Fulmore v. McGeorge

91 Cal. 611 | Cal. | 1891

Vanclief, C.

This is a matter of arbitration between the parties, and the appeal is from an order of the superior court denying appellant’s motions to vacate or to modify the award.

The written agreement of the parties to submit to arbitration, wdiich had been entered as an order of the court, is as follows: —

“ Whereas, differences are now existing between Smith Fulmore, of the county of Humboldt, and Peter McGeorge, of the same place, in relation to divers partnership matters and accounts,—

“ Now, therefore, "we, the undersigned, Smith Fulmore and |’eter McGeorge, do hereby agree that James Smith of Ferndale, J. D. Ferrill of Ferndale, and C. M. Wheeler of Eureka, or any two of them, shall arbitrate, award, judge, and determine of and concerning all said differences now existing between us in relation to our said partnership matters and accounts. And we do hereby mutually covenant and agree to and with each other that the award to be made by the said arbitrators, or any two of them, shall in all things by us, and each of us, be well and faithfully kept and observed; provided, however, that the said award be made in writing under the hands of the said arbitrators, or any two of them, and ready to be delivered to the said parties in differences, or such of them as shall desire the same, on the twelfth day of June, 1888.

“ It is hereby further stipulated and agreed by and between the parties hereto, that this submission to arbitration shall be entered as an order of the superior court of the county of Humboldt, state of California.

“ In witness whereof the above-named parties have hereunto set their hands and seals this the twenty-first day of May, 1888.

“ (l. s.) Smith Fulmore.

“ (l. s.) Peter McGeorge.”

The award contains an itemized statement of the partnership accounts, showing a balance in favor of Fulmore and against McGeorge, of $302.70, to secure the payment of which it is found that the former has a lien by pledge upon the latter’s interest in a specified portion of the partnership property. The award also contains a complete schedule of the existing partnership property, in which it is awarded that the parties are equally interested, subject to said lien upon McGeorge’s interest in a specified portion thereof. ■

1. It is contended for appellant that the award is too indefinite to be enforced.

Upon its face the award seems to be perfectly definite, to settle the partnership accounts, and to determine the respective rights of the parties as to all existing partnership property. Why it cannot be performed, if the parties are disposed to abide by it, is not perceived.

Under this head, it is said that it does not provide that either party shall have or recover any sum or anything from the other party, nor that any disposition, sale, or division of the existing partnership property shall be made. These, however, are not valid objections on the ground of indefiniteness of the award. But it does award that McGeorge owes, and consequently that he should pay to Fulmore, the definite sum of $302,70. The agreement submitted to arbitration only all differences existing between the parties “ in relation to partnership matters and accounts.” It does not appear that either party desired to divide or to dispose of the property, nor that there was any difference between them in that respect; much less that any such difference was submitted to the arbitrators. The award appears to determine all matters submitted. It does not appear that further inquiry is necessary to ascertain a sum of money to be paid, or any act to be done by either party in relation to the matters submitted. (Porter v. Scott, 7 Cal. 313.)

2. It is contended that the arbitrators committed gross error in charging appellant with three items amounting to $42.86. But it does not appear upon what evidence these items were charged by the arbitrators. The contradictory affidavits of the parties, as to what that evidence was, cannot be considered here. It is stated in the affidavit of respondent, and not denied by appellant, that the testimony of the parties and their witnesses was reduced to writing by the arbitrators, hut no part of it is contained in the transcript brought here; nor does it appear that it was introduced on the hearing of the motion in the court below. It is admitted that the items in question were submitted to the arbitrators. Under these circumstances, the award, as to them, is conclusive.

3. One of the differences settled by the award was, whether certain instruments in writing constituted an absolute hill of sale of respondent’s interest in a portion of the partnership property to appellant, and an agreement on the part of appellant to reconvey the same, or a mere pledge to secure the payment of a certain sum of money which appellant advanced to the partnership concern for the respondent. The award as to this was, that the instruments constituted a mere pledge, and that the property remained partnership property subject to the lien of the pledge.

The only objection made to this action of the arbitrators is, that it was ultra vires, because the matter is not included in the submission of “partnership matters and accounts.”

The property was claimed by appellant to be his individual property, while the respondent contended that it was partnership property, his interest in which being subject to the lien of the pledge. To determine a difference between partners as to what is partnership property as distinguished from the individual property of one of the partners is clearly a partnership matter, and falls within the written submission in this case. Furthermore, it was necessary to determine this difference in order to adjust the partnership accounts.

I think the order should be affirmed.

Fitzgerald, C., and Belcher, C., concurred.

The Court.

For the reasons given in the foregoing opinion, the order is affirmed.