Shoemaker v. Smith

74 Ind. 71
CourtIndiana Supreme Court
DecidedMay 15, 1881
DocketNo. 7665
StatusPublished
Cited by40 cases

This text of 74 Ind. 71 (Shoemaker v. Smith) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Shoemaker v. Smith, 74 Ind. 71 (Ind. 1881).

Opinion

Best, C.

The appellant commenced this suit against the. appellee. His complaint contained five paragraphs. A demurrer was sustained to the fifth, and overruled to the others. The first, second and third averred, in various ways, sub[72]*72stantially, these facts : That on the 1st day of May, 1875, the appellant and appellee entered into a written agreement, a copy of which is set out, whereby they agreed to become partners in the drug business, at Bloomington, Indiana ; that, in pursuance of said agreement, the appellant put as capital into said firm his stock of drugs, worth $8,500 ; that he gave it thenceforward his time and attention; that he also put into said firm $2,500 of his own means, and otherwise fully performed his part of said contract; that the appellee did not perform his part of said contract in this, that he only put into said firm $396.15 ; that shortly thereafter he withdrew from said firm an equal amount, and, in addition thereto, he has drawn from said firm a sum in excess of the profits of the business, and has not a dollar in said firm ; that, relying upon the appellee’s promise to furnish his proportion of the capital, said firm, with a view of increasing its facilities for doing business, expended $500 in advertising, $1,000 in buying wagons, and $1,000 in procuring a travelling: salesman ; that, by reason of appellee’s failure.to furnish said capital, said firm was compelled to borrow an equal sum of money, at a high rate of interest, and thereby lost $1,000 ; that appellee, although often requested, had refused to pay into said firm or to pay appellant such sum as would make them equal; that the claims of said firm amount to $7,050.59, many of which can not be collected; that its debts amount to $4,094.88, and that the stock on hand, though larger than when they commenced business, is not so valuable, on account of a decline in prices. Prayer that the firm be dis-' solved, that an accounting be had, and that appellant have judgment for $8,000.

In the fourth it is averred, in addition to what is alleged in the other paragraphs, that, by a mutual mistake of the parties, the written agreement does not contain, as it should have done, a stipulation that each was to furnish an equal amount of capital, and to be equal partners, concluding with [73]*73a prayer for a reformation of the contract, for a dissolution, and for judgment for $8,000.

A summary of the contract is as follows:

1st. The firm name shall be J. W. Shoemaker & Co.

2d. “Each partner shall furnish the capital as he conveniently can, and, when required, the said Shoemaker will at once put into said business his stock of drugs, and said Smith will advance $1,000 immediately.”

3d. Said Shoemaker shall give his time, attention and best skill to the business of said firm, and said Smith is to give his counsel and advice when present, but not his personal attention.

4th. The accounts of the parties shall be entered upon the books, and be subject to the inspection of each.

5th. Neither shall assume any liability in the name of the firm on account of any other person.

6th. Each shall share equally in the gains and losses.

7th. Neither shall draw from the firm more than his share of the profits.

8th. In case of dissolution, each shall share in the assets in proportion to the amount of capital paid in by him.

9th. Said copartnership shall continue five years, unless sooner dissolved by mutual consent.

The appellee filed an answer in denial and a cross complaint. In the latter he averred, in substance, that he and the appellant are partners in the drug business, in Bloomington, Indiana, under the firm name of J. W. Shoemaker Co. ; that a large stock of drugs, belonging to said firm, is now in their store' rooms in said city; that said firm is largely indebted; that each of said partners put into said firm parts of the capital stock, and that each has withdrawn something therefrom; that said firm has not been, and is not now, doing a profitable business, but this is not because of any fault of the defendant; that the facts respecting said firm and its business make this a proper cause for a dissolu[74]*74tion and an accounting, and the defendant joins the plaintiff in asking for a dissolution and for an accounting, also for the appointment of a receiver to administer the assets, pay the debts, and divide the surplus, according to the rights of' the parties.

