Clements v. Stapleton

136 Iowa 137 | Iowa | 1907

Sheewin, J.

The .plaintiff was a real estate broker, and brought this suit to recover a commission which he alleged the defendant agreed to pay him if he would produce a person who would exchange other property for the defendant’s property, or would buy said property, in either case, “ on terms and at a value to be acceptable to the defendant.” The appellant pleaded the employment of the plaintiff as his agent to effect a sale or exchange of his property, but on somewhat different terms than those alleged by the plaintiff. Defendant also pleaded a mutual abandonment of the relationship between him and the plaintiff, and that the sale of his property thereafter was without any procurement on the part of the plaintiff.

1. Sale of land on commission. The appellant’s principle contention for reversal is based on the proposition that the verdict has so little support in the evidence that it should not be permitted to stand. There was a sharp conflict in.the testimony of the parties as to the real terms of the contract; so much of a conflict that we cannot say as a matter of law that the verdict is not sufficiently supported without overruling an unbroken line of decisions. If the jury was satisfied that the agreement was that the plaintiff produce a purchaser for the property, the plaintiff was entitled to his commission when he produced a customer who was able and willing to buy the property and to whom the defendant did in fact sell. Reid v. McNerney, 128 Iowa, 350; Kelly v. Stone, 94 Iowa, 316. That the plaintiff did in fact bring together ]VIr. Lewis, who bought the property, and the defendant, is admitted by the defendant. In other words, it is admitted that Mr. Lewis was induced to apply to the defendant through the agency of the plaintiff. It is urged, however, that negotiations were abandoned by both Mr. Lewis and the defendant, and that their resumption constituted an entirely different transaction. This was a question for the jury under the evidence, and, guided by proper instructions on the subject, it found against appellant’s contention.

2. same: abandonment of contract: burden of proof. Exception, is taken to an instruction placing on tbe defendant the burden of proving an abandonment of the contract of agency with the plaintiff. The instruction announced a correct rule. The agency was . ........ shown to exist, m fact it was admitted during ... . the fixst negotiations between Lewis and the defendant, and hence it was incumbent on the latter to plead and prove an abandonment or revocation thereof. Kelly v. Stone, supra; Heusinkveld v. Insurance Co., 106 Iowa, 229 ; 7 Current Law, 478.

3. instructions: statement of issues. Complaint is made of the instructions treating of the question of abandonment, but we find no occasion for criticism. They followed the thought of the defendant as indi-eated by his pleadings and were full and fair, No jlist exception can be predicated on the statement of the issues in the instructions. They were stated with sufficient fullness to advise the jury of the precise questions in dispute between the parties, and nothing more is required.

4. Abandonment of agreement: evidence. There was no error in the rulings on the admission of testimony which requires a reversal of the case. The statement of the plaintiff that he continued his efforts to dispose of the defendant’s property was competent on the question whether he had abandoned his contract; but, in any event, no reversal should be based on the ruling.

5. New trial: newly discovered evidence. There was no error in overruling the motion for a new trial on the ground of newly discovered evidence. The final showing on the question left it a matter of doubt whether the witness whose testimony was sought.would . .. testily as the defendant claimed he would, or ° furnish any evidence except such as would have been purely cumulative. A new trial on the ground of newly discovered evidence should not be granted under any circumstances, unless such evidence is of a character calculated to produce, a different verdict. Oberholzer v. Hazen, 101 Iowa, 340. And, in any event, tbe motion is addressed to tbe sound discretion of the court, and should not be granted unless a meritorious case is clearly shown. Hamber v. Sexton, 66 Iowa, 211; Carpenter v. Brown, 50 Iowa, 451.

The judgment is affirmed.