Smith v. Hooper

438 S.W.2d 765, 59 Tenn. App. 167, 1968 Tenn. App. LEXIS 339
CourtCourt of Appeals of Tennessee
DecidedAugust 30, 1968
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 438 S.W.2d 765 (Smith v. Hooper) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Tennessee primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Smith v. Hooper, 438 S.W.2d 765, 59 Tenn. App. 167, 1968 Tenn. App. LEXIS 339 (Tenn. Ct. App. 1968).

Opinion

PURYEAR, J.

For simplicity of narration we mil refer to the parties as they were designated in the trial Court wherein Charles High Smith, Executor, was complainant and Cliff Hooper, and W. S. Cartwright, were defendants. The only defendant who appealed was Cliff Hooper and, therefore, W. S. Cartwright is no longer involved in the case, since the suit was dismissed as to him by the trial Court and no appeal was prayed from that portion of the decree dismissing the suit as to Cartwright.

The original complainant in the suit was Mrs. Minnie Radford Smith, who died while the suit was pending in the lower Court, and it was revived in the name of Charles High Smith, as executor of her estate.

The salient facts of the case, briefly stated, are as follows:

[171]*171In the fall of year 1964, Mrs. Minnie Radford Smith, mother of the complainant, Charles High Smith, owned a tract or parcel of land in the 25th Civil District of Wilson County, Tennessee, containing 42.62 acres, which she desired to sell.

The defendant, Hooper, was a licensed real estate broker, doing business under the name of Hooper Realty Company, and one of his agents and employees was T. L. Clark.

In October or November, 1964, Clark contacted Mrs. Smith and she listed said tract or parcel of land for sale with Hooper, which transaction was handled for Hooper by and through his agent, Clark. Since Mrs. Smith was in poor health, her son, the complainant, Charles High Smith, assisted her in listing her property for sale and, according to complainant’s testimony, the asking price was somewhere between $40,000.00' and $45,000.00 and the property was listed for a period of ninety days.

In his discovery deposition, Hooper testified that the listed price was $40,000.00 with a ten per cent commission to him for selling. However, the listing contract was not introduced in evidence.

Hooper advertised the property for sale in two Nashville newspapers, and also put out signs and shortly before the ninety days listing period was to expire, Clark presented to Mrs. Smith a contract of sale in which “Hermitage Enterprises” appeared as the purchaser. Mr. Smith refused to approve this sale, after he found that Hermitage Enterprises was a corporation owned by Hooper, his wife and one E. H. Bayers.

Clark later presented a contract in which the purchaser was shown as “W. S. Cartwright or his assigns”, for a [172]*172consideration of $35,000.00. This contract recited a deposit of earnest money in the amount of $1,000.00« and provided that the purchase price would be paid upon terms of $10,000.00 cash and the balance due on or before three years in three equal annual payments, the first payment being due and payable one year from date of deed.

Thereafter, a deed was prepared by Mr. Elmer Wool-ard, an attorney at Lebanon, Tennessee, which deed was signed by Mrs. Minnie Radford Smith and W. S. Cartwright, by the terms of which said property was conveyed to W. S. Cartwright for the consideration of $35,000.00, of which $10,000.00 was paid upon delivery of deed and for the balance of $25,000.00, Cartwright executed his note payable in three installments and conveyed the property to a trustee for the purpose of securing payment of said note. Mr. Woolard handled the closing of the transaction and the balance of the $10,000.00 cash payment, after deducting $1,000.00 earnest money, was paid by Mr. Woolard’s check. This deed is dated January 22, 1965, and the transaction was closed on that date.

On the 4th day of January, 1966, Cartwright sold this same property to Baltz Brothers for the sum of $55,000.00.

On the 19th day of January, 1966, Mrs. Minnie Radford Smith filed an original bill in this case against Hooper and Cartwright, which bill is quoted in the Chancellor’s opinion hereinafter set forth.

To this bill, Hooper and Cartwright filed separate answers, which answers are also summarized in the Chancellor’s opinion.

[173]*173The discovery depositions of Hooper and Woolard were thereafter taken and the case was tried upon these discovery depositions and oral testimoney introduced in open Court.

The Chancellor, Honorable W. M. Leech, filed a well reasoned memorandum opinion, which is as follows:

“This suit to recover from a real estate broker based upon alleged fraud and bad faith on the part of the broker, Cliff Hooper, d/b/a C. Hooper Realty Company, in his sale of certain real estate as agent for the Complainant, Minnie Radford Smith. The bill alleges the following:
‘During the fall of 1964, the defendant Hooper by and through his agents and representatives, solicited a listing on a tract of 42.62 acres of land in the 25th Civil District of Wilson County, Tennessee, which your complainant was desirous of selling. Your complainant, relying on the defendant Hooper’s representations, express and implied, that he would obtain the highest dollar possible for said property and otherwise look after her interest in regard to the sale of same, listed said property with the said defendant for a period of ninety (90) days.
‘During said ninety (90) day period the defendant Hooper produced a contract of sale for your complainant’s signature, allegedly selling said property to the defendant, W. S. Cartwright for the sum of Thirty Five Thousand Dollars ($35,000.00). The defendant Hooper advised your complainant that this amount was all the property was reasonably worth, and advised her to accept same.
‘Your complainant, relying upon the advice, counsel, knowledge and good faith of the said defendant Hooper, [174]*174did thereafter, on January 22, 1965 convey said property to the defendant Cartwright and paid the defendant Hooper the sum of Fifteen Hundred ($15,000.00) Dollars as commission on the sale.
‘A certified copy of the deed conveying said property to the defendant Cartwright is filed herewith and marked ex. “A” to this bill but need not be copied in the issuance of process.
‘Your complainant is informed and believes, and based on such information and belief, charges that the defendant Cliff Hooper was the real party who purchased said real estate, and that the defendant Cartwright was his agent or partner in said transaction. Your complainant was not advised of the adverse interest of the defendant Hooper, but had placed her trust and confidence in him to advise her with fidelity and skill.
‘ Complainant would further show that the property was sold and conveyed to Robert J. Baltz, et al, by deed dated January 4, 1966, for a consideration of $55,000.00 (Fifty Five Thousand Dollars). A certified copy of said deed is filed herewith and marked exhibit “B” to this bill but need not be copied in the issuance of process. ’
The defendants have answered and admitted the contract between complainant and the defendant Hooper, and admitted the sale to Cartwright, but denied any bad faith or fraud. The answer also affirmatively alleges that the complainant was fully advised of the interest which Hooper had in the sale, it being alleged that he only assisted Cartwright in financing the sale and that complainant was fully advised of this fact.
During the pendency of this cause the complainant, Mrs.

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Bluebook (online)
438 S.W.2d 765, 59 Tenn. App. 167, 1968 Tenn. App. LEXIS 339, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/smith-v-hooper-tennctapp-1968.