37 Cal. 529 | Cal. | 1869
The question in this case is, whether the contract sued on and proved is a contract “for the sale of any lands, or interest in lands,” within the meaning of the eighth section of the Statute of Frauds, and which is required to he in writing, and subscribed by the party to be charged.
The contract alleged is, that defendant employed said plaintiff to negotiate a sale of certain described lands, and find a purchaser for the same; that it was “stipulated and agreed by and between said defendant and said plaintiff, that if said plaintiff would and should, within ten days from said last named day, find a purchaser or purchasers for said land, at the price of two hundred dollars per acre, that the said defendant Avould sell and convey the same for that sum to such purchaser or purchasers, and that said plaintiff might and should have for his services in making such negotiation and finding a purchaser or purchasers, all that might or could be obtained from such purchaser or purchasers over said sum of two hundred dollars per acre;” that plaintiff found a purchaser at that sum and four thousand dollars over; that said purchaser tendered the money to defendant and demanded a conveyance, and that said defendant refused to receive said sum, or make a conveyance, whereby plaintiff was prevented from receiving the said excess of four thousand dollars as compensation for his services.
It does not appear to us that this is a contract for the sale of land, or an interest in land, Avithin the meaning of the Statute of Frauds. It was a mere contract of employment between the plaintiff and defendant. There Avas no sale of land from the defendant to the plaintiff. The plaintiff was simply employed to find a purchaser for defendant’s land at a gi\Ten price to be realized by defendant, and the compensation to be received by plaintiff Avas to be such sum as he could get for the land over the given price. It is true that defendant agreed that in case a purchaser should be found
We think the judgment and order denying a new trial should be reversed and a new trial had, and it is so ordered.