202 Wis. 462 | Wis. | 1930
The appellant in support of his demurrer urges the misrepresentation complained of to be one of law as it relates to an ordinance and therefore not the basis of an action. This general rule is not applicable to the situation disclosed by the allegations of the complaint. The purpose and method of licensing real-estate brokers to do business and limiting this field to those so duly licensed creates a relation between the broker and the public dealing with him which places on Him an obligation commensurate with the advantage he has in the general knowledge that he
“It is not . . . universally true that a misrepresentation of the law is not binding upon the party who made it. . . . Where one who has had superior means of information professes a knowledge of the law, and thereby obtains an unconscionable advantage of another who is ignorant and has not been in a situation to become informed, the injured party is entitled to relief as well as if the misrepresentation had been concerning matter of fact.” 1 Bigelow, Fraud, p. 488. See, also, Kyle v. Fehley, 81 Wis. 67, 71, 51 N. W. 257. The complaint states a cause of action.
By the Court. — Order affirmed, and the cause remanded for further proceedings according to law.