Martin v. Zahnizer

Superior Court of Pennsylvania
Martin v. Zahnizer, 10 Pa. Super. 582 (1899)
1899 Pa. Super. LEXIS 322
Beaver, Beeber, Oklady, Orlady, Porter, Rice

Martin v. Zahnizer

Opinion of the Court

Opinion by

Oklady, J.,

The testimony adduced on the second trial of this case was sufficient to warrant the jury in returning a verdict for the plaintiff. Zahnizer’s use of the words “ we ” and “ us ” in his conversations with Martin, and the mere payment of the rental and order by the checks of the East End Oil Co., were not of themselves sufficient to make the oil company liable for his acts. These acts taken in connection with the facts which were admitted in the pleadings: that he was a member of the partnership known as the East End Oil Co. and acted as its manager; that he consulted with his partners about the Martin matter; that the company authorized him to check against its funds, his declarations to others of his relations to the company, and its manner of conducting its business in permitting Zahnizer to commingle his individual affairs with its enterprises in the same neighborhood, *587made it a question for the jury and not for the court. The proof which was lacking when the case was before us after the first trial (9 Pa. Superior Ct. 13) was furnished on the second, and when considered with the contradictions of the defendant’s manager, and the answers to the defendant’s points, was fairly submitted to the jury. It was for the jury to find from the evidence whether Zahnizer was acting for himself or for the company in the contract, if one was made, and after two trials of the case, that fact has been established by sufficient evidence.

The judgment is affirmed.

Reference

Full Case Name
P. C. Martin and I. E. Martin, partners doing business under the firm name of P. C. Martin & Co. v. M. L. Zahnizer, H. B. Zahnizer and John R. Rush, partners doing business under the firm name of East End Oil Company
Cited By
1 case
Status
Published
Syllabus
Contract — Partnership liability — Act of manager — Question for jury— Evidenced Where the question turns on whether an individual was acting for himself or for a company, of which he was a member and manager, in a contract, if one was made, the determination of such question is for the jury, and there being sufficient evidence, if believed, to establish the fact the verdict will not be disturbed by the appellate court. The mere use by the agent of the words “we” and “ us ” and the payment of rental by the company’s check are not of themselves sufficient to make the company a party to the contract, but taken in connection with other facts admitted by the pleadings and testified to at the trial they go to make up the question for the jury.