Bressler v. Kelly
Bressler v. Kelly
Opinion of the Court
Suit by appellant for damages for breach of a contract to purchase a stock of merchandise.
On September 9, 1901, appellant and one William W. Kelly entered into a partnership in the merchandise business, and purchased the stock of the prior firm of Bressler & Bressler, composed of appellant and another. The new firm did not assume or agree to pay any of the debts of the old firm. Afterwards the new firm executed a chattel mortgage upon its stock to certain bankers in the sum of $1,300. Bressler requested Kelly to execute the mortgage, and stated to him that the mortgage was for a loan of money to Bressler & Kelly, but in fact the consideration was a note for $530 dire from the old firm to the bankers, and an overdraft by the old firm on the bankers for $643.13; making a total of $1,173.13 of debts of the old firm which were evidenced by the chattel mortgage, and only the residue of $126.87 was for the use of the new firm. Afterwards, March 29, 1902, the bankers took possession of the stock under the mortgage and placed one Tromp in possession as their agent. On March 31, 1902, appellee purchased the mortgage debt and security of the bankers, and the same was assigned to him, Tromp remaining in possession as appellee’s agent. On April 1, 1902, appellant, appellee and William W. Kelly entered into a writen contract which recited that whereas Bresler & Kelly were desirous of dissolving their partnership, it was agreed that the dissolution should be effected as follows: (a) An inventory of their stock, fixtures and furnishings should be taken at its actual cost; (b) an inventory of all their debts and liabilities; (c) that the difference between the assets and liabilities thus obtained should be divided equally between the partners. It was further agreed in the contract between the firm and appellee that in consideration of $1 “and other good and valuable consideration” appellee would purchase from the firm the stock, fixtures
The complaint avers the execution of the contract of April 1, 1902, making the same an exhibit; that the assets and liabilities were duly ascertained as provided therein, and the amount to be paid the partners was found to be $1,600, and the possession and title of the property and business was on that day transferred to appellee, who accepted and has since had the same; that on April 1 the partnership was dissolved; that appellant has performed all the conditions of the agreement on his part to be performed; that appellee, on the 1st day of May, 1902, failed and refused to pay appellant $800 as his part of the purchase price, and still refuses to pay the same, though often demanded. Appellee answered by general denial.
Had the court found the material averments of the complaint to be true, a conclusion of law should have followed in appellant’s favor. But it is clear that appellee could not be required to carry out his part of the agreement until the assets and liabilities of the firm were duly ascertained as provided in the agreement. And the court expressly finds that the partners disagreed, and made no' adjustment at the time, or at any time, of their partnership liabilities, or of their partnership balances. The finding as to the negotiations between the partners in an attempt to settle the partnership liabilities is not material, for the fact is found that they never did adjust them. The complaint is on the theory that the liabilities were adjusted, and the finding shows that they were not adjusted. The complaint tenders no issue as to how the liabilities of the firm should be settled, nor do we understand that the finding undertakes to adjust them. The finding may contain some matters of evidence concerning the liabilities, but the fact is found that some of the partnership liabilities were never adjusted nor ascertained, and by the agreement appellee was not bound
Judgment affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.