Ferguson v. Glaspie
Ferguson v. Glaspie
Opinion of the Court
The motion to dismiss the action when plaintiff rested was doubtless made and granted upon the theory that it appeared from plaintiff’s own case that he was to be paid a commission only provided he procured a purchaser for the lands for $45,000— afterwards reduced to $40,000 — on or before November 9,1885. If the evidence was conclusive to this effect, the ease was properly dismissed, because it appears that no purchaser was procured, either for that price or within that time. But on this point we think the court below may have erred in assuming that the terms and limitations of the offers made to Laird-Norton Company by plaintiff, at the direction of defendant, were necessarily the terms of plaintiff’s employment as defendant’s agent to sell. Plaintiff testifies that he was simply to procure a customer to buy the land; that the time of his connection with the sale was never limited; that the understanding was that he had an unlimited time in which to find a purchaser; that nothing was said as to how long he should handle the land in this way; that defendant claimed there were over 18,000,000 of lumber, and the price was to be $2.50 a thousand — that was Ms ashing price. There were limitations as to time in the refusal given to L'aird-Norton Company; but according to plaintiff’s testimony, after hé opened correspondence with that company in regard to the purchase of the land, defendant himself directed the negotiations, dictating the terms of
Order reversed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- H. C. Ferguson v. John Glaspie
- Status
- Published