June 29, 1923, Sidney F. Hooper, a real estate broker, brought an action against one Max Shoolman to recover a commission for the sale of the property which was described in the above mentioned agreement, and after a trial on the merits Hooper recovered judgment, on March 14, 1927, in the sum of $6,414.67. An agreement of judgment satisfied was filed on the same date. By writ dated March 21, 1928, Shoolman brought an action against Levinton, the plaintiff in the present action, for the recovery of the amount of the judgment, together with interest and attorney's fees, alleging in his declaration that he was acting as agent for Levinton with respect to the property. The answer of Levinton consisted of a general denial and a plea of payment. Under date of April 2, 1928, Levinton. sent Poorvu a letter notifying him to come in and defend the action. Poorvu received the notice on or about April 6, 1928, but did not appear personally or by attorney. While the case was pending, Poorvu brought a bill in equity, filed on June 15, 1928, against Levinton and Shoolman, seeking to restrain the prosecution of the action of Shoolman against Levinton. Both defendants filed demurrers to the bill, alleging that the plaintiff had not stated any case which entitled him to relief in equity. These demurrers were sustained, according to the order on each demurrer, on the ground that the allegations in the bill did not show that the plaintiff in the equity case would be bound by any judgment obtained by Shoolman against Levinton, or that the plaintiff had sought and been refused an opportunity to defend that action. No amendment was filed to the bill of complaint and a final decree was entered on September 28, 1928, dismissing the bill. The plaintiff Poorvu appealed. By rescript from this court, dated January 7, 1929, the appeal was dismissed. It appears that the bill was finally dismissed under Rule 85 of the. Superior Court (1932). In the action of Shoolman against Levinton, a judgment for the plaintiff was entered on December 21, 1931, in the sum of $9,059.36 including damages and costs. The execution was indorsed “Satisfied in full April 26, 1932, ” and was filed on January 15, 1935. Levinton, by writ dated April 28, 1932, brought the present action against Poorvu under the indemnity clause contained in the agreement for sale.

The defendant, called by the plaintiff, testified that on or about April 24, 1923, he signed the purchase and sale agreement; that on or about April 6, 1928, he received from counsel for the plaintiff the notice with respect to the action by Shoolman and delivered the notice to his attorney. When one is liable over to another on some claim and is duly notified of the pendency of an action involving such claim, and requested to take upon himself the defence of it, he is no longer a stranger, but is bound by the judgment because he has had the opportunity to appear and defend the action. Bowditch v. E. T. Slattery Co. 263 Mass. 496, 499. Genard v. Hosmer, 285 Mass. 259, 265. Miller v. United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co. 291 Mass. 445, 449. That principle, however, has no application where a judgment was obtained by fraud or collusion. Valentine v. Farnsworth, 21 Pick. 176, 182. Boston v. Worthington, 10 Gray, 496, 499. Prichard v. Farrar, 116 Mass. 213, 220, 221. New York Central Railroad v. William Culkeen & Sons Co. 249 Mass. 71, 77. Bowditch v. E. T. Slattery Co. 263 Mass. 496, 498. There was evidence of fraudulent collusion between Shoolman and the plaintiff Levinton. A verdict could not properly have been directed for the plaintiff.

Sidney F. Hooper, called as a witness by the defendant, testified that he acted as a broker in the sale to Poorvu; that Shoolman told him that he had the property to sell and for him to see Levinton for all the details of the property as Levinton was looking out for the property for Shoolman; that Shoolman stated the sale price to be $225,000; that the witness had several talks with Shoolman and Levinton; that Shoolman said that he would be responsible for the witness’s commission; that later the witness produced Poorvu who offered $200,000 for the property, Poorvu to pay the broker’s commission, and at that time Shoolman instructed Poorvu to see Levinton, who would prepare the agreements; that in the written agreement the price was stated as $203,333.33; that when Poorvu learned of this he refused to sign the agreement unless he was to be exempt from paying any broker’s commission; that Shoolman said it would be all right for Poorvu to sign the agreement, that he, Shoolman, would pay the commission, and “that the indemnity clause agreeing to save Levinton harmless from broker’s commissions was there because witness had several co-brokers who might later bring a suit for a commission and as the agreement was between Levinton and Poorvu he wanted to be sure that Levinton was protected and that witness would be paid his broker’s commission by him, Shoolman”; that soon after the sale was consummated “witness saw Shoolman at the latter’s office and requested payment of his commission and was told by Shoolman that Eddie Levinton did a lot of work in connection with the property and that he ought to receive part of the commission.” This witness further testified that he refused to accede to this arrangement, Levinton not having taken any part in producing the purchaser.

