159 Ga. 20 | Ga. | 1924
Lead Opinion
What is the true relationship of the parties to ‘ each other under the contract involved in this case ? In his petition the plaintiff alleges that the defendant took charge of his farm under said contract as his agent, thus implying that the relation between plaintiff and defendant was that of principal and agent. There is a suggestion that plaintiff is bound by this classification by him of the contract. The defendant is not in position to hold the plaintiff to this classification, unless he is willing to be bound thereby. Instead of accepting the statement of the plaintiff, implying that the relationship was that of principal and agent, the defendant expressly repudiates this contention, and in his answer asserts that the relationship was that of partners under this contract. It would clearly be unfair to hold the plaintiff to his classification of the contract, and at the same time permit the defendant to repudiate such classification and insist upon a different classification.
As the rights of the parties under this contract depend upon the relation or relations thereby created between them, it becomes necessary at the outset for us to determine the true meaning of the instrument as to such relation or relations. We have'to look to the terms of the contract. First, Maynard “agrees to place in charge E. P. Jackson, and to place in his care and keeping,” his farm of 5500 acres. This stipulation is equally applicable to the relation of principal and agent, landlord and tenant, partners, or employer and employee. The contract further provides that Jackson “shall have full and complete charge of the aforesaid” farm “as tenant of same; and that the said Thomas A. Maynard
The contract then contains this stipulation: “It is further covenanted and agreed that the' said farm shall be considered to bear a present valuation of $110,000; and that in the event of the said lands increasing in value during the period of life of this contract, then the said Maynard and said Jackson shall share equally in the increased value of said farm, and all over the present valuation named, after the said Maynard, his heirs and assigns, and estate have been paid the present agreed value of said farm. It is further covenanted and agreed that the said R. P. Jackson is to run the said farm, machinery (requisite upon the same), but further agrees that he will only use the credit of
We are of the opinion that this contract creates the dual relation of landlord.and tenant and of partners between -the parties.
In his third finding of law, the auditor found that under the contract the relation between the parties was that of partners. To this finding of law the plaintiff excepted; and the trial judge overruled this exception. In his thirteenth finding of fact, the auditor found that Jackson should be charged with only $3300 of the rental which Maynard was to receive for his farm. To this finding the plaintiff excepted on the ground that under the contract Jackson should be chargeable with the whole rental of $6600. The judge overruled this exception, and to this ruling the plaintiff excepted. The auditor further found that the rental of $6600 was to be paid by the company, that the rental for 1920 was not paid, and that Jackson be charged with one half thereof. To the finding charging Jackson with only one half of this rent the plaintiff excepted on the ground that under the contract Jackson should be charged with all the rent due the plaintiff. The trial judge overruled this exception, and to this ruling plaintiff excepted. Under the ruling made in the first division of this opinion, these exceptions of plaintiff should have been sustained. Jackson should be charged with $6600 as rental of this plantation for the year 1920. An accounting should be had between plaintiff and defendant as to the farming operations; and after deducting all the expenses of the farm, including taxes thereon, the net profits, if any, should be
The most important question in this case and the one which has given us the most trouble is the right of Jackson to recover from Maynard the increased value of this farm .arising during the life of the contract. Under the contract it was “agreed that the said farm should be considered to bear a present valuation of $110,000; and that in the event of the said lands increasing in value during the period of life of this contract, then said Maynard and said Jackson shall share equally in the increased value of said farm, and all over the present valuation named, after the said Maynard, his heirs and assigns, and estate have been paid the present agreed value of said farm.” The auditor found that Maynard breached this contract in August, 1920, that at the time the farm had largely increased in value, and that Jackson was entitled to a judgment against Maynard for one half of said increased value, less certain items of indebtedness due by Jackson to Maynard. The auditor further found that the proper time for the division of such profits, in the absence of a breach of the contract, would be at the termination of the contract period of 20 years; but that if the plaintiff breached the contract, or terminated it over objection of the defendant before the end of that period, the defendant still being willing to perform and performing his obligations under the contract, then the defendant would be entitled to such profits arising from the increased value of the land which accrued up to the time of such breach or termination. To the above rulings of the auditor the plaintiff excepted. The trial judge overruled his exception, and rendered judgment in favor of Jackson against Maynard for his half of this increased value of the farm. To this ruling and judgment plaintiff excepted. Are these rulings correct? This depends upon the proper construction of the above provision of this contract. Under this provision the parties were to share equally in the enhanced value of the land over its agreed value. If the land advanced in value, each was the owner of half of such increase. Under the contract Maynard did not agree to take and pay for Jackson’s half of this enhanced value. Jackson could no more compel Maynard to take and pay for Jackson’s half thereof than Maynard could'compel Jackson to take and pay for Maynard’s half of this enhanced value.
Judgment reversed.
Concurrence Opinion
concurring specially. I concur in the result reached by the majority of the court that a new trial should be granted, but for a different reason. I construe the contract to be one creating the sole relation of landlord and tenant, and not one creating two relations, as insisted by the majority, viz., landlord and tenant, and a partnership. The following reasons lead me to the above conclusion: There are many elements entering into partnerships, and various tests of determining whether a contract creates a partnership. In the contract here the question as to liability as to third parties need not be considered as one of the
It is true that we find in the contract the expression (after the stipulation that Jackson is to rent the farm)'that Jackson “will only use the credit of the Pinetucky Development Company except in the interest of the said farm, in erecting, altering, and repairing of all buildings, and that he shall have full and complete charge of all and all business connected with the property aforesaid that may prove of profit and value to the partnership created by this contract.” The fact that the contract between the parties is referred to in the document as a “partnership” does not tend to establish the claim that the entire contract creates a partnership. A partnership exists because of the relations created by the contract between the parties to the same, and not as a result of any name that is given to the enterprise. The use of the word “partnership” here has but little weight in determining whether or not such a relationship was actually created. Of course the stipulation that Jackson should “only use the credit of the Pinetucky Development Company except in the interest of 'the said farm, in erecting, altering, and repairing of all buildings,” and that he
I am therefore of the opinion that the contract in the present case created the sole relationship of landlord and tenant as between the plaintiff and the defendant. Whether as to third parties there was a partnership existing under the contract need not be considered, as that question is not made in the case. Civil Code (1910), § 3158.