Christopherson v. Olson
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Christopherson v. Olson
Opinion of the Court
Plaintiff’s (respondent’s) complaint set forth that he’had appointed defendant (appellant) as his agent to effect a settlement of a certain claim against one Storaasli on account of certain lands; that he authorized defendant, as his agent, to accept the sum of $1,500 from Storaasli in settlement of said claim; that defendant, as his agent, received the said sum, but refused to pay it to plaintiff.
The case of appellant and defendant was this: Storaasli, wishing to secure the Buck Block in Minneapolis, entered into a written agreement with defendant by which he agreed to take the property subject to $8,000 in mortgages, and to convey to defendant two quarter sections of land in the state of Oregon, and to pay defendant $320 as commission. Defendant, a real estate agent, could have purchased the block for about $8,000 and have made a commission of $225 from
The money had been deposited in the bank under an agreement that, “when the ownership of said money or any part thereof has been determined by said court, the said bank shall pay the same to-the party or parties adjudged to be entitled thereto.” On trial of the action, plaintiff objected to the admission of any evidence under defendant’s answer. The objection was sustained, and a verdict directed for plaintiff. This appeal was taken from an order denying defendant’s motion for a new trial.
2. If the defendant’s own theory be accepted, the same result must follow. If the parties were partners, the relief to which defendant, would be entitled must be determined by the principles of partnership law as applied to the contract and to the other facts in this case.. The record does not show that plaintiff was entitled under them to any relief. A number of items were involved in the calculation of profits, viz., the discharge of the mortgages on the Buck Building, the conversion of the Oregon land into cash, the $1,500 of cash in bank, the $545 commissions, and the cost and expenses of the venture. Under ordinary principles of partnership, the time for the determination and division of the profits had not arrived. No liquidation of partnership affairs had been had. In point of fact, moreover, no equitable relief was in fact here sought. The present issues were solely in law. Under the contract between the plaintiff and defendant, the transactions between Buck and Storaasli were to be carried on in the plaintiff’s name, so that defendant might, “without embarrassment and with perfect propriety, * * * receive from Storaasli and Buck the commissions, * * * which, of course, he could not with propriety ask or receive if it should appear that he were a party to this contract and to the deed.” On the same theory that title to the Buck Block and the one Oregon quarter section was taken in plaintiff’s name, plaintiff was entitled to have this money in his name. The receipt itself read: “Received of E. G. Storaasli a check for fifteen hundred dollars as settlement in lieu of Oregon timber claim. S. Christopherson, Per H. M. Olson, Agt.”
The suggestion that plaintiff was insolvent and would abuse the trust imposed on him under the agreement is wholly gratuitous. The record is silent on that subject. If such were the case, the relief, if any, is to be had in equity, and not in the present action.
Affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- S. CHRISTOPHERSON v. HANS M. OLSON
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- 1 case
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- Published