Berry v. Woodburn, 107 Cal. 504

Berry v. Woodburn

107 Cal. 504 | Cal. | 1895

Garoutte, J.

This is an appeal by defendant upon the judgment-roll, without a statement or bill of exceptions. Plaintiff declares the appeal to be from a judgment establishing a trust estate in a mine upon full performance of a verbal contract. Defendant declares the appeal to be from a judgment decreeing specific performance of a verbal contract to convey “ an interest” in a mine. It is immaterial which of these views is technically true, as in substance there is but little difference. Judgment went for plaintiff, decreeing *508that defendant held an undivided one-half interest in the mine in trust for plaintiff, and ordering a conveyance thereof to him.

The action is based upon the following parol contract, entered into between the parties, which contract is set out in the complaint, and found as a fact by the court: “ That, if plaintiff would go up to Trinity county, California, and endeavor to procure such a quartz mine, to wit, a quartz mine that would pay, that in the event of defendant’s securing such a paying quartz mine in Trinity county, through the efforts of plaintiff, that defendant would pay to plaintiff big wages and pay his expenses for the time occupied by him while securing the mine and until it was demonstrated that the mine was a paying mine; and in the event of the mine being a paying mine that defendant would also give to plaintiff, in addition to the wages aforesaid, an interest in such mine. That in the event of defendant not securing a paying quartz mine through the efforts of plaintiff, defendant was to pay plaintiff reasonable wages and his expenses as compensation for his services.”

The court by its findings declared that plaintiff found a “paying quartz mine”; that defendant secured the same through the efforts of plaintiff, and decreed a conveyance of one-half thereof by defendant to plaintiff, as previously stated.

The case has been elaborately argued from many standpoints, but, as we view it, only one question is necessary to be considered, for the solution of that question presents an impassable barrier to plaintiff’s right of recovery. The contract provides that in case plaintiff’s labors under it meet with success defendant is to give him “ an interest in such mine.” We think this provision, as to the interest to be given, so uncertain and indefinite as to be unenforceable by a court of equity. It is elementary that a contract must be certain as to the interest to be conveyed, or equity will not take hold of it. What interest is here to be conveyed ? One-half, oné-fourth, or one-eighth? Upon what principle *509of law has the court the right to decree the conveyance of a one-half interest rather than a one-eighth interest? Upon what sound line of reasoning may the court say that this provision of the agreement can only be satisfied by a transfer of a one-half interest, and would not be satisfied by a transfer of the smallest fractional interest? Before a contract has life the minds of the parties must meet, and it is the court’s duty alone to declare what the parties contemplated and intended when the contract was made. While plaintiff found a “ paying” mine, still he was paid all his expenses and “ big wages” while engaged in the labor of finding it; and it is not at all apparent from the face of the contract that if defendant made a purchase he, should thereupon redeed to plaintiff a one-half interest. A mine paying a small net profit upon the capital invested would probably be a paying mine; yet the purchase price might be very great, and the cost of a one-half interest thereof exceed the accumulated net profit of many years. We only cite this illustration to show that a court of equity could not from the contract say it was intended that defendant should be entitled to a one-half interest in the mine discovered. “ An interest ” is a most indefinite term, for any fraction of a unit would satisfy it, and, consequently, the amount of estate to be conveyed is unknown to the court, and being unknown to the court no decree could possibly be made passing title to it. If the decree in this case followed the language of the contract, and decreed the conveyance of “an interest,” it could not be said that a half interest was the quantum upon which the decree acted; and, if the deed following the decree purported to pass “ an interest,” no principle of law with which we are acquainted would justify the court in declaring that a one-half interest passed.

