Knowles v. Sprague
Knowles v. Sprague
Opinion of the Court
This appeal presents the issue whether there was sufficient evidence to go to a jury on partnership liability and on damages. The Superior Court granted the Defendants’ motions for a directed verdict at the close of the Plaintiff’s case. Concluding that the case should have been presented to the jury,
The Plaintiff, Robert E. Knowles, was in the business of purchasing x-ray film from hospitals and doctors’ offices and then selling it to businesses that salvaged the plastic or the silver contained on the film. He did business under the name Maine X-Ray. Sprague Plastics agreed to purchase such film. The purchase amount was determined as follows. For every 100 lbs. of post-1975 film, Sprague Plastics agreed to pay 15 troy ounces of fine silver or its cash equivalent. For pre-1976 film, Sprague Plastics agreed to pay 18.5 troy ounces of fine silver or its cash equivalent. For unprocessed film Sprague Plastics agreed to pay 28 troy ounces of fine silver or its cash equivalent. Knowles delivered substantial quantities of film to Sprague Plastics under this agreement and took back quantities of film that Sprague Plastics did not wish to keep. Knowles also received two bars of silver that had been refined from the silver that Sprague Plastics derived from the film. Knowles prepared delivery slips reflecting the various deliveries made and film taken back. In addition, he prepared and sent to Sprague Plastics an invoice for the net amount that he claimed was due. The Defendants Grover and Donald Sprague were intimately involved in the Sprague Plastics operation. The Defendant Francis Soule contributed substantial money to the business and had other involvement, but the parties disagree on whether he was a partner or simply a lender. Knowles brought suit against both Spragues and Soule
At trial, Knowles testified concerning his relationship and dealings with Sprague Plastics and his practices in preparing the delivery slips and the invoice. He also introduced testimony and portions of the deposition of Donald Sprague, portions of the depositions of Francis Soule and Grover Sprague, and the testimony of Francis Soule’s wife, Carolyn Soule. After the Plaintiff rested, the court granted Francis Soule’s motion for a directed verdict on the grounds that no factfinder could infer from the record that Francis Soule was a partner in the Sprague Plastics operation. The court also granted the Defendant Spragues’ motion for a directed verdict for lack of sufficient evidence concerning the calculation of damages. The Plaintiff’s counsel moved to reopen the case to put Knowles back on the stand to testify in that respect. The court denied the motion to reopen. The Plaintiff has appealed, challenging the court’s ruling on Francis Soule’s status as a partner, on damages, and on the refusal to permit re-opening.
PARTNERSHIP
Under Maine partnership law, partners are liable jointly for any obligations of the partnership. 31 M.R.S.A. § 295 (1978). But “persons who are not partners as to each other are not partners as to 3rd persons.” 31 M.R.S.A. § 287(1) (1978). Thus,
Francis Soule, Donald Sprague, and a lawyer all testified that Grover Sprague (Donald Sprague’s father) and Francis Soule never reached an agreement on partnership and that Francis Soule simply loaned money to Sprague Plastics in contemplation of ultimately reaching some such agreement.
Thus, although the testimony is conflicting, there is evidence here that Francis Soule and Grover Sprague believed themselves partners, that another person intimately involved believed them to be partners, that Francis Soule participated in the business, and that he had the right to participate in control. The partnership issue should therefore have gone to the jury. See Moore v. Fenton, 289 A.2d 698, 700 n. 1 (Me. 1972).
DAMAGES
Knowles testified that the final figures on the invoice he sent Sprague Plastics were correct. The invoice showed a balance due and reflected adjustments for such matters as incorrect calculations, the silver Knowles had received, and interest for failure to pay in a timely fashion. Knowles testified generally as to how the amount due was calculated, describing the different silver formulas used for the various types of film and the application of the market value for silver to troy ounces to determine its dollar equivalent. He did not
The invoice statement of a balance due was admitted into evidence without restriction. No challenge was ever made to the lack of foundation for this written statement and thus it became “consent evidence ... to be given its natural and probative effect.” Field & Murray, Maine Evidence § 103.1, at 5-6 (2d ed. 1987). It is true, as the Spragues argue, that their failure to object to the admission of the exhibit was not an admission that the amount set forth in the invoice was actually due.
Judgment vacated.
Remanded for new trial.
All concurring.
. We reiterate that "directed verdicts should be . granted sparingly, as the exception rather than the rule.” Arbour v. Hazelton, 534 A.2d 1303, 1305 (Me. 1987).
. He also sued Soule’s wife, Carolyn Soule, but has not challenged the directed verdict in her favor.
.Because we conclude that the case should have been presented to the jury, we do not reach the issue whether the Plaintiff should have been permitted to reopen.
. The Plaintiff has not argued that Francis Soule was a partner by estoppel. See 31 M.R.S.A. §§ 287(1), 296 (1978).
. The lawyer’s testimony was actually part of the Defendant Francis Soule’s direct case and was entertained out of order by agreement.
. The invoice does show a market value for both the silver that Knowles received from Sprague Plastics and another credit.
. The Defendant Spragues also argue that the Plaintiff failed to prove a demand upon the Defendant. The Plaintiff did testify, however, that he had tried to reach a settlement with the Spragues and had been unable to do so. The statement in the Appellee's brief that this testimony had been objected to is inaccurate. That testimony was already in evidence; counsel's objection was sustained to a later portion of the Plaintiffs answer.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.