Martin v. Zahnizer
Martin v. Zahnizer
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
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,
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.