Baskin v. Dam
Baskin v. Dam
Opinion of the Court
The plaintiff brought this action against Erik Dam, Earle Everett, Jr., and the J. D. Beal Estate Company, claiming he had engaged the
Judgment was rendered in favor of the plaintiff, and from it both the plaintiff and the defendants have appealed. The defendants have assigned error in the denial of their motion to correct the finding and in that the subordinate facts do not support the conclusions. The plaintiff has assigned error generally as it relates to the measure of damages.
The defendants’ assignment of errors relating to the correction of the finding has not been briefed and must be treated as abandoned. Stanley v. Hartford, 140 Conn. 643, 645; Bridgeport Hydraulic Co. v. Stratford, 139 Conn. 388, 390; Maltbie, Conn. App. Proc. § 327. The finding, including a brief
The following conclusions were reached: (1) The plaintiff engaged the defendants to act as his agents for a finding of a lot in a certain area. (2) The
The trial court has made its memorandum of decision a part of its finding of facts. Such a practice is authorized under our rules if the memorandum is formulated in the form of a finding of facts. Practice Book §§992, 993; Bransfield v. Goodrich Tire Co., 23 Conn. Sup. 365, 367. Such a practice, however, is discountenanced by our Supreme Court. Franchey v. Hannes, 152 Conn. 372, 380; Baptist v. Shanen, 145 Conn. 605, 612; Goldblatt v. Ferrigno, 138 Conn. 39, 41. One reason why our Supreme Court discourages the practice is the difficulty in presenting claims for the correction of statements of fact appearing in the memorandum. Maltbie, Conn. App. Proc. § 171. Be that as it may, the finding and memorandum must be read together, and if there is a conflict or variance appearing therein, the finding will prevail. Morris v. Morris, 132 Conn. 188, 190; Stults v. Palmer, 141 Conn. 709, 710.
As briefed by the parties, the basic issue relates to an alleged agency. The plaintiff claims an agency was created and that the defendants violated their fiduciary duty in that they acted adversely to his interest in the transaction involving the lot. The defendants maintain that they were acting in a
Our concern is whether the subordinate facts support the conclusion that an agency was established and, if so, whether the court was warranted in further concluding that a constructive trust arose in favor of the plaintiff. The plaintiff, having alleged agency, had the burden of proving it. L. C. Bates Co. v. Austin, Nichols & Co., 143 Conn. 392, 394. Agency has to be proved by a preponderance of the evidence. Iodice v. Rusnak, 143 Conn. 244, 247. The question whether an agency has been created by the conduct and acts of the parties is a matter of fact to be determined by the conduct and acts of the parties. Galvano Type Engraving Co. v. Jackson, 77 Conn. 564, 567. One of the most comprehensive definitions of agency is that found in Mechem, Agency (3d Ed.) § 12. It is there described as “the legal relation which exists where one person, called the agent, is employed and authorized by another, called the principal, to represent and act for the latter in his contractual or business dealings with third persons . . . .” “While an agency is . . . generally the result of contract, express or implied, it is not always necessary to find all the elements of a contract in order to establish the relation. Even where one undertakes to act for another without compensation, and the element of consideration necessary for a contract is lacking, if he does in fact enter upon the undertaking, the relation of agency between him and the party for whom he is acting is created.” Kurtz v. Farrington, 104 Conn. 257, 268. “The relation need not arise from an express appointment and an acceptance, but is often established from the words and conduct of the parties and the circumstances of the particular case.” Id., 269 and cases cited. While there must
There appears to be no serious question that the defendants were attempting to locate a lot for the plaintiff in the area designated by him. Their conversations and activities negative any other conclusion. The trial court in its memorandum placed great weight upon the testimony of Lincoln Murphy and Olga Cowles, owners of property in the Middle Heights area, in arriving at its conclusion that agency had been established. Murphy testified that “Mr. Dam approached me and the gist of the conversation was that he did have a client and he was acting to purchase land in the area for . . . one Mr. Baskin . . . .” Mrs. Cowles testified that during the interview “I did ask Mr. Dam — Well, I was a little confused as to what would happen if we had a buyer, and he was the seller of the lot, and of course, we had gone to him asking him to sell the lot for us, who would pay a commission of such a deal, and he said Mr. Baskin would.” Such evidence went a long way in destroying the defendants’ claim that they were acting in a routine manner and had a sale been effected they would have been agents of the seller. Upon such evidence as this and the entire background of the defendants’ relations with the plaintiff, including the reasonable inferences the court was entitled to draw, it was warranted in concluding upon the subordinate facts that the defendants were acting as agents for the plaintiff at the time they purchased the Hublard lot.
The defendants further contend that there could be no constructive trust without a showing of fraud. The court found that the defendants told the plain
“An agent employed to purchase for another, cannot purchase for himself, whether he be actually or constructively an agent. He is, in such case, a trustee for his employer.” Church v. Sterling, 16 Conn. 388, 400. The principal must have full knowledge that his agent is purchasing the subject matter and he must consent to it, and if there is a violation of this duty it is generally held that a constructive trust arises in favor of the principal. 3 Am. Jur. 2d, Agency, § 232. Nor can a dual agency exist, with the alleged agent attempting to represent adversary parties, unless there be a disclosure and consent by both parties. Id. § 233; Zimmerman v. Garvey, 81 Conn. 570, 571; Twiss v. Herbst, 95 Conn. 273, 276. Nor can an agent who is employed to purchase property purchase it himself and attempt to resell it to his principal at a profit to himself. Kurtz v. Farrington, supra, 269. “The very relationship implies that the principal has reposed some trust or confidence in the agent and that the agent or employee is obligated to exercise the utmost good faith, loyalty and honesty toward his principal or employer.” Town & Country House & Homes Service, Inc. v. Evans, 150 Conn. 314, 317. Thus a constructive trust arises when an agent purchases on his own account, or for his own benefit, property con
The plaintiff, in his appeal, has attacked the measure of damages, claiming that the court erred in its computation in that it deducted compensation which it allowed the defendants for services rendered. The court found that the plaintiff was entitled to an amount of damages commensurate with the profit the defendants derived from the purchase and sale of the Hublard lot, less $500 for services rendered by them. Since the lot was purchased for $5000 and sold for $6700, the court awarded damages of $1200. An agent who violates his fiduciary duty in a real estate transaction cannot recover for his services even upon an express contract. Twiss v. Herbst, supra; Schleifenbaum v. Rundbaken, 81 Conn. 623, 625; Zimmerman v. Garvey, supra; see Restatement (Second), 2 Agency §§ 388-394. The defendants were not entitled to any compensation for their services.
There is error only in the amount of damages awarded the plaintiff; the judgment is set aside and the case is remanded with direction to render judgment for the plaintiff in accordance with this opinion.
In this opinion Jacobs and Wise, Js., concurred.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.