Lewis v. Loper

54 F. 237, 1893 U.S. App. LEXIS 1439
CourtU.S. Circuit Court for the District of Southern Ohio
DecidedFebruary 3, 1893
DocketNo. 4,425
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 54 F. 237 (Lewis v. Loper) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Southern Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lewis v. Loper, 54 F. 237, 1893 U.S. App. LEXIS 1439 (circtsdoh 1893).

Opinion

SAGE, District Judge.

It is averred in the bill that on the 1st of March, 1888, the complainant and defendant were, and since December 23, 1878, had been, engaged as partners under the firm name of Harold B. Lewis & Go. In the oil business, under a partnership agreement whereby each was to share equally in the profits [238]*238and to be liable for one balf of tbe losses of said business. On March 1, 1888, they were also, and since ITovember 25, 1887, had been, engaged as partners under the firm name of Lewis & Loper, in the manufacture of binder twine, rope, and other products connected with the general cordage business, under a partnership agreement whereby the complainant was entitled to five-eighths interest in the profits and liable for five eighths of the debts and losses, and the defendant to three-eighths interest in the profits and liable for three eighths of the debts and losses of said business. On March 1, 1888, the parties dissolved both of said partnerships, and agreed that the complainant should act as liquidating partner in the settlement of the business, and that the defendant should render him assistance as far as possible. All the assets of the partnership, excepting a small tract of land in Minnesota, of not much value, and not salable, belonging to the firm of Harold R. Lewis & Go., have been collected and sold, and all the debts have been paid or satisfied, except a claim hereinafter more particularly described, held by Samuel G-. Lewis against each of said firms for money advanced by him to them. The bill sets forth that the defendant is indebted to the complainant in the sum of $46,364.77, with interest, and prays for an account, and for a decree for the balance due him.

The defendant answers that the partnership of Harold R. Lewis & Co. began about the middle of the year 1881, — at what exact date he is unable to state, — and avers that about December 23, 1878, he entered into partnership with the complainant in the oil business under the firm name of Harold R. Lewis, but that said firm was dissolved about the middle of the year 1880, and a new firm formed, composed of the complainant and the defendant and one S. F. Lewis, under the firm name of H. R. & S. F. Lewis, which firm was dissolved about the middle of the year 1881, and the firm of Harold R. Lewis & Co. formed, as above stated.

Defendant further answers that he has never seen a statement of the account upon which complainant claims that he is indebted to him in the sum of $46,364.77, but he is informed and believes that in arriving at said sum the complainant has charged the defendant with losses alleged to have been incurred by said firm formed about December 23, 1878, as above stated, and by said firm of H. R. & S. F. Lewis, formed about the middle of the year 1880, as above stated.

Defendant further answers that the contract of partnership between the complainant and defendant formed about December 23, 1878, and the contract of partnership between complainant and defendant and said S. F. Lewis, formed about the middle of the year 1880, were not in writing, and that more than six years have elapsed since the dissolution of both said firms, and that, therefore, any liability of complainant to defendant arising out of either of said partnerships is barred by the statute of limitations.

Further answering, the defendant says that by the contract of partnership aforesaid entered into December 23, 1878, and by the contract of partnership aforesaid entered into about the middle of 1880, between the complainant and defendant and said S. F. [239]*239Lewis, the complainant agreed to furnish all the necessary capital for the business of said firms, and that he failed to do so, by reason whereof said firms were obliged to borrow large sums of money, and to pay interest thereon, which interest defendant has good reason to believe, and does believe, has been included in the account upon which complainant claims said sum of $46,364.77 from defendant, all of which interest ought to be charged against the complainant.

The defendant further avers that a like contract to furnish all necessary capital was made by complainant in the contract of partnership formed about the middle of 1881, but that complainant failed to furnish the same, by reason whereof said firm was obliged to borrow large sums of money, and to pay interest thereon, which interest, also, defendant is informed and believes has been included in the account upon which complainant claims $46,364.77 from the defendant, whereas said interest ought to be charged against the complainant alone.

The defendant admits that on March 1,1888, the complainant and defendant were, and since November 25, 1.887, had been, partners under the firm name of Lewis & Loper, as stated in the bill, but avers tbat there were no losses of said firm daring the time of its continuance, and that prior to the formation of said firm the complainant had, since July 2,1885, been carrying on the same business for which said partnership was formed, and that on November 25, 3887, he owed a large amount of money, and interest thereon,, borrowed by him in the conduct of said business since July 2, 1885, and that the contract of partnership between Mm and the defendant of November 25, 1887, contained a provision that the defendant should be entitled to three-eighths interest in the profits, after charging the business with all debts and losses incurred, and with interest on loans made for the purpose of establishing and carrying it on from its commencement, to wit, July 2, 1885, until the termination of the agreement, and should be liable for three eighths of the debts and losses, and the complainant should be entitled to the remaining five-eighths interest therein.

The defendant further avers that he is charged in the complainant's statement of account with three eighths of the debts and losses of said business incurred prior to November 25, 3.887, whereas he was by said contract chargeable only with three eighths of the losses after November 25,1887.

Further answering, the defendant says that the greater part of the debt incurred by complainant in the conduct of the business prior to November 25, 1887, was owing to Samuel G. Lewis, his father, and that before defendant entered said partnersMp the complainant, to induce him to make said contract, willfully and knowingly represented falsely to him that said Lewis had promised and agreed not to press the collection of the money due him, but to wait five years for the same, and that the defendant could safely make said contract with the expectation that the business of the firm would continue for five years; and that, relying upon said representations, he entered into said contract, which [240]*240was made by complainant for the purpose of endeavoring to unload upon him a part of the losses and debts previously incurred in said business.

He further avers that, although the partnership was formed November 25, 1887, to continue five years, said Samuel G-. Lewis, in the month of February, 1888, demanded payment of the money due him as aforesaid, with intex*est, and insisted that the firm should bo dissolved, and go into liquidation. Complainant thereupon notified defendant that the firm must be dissolved, to which the defendant objected, whereupon complainant informed him that said Samuel G.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Hanna Transit Co. v. Pittsburgh S. S. Co.
279 F. 895 (W.D. New York, 1921)
Heckscher v. Blanton
69 S.E. 1045 (Supreme Court of Virginia, 1910)
Gay v. Paige
114 N.W. 217 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1907)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
54 F. 237, 1893 U.S. App. LEXIS 1439, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lewis-v-loper-circtsdoh-1893.