Ruckman v. Bergholz
Ruckman v. Bergholz
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
The writ of error brings up again the record in this cause which was before us at March Term, 1874, (Ruckman v. Bergholz, 8 Vroom 437,) with the proceedings and verdict upon the trial which subsequently took place
As to the alleged exclusion of evidence in respect to the price received by Bergholz for his interest in the property í This evidence was offered for the purpose of showing that he was, at the time of the sale, a partner with the purchaser in the purchase. Evidence as to his interest in the property, at the time when he acquired it, and its value at that time, was admitted, but evidence as to what he received for it when he
As to the error assigned, on the refusal to charge that Bergholz, if entitled to recover, was entitled to interest only from the time of the commencement of the suit, it is enough to say that it is in accordance with the opinion of this court in this cause on the former writ of error. The case, as presented to us now, differs in no wise in this respect from the case as it then appeared. It was there held that Bergholz was entitled to his money as soon as it had been earned — that is, that he was entitled to it as soon as the contract between the purchaser and Euckman was signed, and that ho was entitled to interest upon it in this suit from that time. The general rule is that where there is an agreement to pay money, but no time is limited for the payment, interest is payable from the time when the money becomes due. Scudder v. Morris, 2 Penn. 419 ; Rogers v. Colt, 1 Zab. 18 ; Metler v. E. & A. R. R. Co., 8 Vroom 222 ; Selleck v. French, 1 Am. Lead. Cas. 500. There may be circumstances which will render the application of the rule inequitable, and by which it will be controlled, but it does not appear that in this case the attention of the
The refusal to charge that if the jury were satisfied that the-agreement testified to by Bergholz, for a commission of five-per cent, on the sale of the property at $275 an acre, was not, in fact, made, they should find a verdict in favor of Ruckman, was not an error. The position of the plaintiff in error on this-point is, that Bergholz, by testifying that such an agreement was made, testified in effect to the abandonment of the original agreement for two and a-half per cent, on the price of $225 an acre, and that if the agreement for five per cent, was not, in fact, made, he, for his falsehood, should have been denied a recovery in the suit. Otherwise stated, the request was, substantially, that the judge should declare, as matter of law, that if Bergholz had testified untruly in reference to the subsequent agreement, he should be punished in the verdict by forfeiture of his entire claim in suit. The proposition needs only to be stated to make manifest its. infirmity. The proof of the original agreement did not rest on the testimony of Bergholz alone. There was corroboration of his testimony as to that agreement, and, therefore, if Bergholz was mistaken, as to the terms of the subsequent agreement, there was still proof of the original agreement. Besides, the subsequent agreement did not, necessarily, supersede the original one. It was merely for a higher commission on a higher price. Clearly, there was no error in the refusal under consideration.
Nor was there error in the refusal to charge that Bergholz,. who was not a land agent or real estate broker, was not entitled to the commissions usually allowed to such agents or brokers. The charge on this subject was, that if the jury should find a general employment, with no rate of compensa^ tion mentioned, then they would find the amount which the-labor and services of Bergholz in causing and procuring a sale were reasonably worth, and that in estimating the value of such, labor and services, they must not consider Bergholz a professional broker; that the employment of Bergholz by Ruck-man under those circumstances would raise no implied promise
The remaining assignment of error is upon the refusal to admit evidence of the fact that Bergholz had no license from the United States government as a land broker or real estate agent, and had paid no revenue tax as such. In the opinion of this court before referred to, that matter was considered and adjudged.
The judgment should affirmed.
For affirmance — The Chancellor, Chief Justice, .Deuce, Van Syckel, Woodiiull, Clement, Dodd, Lilly, Wales — 9.
For reversal — None.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- ELISHA RUCKMAN, IN ERROR v. WILLIAM BERGHOLZ, IN ERROR
- Status
- Published