The appellee also filed a verified application for the appointment of a receiver, but, as the conclusion reached by us. renders it unnecessary to set it out, it is not done.

The appellant filed a demurrer to the cross complaint, for want of facts. The demurrer was overruled, and he ex-cep ted. Thereupon he filed an answer in denial of the cross, complaint; and, on February 1st, 1879, the twenty-fourth day of the term, he moved the court for a change of venue from the judge, upon the following affidavit:

‘ ‘The plaintiff, JohnW. Shoemaker, being duly sworn, upon his oath says, that he can not have a fair and impartial trial of this cause before the Honorable E. D. Pearson, judge of said court, before whom said cause is pending, on account of the bias and prejudice of him the said Pearson ; that the said Shoemaker did not discover the said bias and prejudice of the said Pearson, until the 1st day of February, 1879.”

This motion the court overruled, for the reason that it was made too late, under rule 24 of said court, which is as follows : “Application for change of the judge must be filed on or before the second day of the term.” To which ruling the appellant, at the time, excepted.

Afterward the appellant moved to submit the issues for trial to a jury ; but the court overruled such motion, except as to the issue formed upon the fourth paragraph of the complaint, and instead thereof, on the motion of the appellee, upon the pleadings and verified petition, ordered a dissolution of said firm, appointed a receiver and ordered him to take possession of the assets ; to appraise and advertise them for sale in bulk after thirty days ; if not thus sold, to then sell in parcels, and, within the meantime, to continue [75]*75the business without making new additions to the stock; to-collect the claims of the firm, and to report his doings from term to term. The court also appointed said receiver a referee to take evidence respecting the interests of said parties in the assets of said firm, with directions to report at the next term ; and continued said cause. To which orders of the court, in declaring said firm dissolved, in appointing a receiver, and in appointing a referee, the appellant severally excepted, for the reason that the judge had no jurisdiction to determine the matter in issue, and for the reason that the. showing was insufficient to authorize the appointment of- a receiver.

From the order appointing a receiver, the appellant appeals, and assigns various errors, among which are the following: “The court erred in refusing to change the venue, in overruling the demurrer to the cross complaint, and in appointing a receiver.”

The appellee insists that the refusal of the court to change-the venue can not be considered on an appeal from an order-appointing a receiver; but we think otherwise. The refusal of the court to change the venue is ground for a new trial, and, after final judgment, can not be considered on appeal, unless it is assigned as a reason therefor. Horton

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Greenwell v. Cunningham
76 N.E.2d 684 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1948)
Carson, Receiver v. Perkins
29 N.E.2d 772 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1940)
Kist v. Coughlin, Tr.
1 N.E.2d 602 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1936)
State Ex Rel. Van Horne v. Sullivan
188 N.E. 672 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1934)
Asher v. State
152 N.E. 171 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1926)
Portage Brick Co. v. North Indiana Brick Co.
128 N.E. 847 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1920)
Houser v. Laughlin
104 N.E. 309 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1914)
Federal Cement Tile Co. v. Korff
97 N.E. 185 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1912)
Advance Veneer & Lumber Co. v. Hornaday
96 N.E. 784 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1911)
Town of Knox v. Golding
91 N.E. 857 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1910)
Hunt v. State
17 Ohio C.C. Dec. 16 (Ohio Circuit Courts, 1904)
Smith v. Amiss
66 N.E. 501 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1903)
Goodwin v. Bentley
66 N.E. 496 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1903)
Citizens Street Railroad v. Shepherd
62 N.E. 300 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1901)
Chicago, Indiana & Eastern Railway Co. v. Curless
60 N.E. 467 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1901)
Goodrich v. Stangland
58 N.E. 148 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1900)
Hamilton v. Miller
56 N.E. 923 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1900)
Gray v. Oughton
45 N.E. 191 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1896)
Wilson v. Johnson
38 N.E. 38 (Indiana Supreme Court, 1894)
McClelland v. Bristow
35 N.E. 197 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1893)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
74 Ind. 71, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/shoemaker-v-smith-ind-1881.