Frankel v. Wathen

This action was brought to recover commissions -earned by the sale of whiskies, and also for services in superintending a farm belonging to the defendants, and for various sums of money laid out and disbursed for them, and loaned and advanced to them, all of which they promised to pay. The plaintiff also alleged that from time to time he had rendered an account to the defendants, copies of which are annexed to the complaint, upon which the defendants made various payments. He also alleges that the items charged in the account are true and correct ,in all respects.

The defendants denied any knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief that any of the work, labor or services were rendered for J. B. Wathen & Bro., or for the defendants in this action, or that any of the sums disbursed were expended, other than as alleged or mentioned in the answer for the defendants, or for J. B. Wathen Bros. & Go., or J.

The question presented in limine, however, is whether the services were rendered to the firm of John B. Wathen & Bro., or the corporation named John B. Wathen & Bro. Co. It is conceded that there was a firm in Louisville designated J. B. Wathen & Bro., which began business in 1875 and which was continued until 1885, when it is insisted it was merged in a corporation under the Laws of the state of Kentucky known by the corporate name of The J. B, Wathen & Bro. Co.

There does not seem to be any doubt that the asserted change took place, but the firm and the corporation nevertheless seem to have gone along pasi passu together, so far at least as the plaintiff is concerned, a circumstance which arose doubtless in part at least from the fact that J. B. Wathen was the president of the company, inasmuch as he was not advised of the merger asserted, and which it may be said actually took place. His contract was made with the firm and not with the corporation and was so continued, the evidence to establish which is abundant, and therefore justifies the finding of the referee, although there are some facts and circumstances, perhaps, bearing upon the asserted knowledge of the plaintiff that this change had taken place, but not at all sufficient to overcome the correspondence and other facts and circumstances proven and employed for the purpose of establishing the plaintiff’s ignorance of the change. And it may be said that a perusal of the testimony creates the impression _ that the affairs of the corporation were so conducted, Mr. J. B. Wathen being the principal active person in both, that the firm was continued as a distinct organization in its relations with the plaintiff.

The referee has so found and invoked on behalf of the plaintiff the proposition, well established by authority, that the dissolution of a firm, its discontinuance, or any change in its character, will not affect persons dealing with the copartnership unless actual notice

On this subject the referee, in speaking of certain letters that -were signed J. B. Wathen & Bro. Co., and which he justly says refers to a corporation of that name, observed as follows: “ The striking fact also appeal’s that throughout this long correspondence the defendant, John B. Wathen, gave no distinct notice to the plaintiff of the organization of a corporation or of any change in his business, a direction of any kind to charge any other concern or corporation, except what might be inferred from the signing of letters, and, in May, 1887, the denial that Mr. Bond was vice president of the company. There was, in other words, no such proof on the subject as would necessarily require the plaintiff to look upon his employers as others than the members of the firm, and thus by a proper legal notification be required to sever his connection with it.

The referee further says: “ It must be found as a matter of fact that the defendant Wathen represented himself to be engaged in business under a firm name; that such representation was made in such a manner as to induce the plaintiff to rely upon it; the plaintiff did rely upon it and as a conclusion from the facts it must be held that he is estopped from denying the copartnership.” This, however, is a mere reiteration of the fact in a different form that the plaintiff was not aware of the change which was made, had received no legal notice of it, and therefore was not concluded by it, or his right in any way affected by it to the compensation for the services rendered to the firm, as he understood it to exist.

The defendants have made a gallant struggle against the effect of the evidence and the rule of law suggested, but in vain. On that issue the referee must be sustained.

The general liability of the defendants having been thus established, the referee proceeded to examine the claims of the plaintiff which were disputed, namely, the commission for’ the sale of 2,500 barrels of whiskey to Cook & Bernheimer in exchange for a clay farm owned by them, the alleged sales of “ Criterion” whiskey in Philadelphia by the plaintiff, the compensation for his services in managing the farm mentioned, and commissions for the sale of 1,000 barrels of whiskey to Cook & Bernheimer in exchange for the yacht “Sea Witch.”

As to the first, namely, the sale of 2,500 barrels of whiskey in exchange for a farm, it appears that the plaintiff, while acting as the general agent of the defendants for the sale of their brands of whiskeys within the limits prescribed, was requested by Cook & Bernheimer to negotiate the exchange of a clay farm owned by them for whiskey. He called the attention of the defendants to the farm and the exchange was finally effected through his agency. The whiskey was thereupon delivered and the defendants agreed to allow the plaintiff $1,000 for his commission in this transaction, which amount was charged on the plaintiff’s books to the defendant’s firm and included in an account rendered by him

It is true that an account stated is prima facie evidence and will be deemed conclusive between the parties unless some fraud, mistake, omission, or inaccuracy is shown; but the converse of the rule is equally well established, namely, that if fraud be shown the account loses its conclusive character and is subject to re-examination and a contest.

