65 N.Y.S. 84 | N.Y. App. Div. | 1900
Lead Opinion
This action was brought to recover commissions claimed by the plaintiff for procuring a contract for the exchange of certain property of the defendant at the corner of Fifth avenue and One Hundred and Thirty-fourth street, New York city, for a farm situated at Bound Brook, Somerset county, N. J. The answer of the defendant consisted of a general denial, and a separate defense to the effect that the persons procured by the plaintiff to make the said contract with the defendant were never able to complete the same.
It-is claimed upon the part of the appellant that there having been no binding enforcible agreement for the exchange of property entered into the plaintiff was not entitled to recover commissions ; and, further, that the plaintiff was not entitled to recover because he had not shown that he had found a party not only willing, but able to enter into the contract which he was authorized to negotiate.
Upon the questions as to the employment of the plaintiff by the defendant and the rendition of services, a considerable quantity of evidence was taken, which was contradictory and seems riot to be reconcilable. The verdict of the jury, under such circumstances, must necessarily control, unless there was such a preponderance of evidence or such a want of evidence as would justify the court in setting aside that verdict. The evidence in the case shows that there were some negotiations between the plaintiff and the defendant, and the jury having found that the plaintiff was employed to negotiate the exchange referred to in the complaint, it will not be necessary to consider the evidence as to such employment because there was sufficient to justify the jury in finding that such employment had taken place.
The main question upon this appeal must necessarily be as to whether there was evidence sufficient to sustain a finding that such services were rendered by the plaintiff, and under such circumstances as entitled him to his commission. Certain negotiations were had in respect to the exchange of this property, and a contract was entered into between the defendant and the persoris whom it is claimed by the plaintiff he had procured for the purpose of effecting such exchange.
It is urged upon the part of the appellant that the persons who- • contracted with the defendant had no title to the property in ques
The claim upon the part of the appellant, that if it should be found that the defendant did not, have title to the property under the form of the contract entered into, the plaintiff could not recover commissions under the authority of Condict v. Cowdrey (139 N. Y. 273), cannot prevail. In the case cited the court 'expressly found that the contract of employment was that, unless the sale was carried through, there would be no commissions. In the case at bar it was entirely immaterial to the plaintiff whether the defendant had title to the property or not. If the defendant employed him to effect the exchange, and he brought parties ready and willing so to do, and a contract was entered into binding upon them, it was an acceptance by the defendant of the jmrchasers proposed by the plaintiff, and he became entitled to his commission, entirely independent of the fact as to whether the defendant could convey or not. The plaintiff was not an insurer of the defendant’s title. If he chose to employ a broker to dispose of property to which he had no title, and the broker brought purchasers who were acceptable to him, and a contract was entered into between them for the purchase, it was entirely immaterial to the broker as to whether his employer had title or not. His work was accomplished; and his commission did not depend upon . the fact of the ability of
The point that the evidence of the witness Finck was incompetent and improperly received over the objections made does not seem to be well taken. The only objection made was that the evidence was not in rebuttal; there, was no objection that it was incompetent. or irrelevant. The question as to whether additional evidence shall be received, although not in rebuttal, is- in the discretion of the trial court. The attention of the court was in no way called to the point that it was claimed to be incompetent or irrelevant.
There are various other exceptions contained in the record which it is not necessary to mention. The charge of the court was eminently fair; there was a sharp conflict of testimony, which the jury has resolved in favor of the plaintiff, and we see no reason for interfering with their conclusion.
The judgment and order should be affirmed, with costs.
Bumset and McLaughlin, JJ., concurred; Ingraham, J., dissented.
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting):
I do not think that the evidence justified a finding that the plaintiff had performed the obligation upon which his right to recover commissions depends. He procured his brother and his brother’s partner to sign a contract with the defendant by which the brother and his partner were-to convey to the defendant a' farm in New Jersey as a part consideration for a conveyance by the defendant of this property in question; but I think the evidence shows, beyond
I do not concur, therefore, in the affirmance of this judgment.
Judgment and order affirmed, with costs.