Hobbs, Barnes & Co. v. Wilson

1 W. Va. 50 | W. Va. | 1865

BrowN, J.

Tbis is an appeal from tbe circuit court of Ohio county. The appellee Wilson who was complainant in the court below, filed bis bill setting forth that himself and tbe appellants IJohbs, Barnes & Co., with others, wero partners in the firm of Wilson, Sweeney & Co., that before paying into tbe firm any portion of the capital stock, bo and Miss Mlisan, another partner, withdrew from' it with the? consent of tho other members of the firm; that the assets of the firm were subsequently received and appropriated by the firm of JDrakely, Sweeney Co., composed mainly of the remaining members of tbe old firm and said Brakcly and George & Atkinson, that the said now firm of Dmkdy Sweeney ¿f Co, undertook and agreed to pay the debts of the old firm of Wilson, Sweeney 6b., but failed to do so, and finally the company failed; that afterwards Shomberger <j-Berry, creditors of Wilson, Sweeney Co,, sued the latter company at law, for a pre-existing liability, in assumpsit, and recovered judgment for 1,309 dollars and 19 cents against the appellee Wilson and the other members of the firm, except Hobbs, Barnes Co., as to whom there was verdict and judgment in their favor upon the plea of non-assumpsit, with an affidavit denying that they were individual partners, and alleging that the firm of Hobbs, Barnes Go. only, was a member of the firm of Wilson, Sweeney $ Co.; that the appellee Wilson paid off 573 dollars and 35 cents part of said judgment, and Narcissa Hllison and John A. Mlison the residue; that the rest of the partners against whom said judgment was rendered were insolvent.

The bill prayed that the said firm of Drukcly, Sweeney Co, might be decreed to refund to the appellee Wilson, the part of said judgment so paid by him: and for general relief.

The answers of the appellants, Hobbs, Barnes 6b., do not deny, but substantially admit the above facts as stated in the bill, except that they deny any knowledge of an agreement between the parties, that Drakely, Sweeney Co. were to pay off the debts of ‘ Wilson, Sweeney Co., as in the bill alleged, nor is there any proof of such special agreement in the record.

The court decreed in favor of the appellee against the appellants, L e., that they refund to him the amount so paid. And from that decree this appeal was taken.

It will be observed that the bill charges and the answers admit, that there were assets of the firm of Wilson, Sweeney & Co,, which came to the hands of their successors, Drakely, Sweeney £ Co,; but the amount of the assets nowhere appears, nor does it appear whether or not those assets were sufficient to indemnify the appellee for the amount so paid by him.

The authorities are clear, that where no express contract exists, the law raises an implied promise on the part of the remaining partners, to pay the debts of the firm, and save the retiring partner harmless to the extent of the assets received but no further; see 12 Ben Munroe and the authorities there cited, and Story on partnership.

Applying this rule, it becomes material to know the extent of the assets of Wilson, Sweeney Go. which were received by DraJcdy, Sweeney 8? Go., before any intelligible decree can be pronounced. And if the amount prove inadequate to indemnify the appellee, then he would be entitled to contribution from his co-partners who were solvent.

The decree of the circuit court ought, therefore, to he reversed, and the cause remanded, that the proper enquiry may be had, and the amount of said assets ascertained.

The other judges concurred in the opinion of Brown, J.

Decree Reversed.