The learned referee, however, arrived at the conclusion that the defendant knew whilst the transaction was going on in reference to the farm that the plaintiff was also acting as the agent of the vendors, and was therefore not subject to the rule clearly stated in the case of Gardner v. Ogden, 22 N. Y., 347 , that where a person stands in the inconsistent relations of both buyer and seller, there are dangers, and it is not relevant to say that it is impossible there could be any in a particular case. And, as said by Lord Cranworth, and quoted in that case: “ An agent has duties to-discharge of a fiduciary character towards his principal, and it is a rule of universal application that no one having such duties to discharge shall be allowed to enter into engagements in which he has or can have personal interests conflicting, or which possibly may conflict with the interests of those whom he is hound to protect. So strictly is this rule adhered to that no question is allowed to be raised as to the fairness or unfairness of a contract so entered into.” And, further: “ It may sometimes happen that the terms on which a trustee has dealt, or attempted to deal, with the estate or interests of those for whom he is a trustee, have been as good as could have' been obtained from any other person; they may even at the time have been better. But still, so inflexible is the rule, that no inquiry on that subject is permitted.”

In the case of Claflin v. The Farmers & Citizens' Bank, 25 N. Y., 297 , Judge Smith says: “The rule is applicable to all persons standing in a trust relation. The principal is entitled to the exercise in his behalf of all the skill and industry of his agent and to his intensest fidelity to his trust.” The same question was discussed in Murray v. Beard, 102 N. Y., 508 ; 2 N. Y. State Rep., 466, by Justice Ruger, who, in the course of his opinion, said: “ An agent is held to uberrima fides in his dealings with his principal, and if he acts adversely to his employer in any part of the transaction, or omits to disclose any interest which would naturally influence his conduct in dealing with the subject of employment, it amounts to such a fraud upon the principal as to forfeit any

The rule governing the subject suggested is therefore so strict and so vigorous, so sensible and so just, that when the person is acting in the double capacity of representing'two persons for each of whom he is expected to do his best, a knowledge of the duplicate character should be established, not upon mere inference, but upon a full disclosure or positive proof of knowledge, so that the seller or the buyer, as the case may be, may be advised of the exact relation of the agent to the parties conducting the negotiation. There is no such evidence in this case. At most there is a mere suggestion that Cook & Bernheimer relied upon the plaintiff’s judgment as to the selection of the whiskey which was to be given for the farm. “ This,” said the learned referee, “ is some evidence of the fact that Mr. Frankel was employed by Mr. Cook to negotiate the exchange, and that Cook & Bernheimer relied upon his judgment and skill in the transaction.” There is no pretense that there is anything more than an intimation inferentially arising that the defendants knew that Cook & Bernheimer were to compensate the plaintiff for his services in securing the exchange. For these reasons it is thought that the referee was in error in all his views affecting the commission of a thousand dollars, which was to have been paid the plaintiff for the exchange which has just been considered. It should have been rejected in every aspect in which it may be legally considered.

An examination of the case has resulted in the conclusion that the commission on the sales of “ Criterion ” whiskeys in Philadelphia, the facts and circumstances relating to which were elaborately considered by the referee, should be allowed as found by him.

The third disputed item, namely, the claim for services in managing the farm, was found against the plaintiff, and therefore requires no consideration.

The last item in dispute, namely, the commissions for the sale of 1,000 barrels of whiskey to Cook & Bernheimer, in exchange for the yacht “Sea Witch,” allowance of which was made by the referee, had not been earned at the time this action was commenced? On the subject of this exchange, which embraced not only the yacht mentioned but southern lands, a correspondence had taken place between the parties, which resulted in Mr. Wathen’s writing a letter to the plaintiff in relation thereto, and in which he said: “ If you make a trade ón the basis of a thousand barrels we should expect you to wait for your commissions until we can realize something on the yacht” That letter was dated the 15th of November, 1886, and written from Louisville, Kentucky. On the 18th of November the plaintiff wrote to the defendant Wathen, stating: “Yours of the 15th to hand and noted,” and it contains a state

The learned referee, in dealing with this question, says the minds of the parties did not meet. And he therefore fails to find that the sale was effected on the express condition that the payment of ■commission should be deferred until the yacht was disposed of. It does not appear that the sale which was made was authorized by the defendants in any other mode than that suggested by the letter of November 15, and which in the ordinary course of mail would have reached New York on the 17th of November, two days after it was written, and which was in fact received by the plaintiff before the sale took place.

The testimony in regard to the transaction presents some features perhaps worthy of comment, but which it is not needful here to indulge in, the referee having placed his decision upon the proposition, as suggested, that the minds of the parties did not meet The mind of the defendant must prevail here, and the letter containing the condition, having been received prior to the sale, controls the claim of the plaintiff and limits his right of action for the commissions to the time of the sale of the “ Sea Witch” or other disposition of her was made. His right of action did not accrue until that event occurred, unless the defendant acted collusively, or designedly delayed the salé or disposition of the vessel beyond a reasonable time.

The result of this review is, therefore, that the judgment appealed from must be modified by striking out the recoveries of the commissions allowed for selling the farm and the “Sea Witch,” and affirmed for the balance, without costs to either party.

I concur, except in the result There should be a new trial unless the plaintiff shall stipulate to deduct the items concluded to have been erroneously allowed by the referee. And in case of the service of such stipulation, then the judgment as thereby modified should be affirmed, without costs of the ap. peal.

Van Brunt, P. J., concurs in modification.