The defendant testified that Hooper interested him in the property and that at a conference in Shoolman’s office with Hooper, Shoolman, Levinton and one Gilbert, it was agreed that he, the defendant, would pay $200,000 for the property, and also the broker’s commission; that Shoolman requested Levinton to draw the agreements; that the witness subsequently refused to sign the agreements when the price was raised, but later signed them after it was decided that Shoolman would pay the commission; that he then gave his check for $5,000 on account of the purchase price payable to Edward D. Levinton, which was later deposited in an account entitled “Edward D. Levinton, Trustee.”

Ellen G. Furlong, called by the defendant, testified '1 That she had been secretary and bookkeeper for Shoolman for several years,” and was familiar with his books of account; that the sale of the Pratt Building was the only instance in which she acted as a “straw” for Levinton; that she had acted for Shoolman as a “straw” in many cases and that she could remember only one piece of property that Shoolman ever had in his own name and that was in Canada; that after the sale to Poorvu, Levinton went to Palestine, “and just prior to his departure she balanced his books and his trustee account on the Merchants National Bank was changed from ‘Edward D. Levinton, Trustee’ to ‘Edward D. Levinton, Max Shoolman, attorney.’”

The plaintiff, called by the defendant, testified that he was a brother-in-law of Shoolman, and that in 1923 he had an office in Shoolman’s suite and still has an office there; that the three checks he received from Poorvu in connection with the sale to him were indorsed by the plaintiff, and that the “TR” after his name signified “Trustee”; “that on June 4, 1923, the Poorvu deal was closed”; that on June 15, 1923, he turned over $5,000 to Shoolman, as a loan, and on July 9, 1923, Shoolman paid him $3,300; that at the time Hooper sued Shoolman, the witness was living in Shoolman’s home and knew all about the action; that his attorney, who sent the notice to Poorvu to come in and defend the action brought by Shoolman against the witness, represented Shoolman in other matters; that “Up to the time of the sale ... to Poorvu, Shoolman was not interested directly or indirectly in the property and there was nothing that took place between witness and Shoolman that indicated that he had anything to do with the property or that he had an interest in” it; that he had no conversation with Shoolman about selling the property up to the time the agreement with Poorvu was signed, and that there was no reason that he knew of why Hooper should have brought an action against Shoolman for a commission for a sale of the property to Poorvu; that there was nothing the witness ever said to Shoolman that would indicate to him that Hooper had any claim against Shoolman or the witness for a commission, and that there was nothing brought to the witness’s attention to indicate that Shoolman had ever hired Hooper to sell the property. This witness then testified that he thought the action by Shoolman against him was "justifiable and equitable.” After making this statement the following colloquy took place between the judge and the witness: "Q. (By the judge) I would like to ask a question about this ... if he had no claim against you, why did you think that the Shoolman suit was justifiable? That is what I would like to know. A. Because, as I tried to show, Shoolman was an innocent party and because of his relationship with me, and also the agreement I had. . . . This was rather a delicate situation because of my rather close relationship with Mr. Shoolman. — Q. Was it your idea that Shoolman had been wrongfully stuck, and if he stuck you, to use the vernacular, you could pass it on to Poorvu? Was that the situation? A. I didn't have any other way of taking care of it, except through my agreement which I had drawn up. — Q. That is, you mean, taking care of Shoolman? A. Of his bringing suit against me — the only way that we could bring it to a head, or to find out if I was right or wrong in the case. I had no other way of establishing my rights except through that medium.” This witness further testified “that from the checking account in the Merchants National Bank which was changed over from Edward D. Levinton, Trustee to Max Shoolman, Attorney for Levinton,” after the latter left for Palestine, there were checks drawn to Max Shoolman and that while the witness was away Shoolman was lending himself money from the witness’s funds.

If the jury believed the plaintiff's testimony that he, and not Shoolman, owned the property, they were warranted in finding cqllusion between Levinton and Shoolman in the procurement of the judgment against Levinton. Levinton testified that Shoolman was an innocent party, that because of the close relationship existing between them, and the fact that Levinton had the agreement of indemnity with Poorvu, it was decided that Shoolman's loss was to be taken care of through the medium of the indemnity agreement and transferred to Poorvu. Levinton testified that for Shoolman to sue him was “the only way that we could bring it to a head” — that is, to take care of Shoolman. The plaintiff’s contention that the fraud, if there was any, was in simulating a claim and not fraud and collusion in the procurement of a judgment, which the plaintiff concedes would constitute a bar to the present action, cannot be sustained.

