Woldenberg v. Berg
Woldenberg v. Berg
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion.
This is a suit for the dissolution of a partnership and an accounting. The parties entered into partnership relations by articles of agreement which provide that the business, consisting of the manufacture and sale of lager beer, steam beer, ale, and porter, in the Town of Burns, Harney County, Oregon, and to be conducted under the firm name of Woldenberg & Berg, shall commence March 26, 1898, and continue during the term of ten years; that the interest of the parties shall be equal, and that the profits and losses shall be shared accordingly between them; that Woldenberg shall contribute to the business the entire plant, with machinery fully .equipped for brewing purposes; and that Berg shall repay him one half of the actual expenditure therefor out of his share of the surplus earnings, after deducting among other expenses, $30 per month each for plaintiff and defendant for personal use, Woldenberg to receive no interest on the excess of his investment above Berg. The business was entered upon in pursuance of the agreement, and was carried on with more or less success until September, 1901, when the parties disagreed, resulting in a discontinuance of the business, and on October 24th following this suit was instituted to wind up the affairs of the firm. Much testimony was taken, covering a very wide scope in the negotiations leading up to the forming of the partnership, the manner of conducting the business, keeping the books, and their final
Under the agreement, each of the parties was entitled to an allowance of $30 per month for his personal use, which is properly an expenditure of the business. The total amount payable to each, therefore, was $1,288. Berg has drawn $1,798.30 — a sum in excess of that to which he was entitled by $510.30. Woldenberg, on the other hand, has drawn but $1,178, leaving due him on his personal account, $110. Now, to the general statement:
The cost of the plant by invoice, substantially agreed to by the parties, is________________________________________ $ 8,888 53
But as the value of the plant is, as practically conceded by plaintiff, $10,000, the cost value ceases to serve as a factor in determining the relative interest of the parties in the assets of the concern ; the increase in value becoming a part of the profits of the investment.
The cash receipts from all sources are____________________ $21,358 60
Accounts due the firm____________________________________ 495 68
Value of the plant________________.------------------------ 10,000 00
Total receipts and assets__________________________ $31,854 28
Upon the other hand, the total amount of moneys paid • out is________________________________________________ $26,608 46
Accounts owing by the firm------------------------------- . 739 34
Amount due Woldenberg on personal allowance__________ 110 00
Total money paid out and liabilities______________ $27,457 80
From this should be deducted amount drawn by Berg above his personal allowance________________________________ 510 30
Balance actual expenditures and liabilities________ $26,947 50
Deduct this amount from receipts and assets______________ $31,854 28
26,947 50
And we have_____________________________________________ $ 4,906 78
as the profits realized, one half of which, or----------- 2,453 39 represents the earnings of each partner.
*295 However, as the defendant has drawn $510.30 above his personal allowance under the articles of partnership, his interest remaining would be diminished by that sum, or______________________________________________ 1,943 09
The assets of the enterprise are: Accounts due the firm____________________________________ 495 68
Value of the plant________________________________________ 10,000 00
Total____________________________________________ $10,495 68
This total, less the defendant’s interest___________________ 1,943 09
would represent the plaintiff’s interest, viz____________ $ 8,552 59
This gives us the proportional basis for final adjustment between the parties. It is necessary that the assets be sold, which will be the decree of the court, and the proceeds arising therefrom will be applied (1) to the payment of the costs and disbursements of this suit, including those arising in the trial court as well as this,'and accruing costs incident to the closing up of the business; -(2) to the payment of the liabilities of the firm, including $110 to plaintiff, and the remainder will be divided between the parties in the proportion of thereof to the defendant, and to the plaintiff.
The trial court allowed the defendant $30 per month during the entire time of the continuance of the litigation. This we deem to be error. If he was entitled to that sum, plaintiff was entitled to a like sum. When, however, they ceased h> engage in business under their articles of partnership, neither was entitled to the stipulated amount for personal use, and the accounting should not include the item. Neither should there be any decree against the plaintiff’s surety on the injunction bond for costs or other amount. The decree will declare a dissolution of partnership, and direct the appointment of a receiver to wind up the business and distribute the funds. Modified.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- WOLDENBERG v. BERG
- Status
- Published