24 Haw. 401 | Haw. | 1918
OPINION OF THE COURT BY
This is an action of ejectment instituted by the plaintiff Kate L. Barnes in the circuit court of the first circuit against the defendants Henry K. De Pries and Emma A. De Pries, who are husband and wife. The cause was tried in the court below, jury waived, the decision and judgment being in favor of the defendants. The facts are simple, and briefly stated are as follows: The plaintiff is the owner of certain premises situated on Nuuanu street in the city of Honolulu, containing an area of about 11,685 square feet; that on the first day of December, 1915, and for many years prior thereto this property was under the management and control of W. E. Rowell acting under a
After the trial of the cause the court below held that the authority conferred by the poAver of attorney was sufficiently broad to authorize the leasing of the land by the attorney in fact and that while the lease was executed in the name of Rowell it was in fact the act of the plaintiff through her duly authorized agent or attorney in fact and that she was bound thereby.
We concur in the decision of the court below holding that plaintiff is bound by the act of her agent although he may have acted in his oaatq. name when leasing the property belonging to his principal. “The contract of the agent is the contract of the principal and he may sue or be sued thereon though not named therein; and notwithstanding the rule of law that an agreement reduced to
The defendant Mrs. De Fries was rightfully in possession of theo property in question under a valid lease binding upon plaintiff at the time the suit was instituted and plaintiff cannot maintain her action.
Finding no error in the record the exceptions are overruled.