The defendant was not barred from setting up fraud and collusion as a defence in the present action by the disposition of the equity proceedings in which he was the plaintiff and Levinton and Shoolman were the defendants. The plaintiff, however, contends that, although ordinarily a decree dismissing a bill in equity under Rule 85 of the Superior Court (1932) may not be a final adjudication such as would prevent a new suit upon the same cause of action, in the case of Poorvu against Shoolman and Levinton, as the demurrers were sustained and leave to amend the bill was not availed of, the decree dismissing the bill was an adjudication on the merits. It is plain that there was not an adjudication on the merits in the equity proceeding. The sole ground of the demurrers in that suit was that the plaintiff had not stated any cause which entitled him to relief in equity. The demurrers were sustained and a final decree dismissing the bill was entered pursuant thereto. In this situation there was no adjudication upon the merits which would be a bar to defence of the action at law. The dismissal of the bill because equitable relief is refused is not a bar to a subsequent action at law. Newburyport Institution for Savings v. Puffer, 201 Mass. 41, 49. Following the dismissal of the appeal from the final decree, the bill was dismissed under Rule 85 for failure of prosecution. As was stated in Farnum v. Brady, 269 Mass. 53, 55: “Res judicata is not a defence unless a judgment has been rendered on the merits. ' . . . a cause of action once finally determined, without appeal, between the parties, on the merits, by any competent tribunal, cannot afterwards be litigated by new proceedings either before the same or any other tribunal. But no such effect is attributable to a decree dismissing a bill for want of jurisdiction, failure of prosecution, want of parties, or any other cause not involving the essential merits of the controversy.’ ” See also Wight v. Wight, 272 Mass. 154. The decree dismissing the bill was not converted into an adjudication upon the merits by reason of the fact that leave to amend the bill was not availed of following the sustaining of the demurrers. There is nothing to the contrary in Correia v. Portuguese Fraternity, 218 Mass. 305; Capaccio v. Merrill, 222 Mass. 308; Keown v. Keown, 231 Mass. 404; Cheraska v. Ohanasian, 259 Mass. 341, relied upon by the plaintiff.

■ The plaintiff’s exception to the admission of evidence of fraud and collusion is without merit. There was no error in the denial of the plaintiff’s requests for instructions. If it be assumed in favor of the plaintiff that there was no error in the allowance of the plaintiff’s motion to amend request 2 by striking out the name “Poorvu” and substituting the name “Levinton,” to which the defendant took an exception, the request was, nevertheless, properly refused. This request was founded upon a partial view of the evidence. The element of fraud and collusion was ignored. A request for an instruction is erroneous which ignores material evidence in the case. Murray v. Rivers, 174 Mass. 46, 54. Dolphin v. Plumley, 175 Mass. 304, 307. Tashjian v. Worcester Consolidated Street Railway, 177 Mass. 75, 80. Requests 3 and 4 stand on the same footing and were properly denied. Request 5 erroneously proceeded upon the assumption that the issue of fraud and collusion was barred by the suit in equity. Request 7, to the effect that the defendant had failed to sustain the allegation of fraud and collusion, has hereinbefore been dealt with. The plaintiff excepted to that portion of the charge in which the judge said in substance that if Levinton and Shoolman were working together to transfer the loss from Shoolman to Poorvu, or the obligation to pay it, there could be no recovery because there would be fraud and collusion. The plaintiff contends that the evidence of fraud and collusion was inadmissible. This contention likewise has been previously dealt with and need not be further discussed. It is without merit.

It follows from what has been stated that the defendant was not bound by the judgment obtained by Shoolman against Levinton; he could attack it collaterally on grounds of fraud and conspiracy. The defendant was not barred from setting up an equitable defence in this action by the sustaining of the demurrers in the equity case in which he was the plaintiff and Levinton and Shoolman were the defendants. Upon the evidence the defendant could be found to have proved the allegations of fraud, collusion and conspiracy.

We need not refer further to the exceptions to the admission of evidence, to the instructions of the judge to the jury, or to the denial of the requests of the plaintiff. None of these exceptions can properly be sustained. There was no error in the denial of the plaintiff’s motion for a directed verdict in his favor. The case was properly submitted to the jury.

The defendant’s exception to the granting of the plaintiff’s motion to correct the bill of exceptions by striking out the name “Poorvu” in request 2 and substituting therefor the name “Levinton,” so that the action may be described as Shoolman v. Levinton, must be overruled. The purpose of the motion was merely to correct a clerical error.

As no error of law appears in the conduct of the trial the entries will be

Plaintiff’s exceptions overruled.

Defendant’s exceptions overruled.