Lovering v. Duplex Power Car Co.

171 N.W. 374, 204 Mich. 658, 1919 Mich. LEXIS 739
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedApril 3, 1919
DocketDocket No. 11
StatusPublished

This text of 171 N.W. 374 (Lovering v. Duplex Power Car Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Lovering v. Duplex Power Car Co., 171 N.W. 374, 204 Mich. 658, 1919 Mich. LEXIS 739 (Mich. 1919).

Opinion

Moore, J.

November 3, 1916, plaintiff commenced this suit to recover for commissions to which he . claimed he was entitled on sales of the stock of defend[659]*659ant company made by him for it. There is no question but what he made sales of stock. He was paid commissions to the amount of $470, and defendant claims he was paid in full. The plaintiff claims he was entitled to recover $1,870 more.

At the close of the plaintiffs case the following 'occurred:

“Mr. Potter: May it please the court: The defendant in the above entitled cause moves to direct a verdict for the defendant at this time for the following reasons:
“First. The plaintiff in this case is a broker, engaged in the business of a broker, and he admits that he never filed with the county clerk of any county in which he was doing business any certificate in writing signed by him or verified in any way, setting forth the fact that he was engaged in that business. I am reading from section 5271, 2 Compiled Laws of 1897; also 5274. (Reading.) It is conceded in this case by the testimony of the party that he did not file any certificate with the county clerk in pursuance of that statute, and if that statute is applicable to this case, he was doing business in violation of the penal provisions of the law.
“Second. For the reason that we have in this State in force Act No. 46 of the Public Acts 1915, which statute has been declared constitutional by the Supreme Court of the United States, and generally known as the ‘Blue Sky’ law. The parts of the statute I desire to call your honor’s attention particularly to are the following provisions: Section 2, section 3, section 10 and section 23. (Reading.)” Citing Buckley v. Humason, 16 L. R. A. 423 (50 Minn. 195, 52 N. W. 385); Niagara Falls Brewing Co. v. Wall, 98 Mich. 158; Cashin v. Pliter, 168 Mich. 391.

This motion was overruled.

The defendant then put in its testimony and the case was submitted to the jury which returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff in the sum of $1,272. From a judgment on this verdict the case is brought here by writ of error.

[660]*660The defendant proffered 57 requests, to charge. These were refused except as covered by the general charge of the court. This charge covers, the claims of the parties and the issues involved so fully that we quote from it freely as follows:

“This is an action of assumpsit brought by the plaintiff, Mr. Lovering, against the defendant, the Duplex Power Car Company, to recover for commissions claimed to be due him from defendant company. The plaintiff claims that he was employed by the defendant to solicit subscriptions for stock of the defendant company, and for all such subscriptions which he solicited and secured he was to receive a commission of ten per cent.
“About the amount of the commission, that is to say, ten per cent, for all stock sold, there seems., to be no dispute between the parties, and the only dispute is as to the amount of stock Mr. Lovering sold for which he should recover, his claim being that he sold, according to the agreement, a certain amount of the stock, and the defendant claiming he sold a much less amount and the question for you to determine is, How much stock did Lovering sell upon which he is entitled to his commission at the rate of ten per cent.?
“Now, gentlemen, I want you to read the certificate of authority and a paper which possibly may be called a contract, although I will not call it a contract, between the parties. Mr. Lovering went to work under this certificate of authority, dated the 22d day of August, 1916:
“ ‘To whom it may concern: This is to certify that Mr. J. L. Levering is taking orders for stock for the Duplex Power Car Company and that the purchaser can send his check covering the number of shares desired to the First National Bank, Charlotte, Michigan, or direct to the Company, and certificates will be forwarded by return mail.
“ ‘The Dotusx Power Car Co.,
“ ‘F. P. Towne, Pres.’
“Later this was entered into, this which possibly may be called a contract, although I am not calling it a contract:
[661]*661“ ‘September 20, 1916.
“ ‘To whom It May Concern: This is to certify that the bearer Mr. J. L. Lovering whose signature is herewith’ — and he has written in his signature — ‘is duly authorized to receive and solicit application for a limited number of shares of stock of the Duplex Power Car Co. at the original par value of ten dollars ($10.00) per share, all checks to¡ be made payable to the said company.
“‘Very truly yours,
“ ‘The Duplex Power Cab Co.,
“ ‘Per P. P. Town, Pres.’
“Now by these papers that I have read to you, gentlemen, the dealings of these parties are governed, and in view of the situation of the company, as I suggested to you in the commencement of this charge, the parties ought by them to be governed.
“It is a general principle of the law that when the agent has fully completed his undertaking — the agdnt of any institution or company or person has fully completed his undertaking according to its terms, he is entitled to his compensation. And if you find in this case that Mr. Lovering did all he was bo'und to do under his authority to act, his right to his compensation is complete and he cannot be deprived of it, because the principal then fails to avail himself of the benefit of the acts, or refuses to do what he had agreed to do upon performance by the agent.
“I instruct you that Mr. Lovering was entitled to his commission when he procured a purchaser ready and willing and able to take and pay for the stock by check with the application or to be remitted at once, and his right to his commission does not depend upon the contingency of the principal’s acceptance of the subscription, but rather upon Mr. Lovering’s performance of his part of the contract, and the principal cannot deprive the agent of his commission by refusing to accept the subscription or refusing to issue and deliver thé stock which Mr. Lovering’s, efforts have resulted in securing.
“Now, gentlemen, this that I am giving you now is somewhat modified by a later instruction as to his authority, and as to a revocation, which you will easily apply, I am sure, when you get to your jury room.
“Upon the same principle, an agent has earned the [662]*662commission when he has procured a purchaser who is ready, willing and able to take the stock upon the terms designated, to have check attached to his application or sent by the applicant at once, and the principal cannot defeat the agent’s claim for commission by refusing to sell or deliver the stock or by refusing to sell except upon other and different terms nor by ignoring the agent, nor by putting himself in a position where he cannot carry out his part of the agreement.
“I instruct you that Mr.

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Related

Cashin v. Pliter
134 N.W. 482 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1912)
Niagara Falls Brewing Co. v. Wall
57 N.W. 99 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1893)
Buckley v. Humason
16 L.R.A. 423 (Supreme Court of Minnesota, 1892)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
171 N.W. 374, 204 Mich. 658, 1919 Mich. LEXIS 739, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/lovering-v-duplex-power-car-co-mich-1919.