Williams v. Seminole County Oil & Gas Co.

1935 OK 291, 43 P.2d 59, 171 Okla. 406, 1935 Okla. LEXIS 227
CourtSupreme Court of Oklahoma
DecidedMarch 19, 1935
DocketNo. 24723.
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 1935 OK 291 (Williams v. Seminole County Oil & Gas Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Williams v. Seminole County Oil & Gas Co., 1935 OK 291, 43 P.2d 59, 171 Okla. 406, 1935 Okla. LEXIS 227 (Okla. 1935).

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

This action was brought by B. E. Williams to recover from Seminole County Oil & Gas Company, a corporation, the sum of $20,000, alleged to be due him as a commission under a sale contract. Before trial, Williams died, and the cause was revived in the name of Glare Williams, executrix of his estate.

The contract relied upon for recovery in this ease reads as follows:

“This agreement made and entered into this the 2nd day of June, 1930, by and between B. E. Williams of Tulsa, Okla., and the Seminole County Oil & Gas Company, a corporation.

•‘Witnesseth as follows;

-‘Whereas, the Seminole County Oil & Gas Company desires to sell and dispose of its properties situated in and about the towns of Konawa, Asher, Wanette, and Sacred Heart, in the state of Oklahoma, and

“Whereas, to confirm understanding between parties hereto, it is further agreed that the Seminole County Oil & Gas Company shall • pay to B. E. Williams the sum of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000) for compensation of services for negotiations of-sale of such properties to L. O. Troy and Roy Morris of Chicago, Ill., through Paul I. Johnston of Tulsa, Okla., and G. E. Skill-man of Bloomington, Ill., escrow agreement this day deposited with the Oklahoma State Bank of Konawa, Okla., said amount above mentioned shall also be supplemented by an additional sum of money that shall result from the difference of deposits for meters held by this company on date of consummation of this deal and ten thousand dollars. All such amounts to become due and payable the date of consummation of this deal.

“This agreement shall and does nullify all former written and verbal understandings of any and all former understandings of any nature, whatsoever, with all parties concerned, as to commissions payable m this deal.

“Witness, signature of parties,

“Seminole County Oil & Gas Company.

“By R. H. Kilg-o, V. P.”

On the same day the above contract was executed, the following sale contract or option agreement was entered into between the Seminole County Oil & Gas Company and L. J. Troy and R. H. Morris, to wit;

“Konawa, Oklahoma,

“June 2nd, 1930.

“Mr. L. J. Troy and

“Roy H. Morris

“Bankers Buildings,

“Chicago, Illinois.

“Dear Sirs.

“This letter is in verification of our ne *407 gotiations through Mr. B. F. Williams of Tulsa, ,Okla., pertaining to the purchase of the properties and business of the Seminole County Oil & Gas Company, an Oklahoma corporation, for the purchase price of two hundred thousand dollars ($200,000), in cash, said property and business consisting of all the assets of Seminole County Oil & Gas Company in and near the towns of Konawa, Asher, Wanette and Sacred Heart in the state of Oklahoma, and described in greater detail in the attached records. Statements are also attached herewith showing the business transacted by this company in these towns during the period of time, beginning April 1, 1929 and ending March 31, 1930. Said property to be delivered free and clear of legal entanglements and debts.

“For in the consideration of twenty-five hundred dollars ($2,500) cash deposited in escrow in the Oklahoma State Bank in the town of Konawa, Okla., we hereby grant an exclusive option and agree to sell to you for a period of time ending on or before August 5, 1930. It is understood that when this transaction is consummated, the Seminole County Oil & Gas Company, shall apply the said consideration of twenty-five hundred dollars ($2,500) as a part of the purchase price. The remaining one hundred and ninety-seven thousand five hundred dollars ($197,500) to be paid on or before August 5, 1930.

“In the évent that you do not find everything to be as represented by us, and set forth in the attached statements, said deposit shall be returned to you upon presentation of sufficient proof, but, if for any other reason you fail to consummate the transaction at the expiration of the above period of time, the said amount of twenty five hundred dollars ($2,500) shall be considered as a forfeit to the Seminole County Oil & Gas Company.

“We pledge you that it will be expected that we shall assist in every way your accountants and engineers in reaching all the facts pertaining to the company and its business transactions upon request.

“Very truly yours,

“Seminole County Oil & Gas Company, a Corporation.

President.

“R. H. Kilgo, Y. P. & Mag.

“(Seal).

“Attest: D. A. Killingsworth.

Secretary

“Accepted. L. J. Troy

“Rov H. Morris.

“N. B.

‘•This letter of agreement has been authorized and approved unanimously by our board of directors and stockholders.

“R. H. Kilgo

“D. A. Killingsworth.”

Attached to this latter agreement was a statement purporting to show the volume ol' business transacted by Seminole County Oil & Gas Company for the period beginning April 1, 1929, and ending March 1, 1930, together with the names of communit'es ser\ed, number of meters in use, pipe lines, investments and assets. It is conceded by all parties that this statement was inaccurate, false and misleading and that as a result, the “deal” mentioned in the first contract set forth above was never consummated. It wras alleged by the plaintiff that the misrepresentations in said statement were made by the defendant, and that but for such acts on the part of the defendant the “deal” would have been consummated, and that the plaintiff had fully performed his part of the contract, and that therefore the compensation named in said contract was earned. The defendant admitted the contract, the sale agreement or option and the statement attached thereto, but alleged that this statement had been prepared by B. F. Williams personally, and after he had represented himself to be competent and capable of preparing the same and that it had been submitted to them as true and correct, and that they had executed the same relying on the truth of the statements made by B. F. Williams to them and without knowledge of its falsity, and that when the truth was learned the escrow money was returned to the would-be purchasers, and the “deal” was called off, and never consummated, and therefore deny owing anything io the defendant.

The evidence at the trial was brief and conflicting only on the question as to whether the defendant or B. F. 'Williams was responsible for the errors or misstatements contained in the statement prepared for the prospective purchaser. It is uncontradicted that had this statement been true, then and in that event the “deal” would have been consummated.

The sole question then is, whether or not under these facts the plaintiff was entitled to the $20,000 commission.

The cause was tried to the court without a jury, resulting in a judgment for the defendant, and the plaintiff appeals. The parties will be referred to herein as in the trial court.

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Bluebook (online)
1935 OK 291, 43 P.2d 59, 171 Okla. 406, 1935 Okla. LEXIS 227, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/williams-v-seminole-county-oil-gas-co-okla-1935.