McLean v. Ficke

62 N.W. 753, 94 Iowa 283
CourtSupreme Court of Iowa
DecidedApril 5, 1895
StatusPublished
Cited by31 cases

This text of 62 N.W. 753 (McLean v. Ficke) 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
McLean v. Ficke, 62 N.W. 753, 94 Iowa 283 (iowa 1895).

Opinion

Kinne, J.

[284]*2841 [286]*2862 [287]*2873 [283]*283I. These cases were tried below together, and are-so submitted in this court. They will [284]*284therefore be disposed of in one opinion. The facts as disclosed in the pleadings and evidence are: That in •1888 appellant Ficke resided in Davenport, Iowa, and was engaged in the business of making farm loans in this state. In April, 1888, and for some time prior •thereto, one W. L. Coleman was engaged in business at •Lenox, Iowa, as a real-estate, loan, and insurance agent. April 22, 1888, said Ficke and his partner wrote said Coleman: “Messrs. Long and Jones informed us that you would like to act as our agent in the territory surrounding Lenox. As they highly recommend you as' a person of integrity, we take pleasure in sending you some blank applications. * * * Trusting that you will be able to send us some good applications, we remain, yours, truly.” Afterward, and prior to January 1,1892, Ficke made a good many loans in the vicinity of Lenox on applications procured and forwarded by said Coleman. During this time Coleman collected and forwarded interest on loans made by Ficke, though we think it appears that such acts were done at the instance of, and for the accommodation of, the parties who had borrowed money, and not at the instigation of Ficke. In May, 1890, Ficke wrote Coleman thus: “Referring to your letter of recent date, in which you say you can get money at seven.per cent, straight, I will say that this is a little lower than I am making my agents in general; yet I like your locality, and until further ordered I will fill your applications at that rate.” It appears that the method of doing business between Coleman and Ficke was as follows: Coleman procured from borrowers the written application prepared for that purpose by Ficke, and abstract of title, and an appraisement of the value of the real estate offered as security. These he forwarded to Ficke, who passed upon the papers, and accepted or [285]*285rejected the loan. If accepted, he prepared and forwarded to Coleman notes for the principal sum and interest, and a mortgage on the land described in the application, and forwarded these papers to Coleman for the borrower to execute. Coleman would then record the mortgage, and forward the executed papers to Fiche, who then sent. Coleman a draft for the proceeds of the loan, with a letter relating to the disposition to be made of the funds. The money was then paid out as directed, and incumbrances prior to Fiche’s mortgage discharged and released, which was shown upon the abstract, and the latter was then sent to Fiche. Fiche would not mahe a loan unless the title was perfect, and would only loan on first mortgage. Plaintiffs in these cases were each the owners of farms in Taylor county, Iowa. On plaintiff McLean’s land there was a mortgage of seven hundred dollars, payable to the Lombard Investment Company, and due February 1, 1892. On plaintiff Beach’s land there was a mortgage of one thousand two hundred and fifty dollars, payable to the same company at the same time. Coleman, who lived at Lenox, near plaintiff’s land, had negotiated these loans through the Lombard Investment Company. Prior to the maturity of the mortgages mentioned above, plaintiffs went to said Coleman, desiring to obtain a renewal or extension of their mortgages. Coleman told plaintiffs that he could secure better terms by obtaining new loans of defendant C. A. Fiche. In accordance therewith, plaintiffs (signed writtten applications to Fiche, McLean applying for eight hundred dollars, or one hundred dollars more than enough to pay his Lombard mortgage, and Beach applying for one thousand two hundred and fifty dollars, the exact amount of his maturing mortgage to the Lombard Company. Both applications were accepted and approved by defendant Fiche, who sent [286]*286Coleman a draft for eight hundred dollars on the McLean application, .who deposited, it to his personal credit in the Lenox Bank January 26, 1892; and the Beach draft was likewise received and deposited January 30, 1892. This money was checked out by said Coleman on his personal checks, and Coleman, about February 23, 1892, absconded. Coleman embezzled or •otherwise misappropriated the funds thus received. The Lombard mortgages were neither of them paid. ■Coleman paid McLean nearly or quite the excess above his Lombard mortgage, or about one hundred dollars; but neither of plaintiffs received any part of the money that was procured to remove the Lombard mortgages, ■January 14, 1892, plaintiff McLean executed his note and mortgage to defendant Ficke, who, recorded it January 24, 1892, and on February 13, 1892, defendant Ficke assigned it for value to defendant C. W. Schaefer, January 26,1892, plaintiff Beach executed his note and mortgage to defendant, Ficke, who recorded it January '26, 1892, and on February 6, 1892, defendant Ficke assigned it to defendant August Miller. Plaintiffs thereafter bring these actions to cancel said notes and mortgages, or for judgment against defendant Ficke. Plaintiffs claim that Coleman was the agent of Ficke, and that the latter is liable to them for the money which Coleman failed tO' pay over. Ficke contends that Coleman was the agent of plaintiffs; that as the application for the loans contained the following: “Whom do you appoint as your agent, authorized to' negotiate the loan, and receipt for the money?” which was answered, “W. L. Coleman,” — the ■plaintiffs thereby constituted Coleman their agent, and payment to him was a satisfaction of Ficke’s liability. In a reply, plaintiffs plead that the clause above referred to was a fraud, in effect, on plaintiffs, and designed to relieve Ficke from responsibility; that Beach had no [287]*287knowledge of such, clause, and did not so- answer; and that it was not the purpose that the money for removing prior incumbrances should be paid plaintiffs, but that duty was assumed by Ficke, who directed Coleman so to do. Of the Beach loan, Ficke wrote Coleman' “Inclosed find draft for one thousand two hundred and fifty dollars, with which to close the Beach loan.. I also return the abstract for release of No. 10.” February 26, and after Coleman left, Beach telegraphed Ficke to stop payment on the two drafts, and the same day Beach brought an action at law against said Coleman in the district court of Taylor county, Iowa, alleging in his petition that on February 10, 1892, the defendant Coleman had received to the use of said Beach one thousand two hundred and fifty dollars, and had converted the same to his own use, and no part of it had been paid. He asked and procured a writ of attachment, which was- levied upon certain real and personal property of Coleman, which said property it appears was held by the sheriff, except what had been sold, at the time these cases were tried in the lower court. It should be said that both plaintiffs paid Coleman a commission for procuring the loans. Ficke paid him nothing. The district court entered a decree for the plaintiff in each case, and defendants appeal.

4 II. As to McLean’s case: There is but one question presented in this case, and that is as to whether in receiving the money from Ficke, which was to be used to discharge the mortgage of the Lombard Investment Company, Coleman was acting as McLean’s agent or as Ficke’s agent. Without entering upon a discussion of the question of the right of one party, to.

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Bluebook (online)
62 N.W. 753, 94 Iowa 283, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mclean-v-ficke-iowa-1895.