Grant v. Hyatt
Grant v. Hyatt
Opinion of the Court
The defendant, Hyatt, having seized under a writ of fieri facias the establishment called the “ Pelican Mills,” the plaintiff restrained the sale of the property by a writ of injunction, which is the basis of this action. He avers that neither he nor the Pelican mills owe Hyatt any thiDg, and that the proceeding had its origin in a conspiracy and fraud between tbe latter and McGibbon, a party Laving an interest in tbe mills, to injure tbe plaintiff.
In the court below the injunction was dissolved, and the plaintiff .appealed.
The case depends mainly on questions of fact. These seem to be:
Birst — Was there a partnership between Grant, the plaintiff, and McGibbon; and, if so, was the partnership a commercial one ?
Second — Was the partnership dissolved at the time McGibbon confessed judgment in the suit of Hyatt against Grant and McGibbon, and upon which judgment the fieri facias issued 1
Third — Was the money furnished by Hyatt to go for McGibbon’s part of the capital to be furnished by him upon entering into the partnership with Grant, or was it simply money advanced to the partnership to enable it to buy lumber 1 •' '
We tbinlr the evidence fully establishes that a partnership existed between Grant and McGibbon. The latter had purchased the undivided interest of Young, a former partner of Grant in the establishment. Grant, although denying a partnership between himself and McGibbon, says, in his own testimony: “in regard to profits tobe made, my arrangements with McGibbon was not particularly mentioned. There was to be a division of tbe profits between us ; they were to be equally divided.” He acknowledges to the witness Lousse, that McGibbon was his partner in the mill. McGibbon in bis testimony, says: “ The profits and losses were to he divided in equal parts between us; the association was verbal.” It is also shown that 'the business carried on was principally that of buying lumber in tbe rough state, planing and dressing it, and selling it in that condition. The partnership was therefore a commercial one. 3 Rob. 130 j 6 An. 709 j 11 An. 615.
There was no written instrument showing the terms of the partnership. It is not shown that McGibbon was to furnish any amount as capital to be put in by him. Through the credit alone which he gave the partnership it was enabled to procure money to carry, on its operations, and we think the evidence warrants the inference that McGibbon was influenced, in part, in going into the copartnership, by considerations of personal regard to Grant. Though not the business man of the concern, yet he procured the advances so much needed, and it is shown that there were frequent conferences between himself and Grant in relation to the partnership.
It is argued that the partnership was dissolved before the suit was brought against it, and consequently, that McGibbon was without authority to act for it, and that his confession of judgment in the suit of Hyatt against the partnership, was null and without effect.'
We do not find from the evidence that the partnership was terminated before the suit of Hyatt was instituted. Some dissatisfaction on the part of McGibbon in regard to the affairs of the establishment prior to that time, and some intimations of an intention on his part to withdraw from it are shown; but there is nothing showing a dissolution previous to the suit being brought. McGibbon says that the establishment was not closed until October, 1867, and the engineer, Halley, stated as a witness, that the last time he saw Grant purchase lumber was six or eight months previous to the time he testified, which was in the early part of June, 1868.
A careful examination of the evidence does not satisfy us that there is error in the judgment appealed from.
It is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed that the judgment of the district court be affirmed, with costs in both courts.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- David Grant v. R. C. Hyatt
- Status
- Published