McDermott v. Mahoney

139 Iowa 292
CourtSupreme Court of Iowa
DecidedSeptember 26, 1908
StatusPublished
Cited by34 cases

This text of 139 Iowa 292 (McDermott v. Mahoney) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
McDermott v. Mahoney, 139 Iowa 292 (iowa 1908).

Opinions

McClain, J.—

The first trial of this case in the lower court resulted in a judgment for defendant on a directed verdict, which was reversed on appeal. See 119 Iowa, 410. On the second trial there was a verdict for the plaintiff and judgment thereon, from which the present appeal was taken, and the judgment was affirmed; but, a rehearing having been granted, the case is now before us for final determination. The essential facts to be considered in passing upon the alleged errors relied on in the present submission are as follows: The defendant on May 30, 1899, signed and delivered to plaintiff a written instrument appointing plaintiff his agent and authorizing him to sell two tracts of land, one in Calhoun county and the other in Greene county, otherwise specifically described, for an agreed commission of $1 per acre, which agreement was to be in force for one year. In this instrument the defendant authorized the plaintiff to [295]*295enter into a written contract for bim and on his behalf for the sale of said property, and also agreed to pay plaintiff “ the above-named commission as soon as the deal is made for making such transfer or deal, sighting (sic) me to a prospective buyer or being instrumental in any manner whatever.” The terms of sale named in the instrument were “ $35 per acre, $2,000 cash; balance will give time on at 6 per cent, interest.” On May 21, 1900, the plaintiff produced to the defendant as a prospective buyer one Cathcart, who as the evidence tended to show said to the defendant that he had come in answer to an advertisement of plaintiff, which he had seen, and stated that he believed that he would buy the Greene county land at $35 per acre. Defendant replied that he would not sell it at that price, and that $40 per acre was the lowest price that would buy it. Cathcart inquired whether he had not listed it at $35 per acre, and defendant said: “ Yes; but it is worth more money, and I won’t let it go at that price.” Thereupon the plaintiff told defendant that if he did not sell according to the contract plaintiff expected him to pay his commission, and defendant said, “ I will pay you your commissionthat he would rather pay such commission, because he would rather lose $1 an acre than lose $5 on the price. Defendant also said that, even if he wanted to sell, his wife would not sign the deed, but that he would go into the house and see her, and he then reported that she was not satisfied to sell, and Cathcart, with plaintiff, terminated the interview.

There was testimony of Cathcart to the effect that at the time this conversation was held with defendant he was ready, willing, and able to buy the land on the terms set forth in the written instrument and in the advertisement, including the payment of $2,000 cash; that he did not have that amount of money with him but that he could have procured it within one or two days. There was further evidence tending to show that later in the same day at plaintiff’s office Cathcart had another conversation with defendant with ref[296]*296erence to the purchase of the farm on somewhat different terms from those embodied in the written instrument and advertisement; but no arrangement was perfected, and Oath-cart made no further effort at that time to effect the purchase. Subsequently there were further negotiations between Oath-cart and defendant with reference to the purchase of the Greene county land, and also with reference to the Calhoun county land; but these negotiations did not result in a sale. In the meantime, however, plaintiff had claimed his commission from defendant on the ground of the production of Oathcart as a purchaser ready, willing, and able to pay; and this action is brought on the theory that plaintiff’s commission, as provided for in the written instrument, became due on the refusal of defendant to accept the purchaser thus offered — 'plaintiff’s allegation being that pursuant to and in conformity with the provisions of said written contract, set out as an exhibit to plaintiff’s petition, plaintiff did on May 21, 1900, procure a purchaser ready and willing to purchase upon the terms agreed upon in the writtén contract, who offered to pay the price named therein, but that the defendant then and there refused to sell said land at the price stated and demanded a greater price. Plaintiff also alleged by way of amendment that he cited defendant to a buyer, and was instrumental in bringing defendant and said buyer together, and that he had performed the conditions of the contract on his part.

In a second amendment the plaintiff alleged that defendant made and delivered to him his certain contract and agreement (referring to the same instrument set out as an exhibit to the original petition), which the plaintiff orally accepted, and that plaintiff entered upon the performance of said contract with the full knowledge of the defendant; that plaintiff found a purchaser at and upon the terms and conditions therein stated, whom he produced to the defendant; that the defendant refused to comply with the terms of the contract and the agreement, and refused to make and execute [297]*297a conveyance of said real estate upon tbe terms and conditions stated in said contract, demanding a greater price than that specified; and, further, that Catheart as such prospective purchaser was then and there ready and willing to purchase at and upon the terms and conditions specified and agreed upon in said contract and agreement, and hy the refusal of defendant to comply with the terms of the agreement plaintiff was prevented from a further compliance and defendant thereupon. waived a further compliance; that plaintiff then and there demanded of and from defendant the payment of plaintiff’s commission as provided in said contract, and that no part of said sum has ever been paid; and that, but for the refusal of the defendant to comply with the contract and agreement, said Catheart would have purchased said real estate at and upon the conditions and terms specified. Defendant denied generally the allegations of plaintiff’s petition and the amendments thereto, and for further answer alleged a material alteration of the instrument, thus raising an issue which was submitted to the jury and found against the defendant. With reference to this issue of alteration no question is now raised, and the only issue of fact with which we are concerned is that relating to the performance by plaintiff of the conditions of the contract and agreement to be by him performed entitling him to his commission.

a. Contracts: in-prejudice.' I. One of the contentions for appellant is that plaintiff sought recovery on a written contract, and the court instructed the jury that there could be no recovery by plaintiff unless the jury found that the plaintiff and defendant entered into the written contract pleaded by defendant and introduced by him in evidence, and that as the contract thus pleaded and proven was signed only by the defendant, and was orally accepted by the plaintiff, the contract was oral, and not in writing, and the plaintiff could not, therefore, recover; there being a variance between the allegations and the evidence. It is to be noticed, however, that plaintiff in his amendment expressly alleged [298]*298the execution and delivery by defendant of the written instrument, and its oral acceptance, and the performance thereof by plaintiff.

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Bluebook (online)
139 Iowa 292, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mcdermott-v-mahoney-iowa-1908.