McFarland v. McCormick

86 N.W. 369, 114 Iowa 368
Supreme Court of Iowa·Decided May 29, 1901·Published·Cited by 6 cases

Opinion

Given, C. J.

I. Question is made whether these parties were co-partners as to the transactions to be considered, or only jointly concerned therein. They were not partners as to the matters involved in the second count, and, as each asks for an accounting as to the matters involved in both counts and the counterclaim, and as the result of an accounting must be the same whether or not we consider them as co-partners, it is unnecessary that we determine this question.

1 [370]*3702 3 [369] II. Plaintiff’s first count arises out of the following facts: The Des Moines Fence Company was a corporation, one-half of the capital stock of which belonged to the plaintiff, and the other half to the defendant; and as such owners they operated the plant from February, 1892, until in December, 1893, during which time the company contracted considerable indebtedness. In December, 1893, each of these parties sold one-lialf of his stock to brothers named Orr, plaintiff and defendant agreeing with the Orr brothers that they would pay all the existing indebtedness of the corporation. They also reserved to themselves certain of the corporation property, which was of little value, and which has been so disposed of as not to require further notice. As between themselves, these parties agreed that they should be liable equally for said indebtedness of the corporation, and each has since made payments on said indebtedness; and [370] cur first inquiry is as to tlie amount of said indebtedness, and the amount paid by each thereon. Plaintiff claims that a written statement made by the defendant February 22, 1895, should be taken as a complete list of said indebtedness, but it did not purport to be such, and manifestly is not. We should not consume space by following the discussion as to the several disputed items. It is sufficient that we state .our conclusions. We find, upon careful examination of the evidence, that the plaintiff paid $2,000 on said indebtedness, and that the defendant paid $664.39 thereon, and that there remain unpaid two notes to the State Savings Bank, one for $1,000 and one for $200, each dated December 13, 1893, and due in 90 days, with 8 per cent, interest. We further find that plaintiff is indebted! to the defendant on account for items other than said payments on the debt of the corporation in the sum of $294.67; making a total credit in favor of the defendant of $959, as against the $2,000 paid by the plaintiff. Defendant’s charges of interest in his counterclaim on balance on account are not allowed, as it was a continuous, open account, without any settlement or balance being ascertained. Code, section 3038. Defendant also charges for services in closing the partnership matters. There wa.s no agreement to support this charge, nor any necessity appearing for services to such an extent. It is probable that the defendant gave more time in settling said debts of the corporation than the plaintiff did but not so as to entitle him to charge for that service. Each gave the time required to do what he did in that matter. The result of our findings under the first count is that the plaintiff is entitled to be allowed for the $2,000 paid by him on the corporation indebtedness, and the-defendant is entitled to be allowed on his counterclaim the sum of $959, being $51.05 more than found by the court below, namely $908.95.

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McFarland v. McCormick, 86 N.W. 369, 114 Iowa 368 (iowa 1901).

86 N.W. 369 (McFarland v. McCormick) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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