Mulder v. Rauch

69 Pa. D. & C.2d 407, 1974 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 239
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Chester County
DecidedJanuary 7, 1974
Docketno. 2496 of 1972
StatusPublished

This text of 69 Pa. D. & C.2d 407 (Mulder v. Rauch) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Chester County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Mulder v. Rauch, 69 Pa. D. & C.2d 407, 1974 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 239 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1974).

Opinion

KENT, J.,

This matter comes before the court on plaintiffs action in equity in which he seeks to compel from defendant an accounting and other equitable relief. After hearing, we make the following:

I.FINDINGS OF FACT

1. Plaintiff is Peter Lee Mulder, an adult individual residing at 4806 Bryan Road, Mechanics-burg, Pa.

2. Defendant is Julius B. Rauch, III, an adult individual residing at 44 North Woodmont Drive, Downingtown, Pa.

3. In 1970, plaintiff was employed by the Commonwealth Land Title Company, a title insurance company, and was a part-time salesman for Hayes-Thorndale Real Estate office.

[408]*4084. At such time, defendant was the manager of Hayes-Thorndale Real Estate office.

5. In the early summer of 1970, defendant became aware of the availability of a parcel of ground known as the Beale tract, situated in Cain Township of this county. The parties discussed the opportunity presented by the possibility of developing the Beale tract. Plaintiffs father was an officer in a mortgage company and plaintiff was to explore the possibility of mortgage money and a buyer. Defendant was familiar with the zoning matters and was to attempt to have the zoning for the premises changed so as to permit planned residential development of the Beale tract.

6. In the summer of 1970, the parties met with plaintiffs father who suggested that they contact a number of people, one of whom, Samuel Seleznov, was the final purchaser and developer of the Beale tract.

7. In July 1970, defendant entered into a contract of sale for the purchase of the Beale tract with the executor of the Beale estate at a purchase price of $64,000. Defendant delivered to the executor of the Beale estate, in lieu of earnest money, a judgment note which defendant executed for the amount of $5,000.

8. In the fall and early winter of 1970, defendant attended a number of meetings before the Board of Supervisors of Cain Township for the purpose of changing the zoning in force in the district in which the Beale tract was located. Thereafter, the zoning was changed to R-3 to permit planned residential development.

9. On or about March 24, 1971, plaintiff and defendant entered into a written agreement, which set forth as follows:

[409]*409“THIS AGREEMENT WITNESSED this 24th day of March, 1971 Between Julius B. Rauch, III, of Strasburg Road, West Chester, and Peter Lee Mulder, of Racquet Club Apartment, Apt. A-5, 1308 West Chester Pike, West Chester;
“WHEREAS, the said Julius B. Rauch, III and Peter Lee Mulder do agree that all expenses, obligations, indebtedness, income, profit or benefit received in any way for the purchase and/or sale of the 32.2 acre Beale tract, Cain Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, will and shall be shared equally between the two parties herein.
“IT IS FURTHER AGREED that if the said tract is purchased and developed by Samuel Sekeznov, or his Nominee, that Peter Lee Mulder shall be consisted Listing Agent on the sale of the homes and responsible for the sales promotion of the project.
/s/ Peter Lee Mulder_(seal)
Peter Lee Mulder
/s/ Julius B. Rauch_(seal)
Julius B. Rauch, III”

10. On March 26, 1971, defendant entered into an agreement of sale with Samuel Seleznov whereby defendant agreed to sell his interest in the Beale property to Seleznov in accordance with the terms of said agreement. The agreement, Exhibit B of the complaint, is incorporated herein.

11. On March 30, 1971, a new and substituted agreement of sale was entered into between the Beale estate and defendant, which agreement required the payment of $5,000 in cash as a down payment. At such time, defendant paid the $5,000 down payment to the Beale estate, and shortly [410]*410thereafter he requested plaintiff to forward to him $2,500 in cash, in compliance with the agreement entered into between the parties on March 24, 1971. This money was thereafter paid to defendant by plaintiff on April 20, 1971.

12. On June 11, 1971, an extension agreement was entered into between defendant and Samuel Seleznov.

13. On July 7, 1971, defendant, the attorney for the Beale estate, Samuel Seleznov and various other parties met and settlement was held as scheduled. The purchase price for the Beale tract was $165,000 of which $64,000 went to the Beale estate, and $101,000 was to come to defendant. On the same date, defendant received the sum of $16,000 in cash and a commitment from Seleznov that on or before January 31,1972, Seleznov would pay to defendant the sum of $20,000 in cash and give to defendant a mortgage in the amount of $70,000. The $16,000 in cash received by defendant at the settlement on July 7, 1971, consisted of the return of the $5,000 down payment which had been posted by defendant and plaintiff and $11,000 toward the purchase price of the said property.

14. On July 9, 1971, plaintiff and defendant met and distributed the moneys received by defendant at settlement. Plaintiff received and accepted $2,500 representing his portion of the returned down payment, and $1,792 representing his one-half share of the net profits from the $11,000 paid on account of the purchase price of said property after the deduction of costs and expenses in the amount of $7,416. Five thousand dollars, which was included in the “expenses,” represented what defendant characterized as a management commission for his services rendered in pursuance of [411]*411this matter. In addition, plaintiff received the sum of $912, representing his share of the sales commission on the property which was to be one-half defendant’s share of the total commission.

15. Between July 7, 1971, and the latter part of May of 1972, extensive negotiations ensued between Seleznov and defendant with regard to the consummation of Seleznov’s agreement to pay defendant the sum of $20,000 and give him a mortgage in the amount of $70,000 on or before January 31, 1972.

16. On April 18, 1972, Seleznov made a cash payment to defendant of $10,000 and submitted a mortgage to him which was unacceptable to defendant.

17. On May 31, 1972, after a series of negotiations between Seleznov and defendant, a mortgage in the principal sum of $80,000 was tendered with the Calncrest Apartment Company as mortgagor and defendant as mortgagee, secured by the aforementioned Beale tract. Said mortgage provides, inter alia, for interest at the rate of seven percent per annum to be paid before January 31 st of each successive year, principal payments to be made any time after one year and not later than January 31, 1975. Said mortgage was dated January 31, 1972, but was recorded on June 23, 1972, in Mortgage Book Y-36, page 780, et seq.

18. On October 17, 1972, settlement was made between defendant and Seleznov, representing Calncrest Apartment Company on the above mortgage. On that date, defendant executed a satisfaction piece which was subsequently recorded on November 3, 1972, in Miscellaneous Deed Book 201, page 214 in the office of the Recorder of Deeds of Chester County. At said settle[412]*412ment, defendant received the sum of $71,277.30 consisting of the principal payment of $67,000 plus interest of $4,227.30.

19.

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Bluebook (online)
69 Pa. D. & C.2d 407, 1974 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 239, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mulder-v-rauch-pactcomplcheste-1974.