The fact that the evidence is not before us upon which the findings of the court are based is not material ■ to this investigation; for there is no allegation in the complaint nor finding of fact that the parties, or either *510of them, understood by their contract that they were to own equal, undivided interests in the mine, conceding, for the purposes of the case only, the propriety of such an allegation, and the admissibility of extrinsic evidence thereunder. If plaintiff's labors under the contract had looked to the finding of a farm, or a vineyard, or a hotel, rather than a mine, and such labors had met with success, there would be no question but that the character of action here presented would not lie. It would not lie for the reasons already given, regardless of other serious objections which might be interposed to it. But respondent seeks to steer clear of these obstacles in his pathway, by claiming that the contract, taken in connection with the acts of the parties thereunder, created a mining partnership as to this particular mine, and being partners, in the absence of an express agreement as to their respective interests, the law would declare them equal partners. Conceding this principle to be sound, it would probably apply equally as well to any ordinary business partnership. ( Griggs v. Clark, 23 Cal. 427.) But there is no element of such a partnership here, and neither do we think this record discloses a state of facts even approximating to a mining partnership. Section 2511 of the Civil Code provides: “ A mining partnership exists when two or more persons who own or acquire a mining claim, for the purpose of working it and extracting the mineral therefrom, actually engage in working the same.” Tried by the test here provided, the facts wholly fail to meet the requirements demanded to constitute a mining partnership. The complaint does not allege a mining partnership; neither do the findings so declare. The complaint does not allege probative facts sufficient to constitute a mining partnership, nor do the findings of fact point to any such business relation.

Partnerships are formed by agreement, and the subsequent acts of these parties, as disclosed by the findings, in no sense can create a partnership, but simply serve to furnish light by which we may read and con*511strue the original agreement. This agreement shows that plaintiff was employed to seek for a paying quartz mine. If he found it he was to be allowed by defendant his expenses incurred in the search, and also “ big wages” for his time and labor. In addition thereto, he was to be given “ an interest ” ill the mine by defendant. These were the three elements forming his compensation. He found a “ paying mine,” and, therefore, under the contract, was entitled to the compensation agreed. It appears to be a pure contract of hiring, and lacks every element of a partnership. The fact that defendant was to give plaintiff an interest in the mine, in addition to certain sums of money, has no more tendency to make the contract one of partnership than if he had agreed to give him cattle or horses, or deed him some piece of realty.

Section 2512 of the Civil Code declares: “ The relation (of partnership) arises from the ownership of shares or interests in the mine, and working the same for the purpose of extracting minerals therefrom.” Inasmuch as this action may be deemed one brought by plaintiff for the express purpose of obtaining a share or interest in a mine we think it cannot be said that plaintiff as yet has an interest therein; or, if it be said that plaintiff is an owner, but that defendant holds his interest or share in trust, still his contention for a partnership fails, for he never in conjunction with defendant worked the mine for the purpose of extracting minerals therefrom. Whatever work plaintiff did in the mine, before the purchase by defendant, he did under the original agreement, and was entitled to “big wages” therefor. He himself recognizes that fact, for, in this action, he has sued for and recovered the “big wages” promised by defendant. Whatever work he did in the mine after the purchase was either done under a new contract of hiring, or under the “ big wages” contract, and in either ease proves little looking toward a partnership. We find nothing in the findings of fact strengthening plaintiff’s claims that the oral agreement *512constituted even a quasi or qualified mining partnership.

There is nothing in the facts of this case bearing any analogy to the general principle applicable to those cases where a deed or devise is made to two or more parties, without specifically naming their respective interests thereunder. ¡Neither may this contract be considered one in the nature of a “ grubstake” contract—a peculiar and novel character of contract so common in the early mining history of this state, where two parties enter into a common venture, one furnishing the “ grub,” the other the labor, in prospecting for valuable mining properties. Clearly such ventures were joint in their character, and all valuable discoveries would inure to the equal benefit of both. The courts declare such ventures to partake of the character of qualified partnerships, but here we have no common venture, no common ownership, no sharing of profit and loss, no furnishing of labor by one party and “ grub ” or money by the other. The facts in the case of Settembre v. Putnam, 30 Cal. 490, a case upon which respondent largely relies for support in this branch of the litigation, are so dissimilar in important particulars to the facts of the case at bar that we refrain from reviewing at length the principles of law there declared.

For the reasons stated the judgment is reversed and the cause remanded.

Van Fleet, J., and Harrison, J., concurred.