Wegner v. Herkimer

133 N.W. 623, 167 Mich. 587, 1911 Mich. LEXIS 672
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedDecember 8, 1911
DocketDocket No. 63
StatusPublished
Cited by17 cases

This text of 133 N.W. 623 (Wegner v. Herkimer) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Wegner v. Herkimer, 133 N.W. 623, 167 Mich. 587, 1911 Mich. LEXIS 672 (Mich. 1911).

Opinion

Stone, J.

This is an action on the case to recover damages by reason of the alleged false and fraudulent representations, made by the defendant, by which he obtained possession of a stock of furniture, invoicing $1,030, from the plaintiffs, on or about July 81,1908. It is alleged and claimed by the plaintiffs that at this time they were the owners of a small stock of furniture at Hammond, Ind., worth the amount above stated; that the plaintiff Oswald Wegner, being desirous of obtaining a farm, was induced to meet the defendant, with a view of exchanging the said stock of furniture for an equity in a farm which the defendant represented that he owned under the assignment of a land contract made to one Elmer Smith by one Arthur E. Rudolphi.

The evidence on the part of the plaintiffs tends to show that they were first visited by one Bixby, who informed them that the defendant had a farm for sale. The plaintiffs gave evidence tending to show that the plaintiff Oswald Wegner accompanied Bixby to Dowagiac, where he had an interview with the defendant; the said plaintiff testified that he told the defendant that he desired to get and go onto a farm, as his health was not good, and he had a [589]*589large family of seven children; and that he desired to trade his stock of furniture for such a property.

It is claimed that the defendant stated that he had a good farm, and the said plaintiff, in company with the man Bixby, went upon and examined the property; that when they returned to the defendant the defendant there stated that his price for the farm was $2,662 and some cents, and he said, “You are getting it at a bargain at that.”

It is the further claim of the plaintiffs that the defendant represented to the said Oswald Wegner, plaintiff, that there was owing upon the land contract $1,862.42; that that was all that was to be paid after plaintiffs would get it. When asked what the payments were, it is claimed that the defendant replied $200 a year and interest, and that everything was paid up to March, 1909, and that he had receipts to show it, and that he owned all of the land contract, and that he had put $800 into the property or contract.

At this interview, the plaintiff testified that he did not see the land contract to examine it; and, when asked if he would take the place, he replied that he thought he would, but desired first to see his wife. Whereupon the defendant wrote an assignment upon the land contract, which assignment was as follows:

“Dowagiac, Mich., July 31, 1908.
“ This certifies that I, George R. Herkimer, of Dowagiac, Michigan, do hereby assign, sell, transfer and deliver ail of my right, title and interest in the attached contract to Oswald Wagner and Mrs. Hilma Wagner of Hammond, Indiana. Said assignment is made in consideration of one dollar and other valuable considerations.
[ Signed ] “ George R. Herkimer.
“ Mrs. G. R. Herkimer.”

That the defendant delivered this contract to the man Bixby, and said to Bixby:

“You are representing me, and I want you to take this contract and keep it in your possession until the goods are assigned over to me.”

[590]*590Thereupon Bixby accompanied the plaintiff Oswald Wegner back to Hammond, Ind. The plaintiff Oswald Wegner testified that on his way back to Hammond with Bixby the latter said:

Well, what do you think about it?’ Well, I told him I would like to see this man Rudolphi. He says, ‘ Didn’t you hear what Herkimer had said?’ He said that Rudolphi went to New York, and that he wouldn’t be back, and that he would see him and tell him about the deal, and have him make out a new contract right direct from him to me. Well, I told him that I would like to see Rudolphi myself, and he says, * Why, it isn’t necessary ; and being that is all right, the mayor of Dowagiae, and the doctor with the big practice, he wouldn’t do anything.’ I says, eNo; I don’t suppose he would.’ So I took lots of confidence in that.”

At Hammond it is testified that Bixby, acting for the defendant and as his agent, on the next morning, made certain representations to the plaintiff Hilma Wegner. She testified that she asked to see the contract; that Bixby said:

“Why, it is all right; it is good. I am an attorney, and know the laws of Michigan. I studied the laws of Michigan for 11 years.”

Whereupon it is claimed that he took the contract out, and read the assignment above quoted, but kept the paper in his possession until the bill of sale of the goods had been made and signed.

The plaintiff Oswald Wegner testified that he did not read the contract to see what interest the defendant had therein, but that he relied upon his representation that he owned the whole interest in the contract, and that when the contract was delivered to him in Hammond he did not read it, but gave it to his wife; that he didn’t see any indorsement of interest upon the contract. He claimed that there was not a word said by the defendant about his having only a one-half interest in the contract. It is the claim of the plaintiffs that they relied upon these statements and representations made by the defendant, and [591]*591that they were false, and that plaintiffs were wholly inexperienced in regard to such matters.

It is the further claim that, when plaintiff Oswald Wegner expressed a desire to see Rudolphi, the owner of the fee in the land in question, and who had made the contract to Elmer Smith, the defendant stated that Rudolphi was in New York, and that when he returned he would tell Rudolphi about the deal, and see him about making a new contract right from Rudolphi to the plaintiffs, which statement as to Rudolphi’s absence it is claimed was false.

It ought to be stated that there was indorsed upon the contract, which contract bore date November 14, 1906, and was received in evidence, the following:

"We hereby assign, sell, transfer and set over to George R. Herkimer our undivided one-half interest in and to the within contract.
[Signed] Elmer Smith.
“ Ruth Smith.”

The plaintiffs claimed and testified that they did not see or read this indorsement, or know of its existence at the time of the trade; and that they relied upon the said representations of the defendant.

These representations, about which the plaintiffs gave testimony, were denied by the defendant, who claims that there was no fraud practiced by him, and that he stated that he had a one-half interest only in the contract, but that he would protect the plaintiffs in the entire interest of Smith, and, although he never tendered to plaintiffs any further assignment as evidence of his good faith in that statement, he testified that, on the 6th day of August, 1908, he obtained from Elmer Smith a quitclaim deed of the premises, and offered in evidence the quitclaim deed.

There is something quite remarkable about this deed. Appellant’s counsel in their brief state the following:

“ On or about the 6th day of August, 1908, the defendant Herkimer obtained a quitclaim deed from Elmer Smith of his right, title, and interest in and to the premises described in the land contract. (See Exhibit B, R. 100.)

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Bluebook (online)
133 N.W. 623, 167 Mich. 587, 1911 Mich. LEXIS 672, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wegner-v-herkimer-mich-1911.