Batty v. Board of County Commissioners
Batty v. Board of County Commissioners
Opinion of the Court
This is an action of ejectment to recover a one-fourth interest in block fifteen in the city of Hastings. The court below found the issues in favor of the defendants, and dismissed the action. The only error assigned in the motion for a new trial is that “the findings of fact made by the
It appears from the record that the original town site of Hastings, consisting of the west half of the south-east quarter of section 12; town 7, range 10 west, in October, 1872, was owned in common by Walter M. Micklin and Thomas E. Farrell, who at that time had said land surveyed and platted and the plat recorded. Conveyances of a joint interest in said site Avere made to various parties, so that on the 17th of April, 1873, the title to the same was held in common by James D. Carl, William L. Smith, William B. Slosson, Samuel Slosson, Thomas E. Farrell, and Walter M. Micklin. On that day the parties organized into a joint stock company, and were duly incorporated as such under the name of the Hastings Toavii Company. The object of said corporation as set forth in the thh’d article of incorporation was to sell and dispose.of the lots in the town site of Hastings for the mutual benefit of the members.
The fourth article provides that the capital stock of the company shall be four thousand dollars, in shares of $100 each, to be paid in at the organization. The fifth article provides for the election of five directors, Avho shall elect from their number a president, secretary, and treasurer. The eighth article limits the indebtedness of the corporation, and provides that “the agent shall in no case sell more than twenty lots to one party without the consent of all the directors.” The tenth article provides that “the president shall have power to convey the property of the corporation, such conveyances to be countersigned by the secretary,” and the fifth article of the by-laws is to the same effect. The articles are signed by the parties, and are attested and acknowledged Avith all the formalities of a deed. The estimated value of the town site at that time appears to have been $4,000, and stock to that amount was immediately after its organization issued the company and delivered to the stockholders in proportion to their respec
There was also a power of attorney, irrevocable in its terms, from each of the stockholders and wife authorizing the president and, secretary to convey their interest in the land. The question presented is, did the deeds from the president and secretary of the corporation convey the title to the lands in controversy ? That this was the effect intended by the parties, all the evidence tends to prove. This organization, although designated a corporation, was in fact a joint stock company or quasi partnership for the
In Fereday v. Wightwick, 1 Russ, and Myl., 45, it is said that all property acquired for the purpose of a trading concern, whether of a personal or real nature, is to be considered as partnership property, and is to be applied accordingly in satisfaction of the demands of the partnership. Fall River v. Borden, 10 Cush., 458. But it is said that there has been no conveyance of the legal title by the individual members of this company, hence they still hold the legal title to said lots.
■ Real property acquired with partnership funds for partnership purposes is regarded in equity as personal estate so far as the adjustment of partnership rights and payment of partnership debts are concerned.' In the view of a court of equity it is immaterial in whose name the legal title to such property may be taken, whether in the name of one or all the partners, as the person holding the legal title does so for co-partnership purposes. Dupuy v. Leavenworth, 17 Cal., 263. Buckley v. Buckley, 11 Barb., 45. Kendall v. Rider, 35 Id., 100.
In Fowler v. Bailey, 14 Wis., 140, it is said “it is a familiar principle of the law'of partnership that when partners intend to give real estate the character of partnership property, and when they use it and treat it as such, then it will, like all other assets of the firm, be applied to the payment of the partnership debts, notwithstanding the paper title may happen to be in one partner or, appear to be in all as tenants in common.” Fairchild v. Fairchild, 64 N. Y., 471. But while real estate purchased with partnership funds and held as partnership property will be treated as personal property, yet ordinarily in the absence of express authority one partner cannot convey the whole title to real estate unless the jen tire title is vested in him.
Judgment affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Robert A. Batty, Administrator, etc., and in error v. The Board of County Commissioners of Adams County, and of error
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published