Strauss v. Mendelsohn
Strauss v. Mendelsohn
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
The court below entered judgment for want of a sufficient affidavit of defense. It was admitted by both sides that the case must be determined upon the construction of Exhibit “A,” forming part of the plaintiff’s statement of claim and which appears in the reporter’s notes. It will be observed that the first clause in the agreement is a definite promise to pay to the plaintiff the sum of $1,300.00. To this promise there are three conditions annexed. The first is that instead of paying interest on the amount, the defendant promised to pay to the plaintiff 40% of the profits earned by the business in which he was engaged provided the profits exceeded $2,500.00, and that $500.00 of the profits was to be put back in the business. The second condition was that if less than $2,-500.00 was earned in the business, the promise to pay was to be renewed for another year on the same terms and conditions, and the third condition was that if the business showed a loss plaintiff agreed to accept another promise to pay the $1,300.00 less 15% on the same terms and conditions for another year.
A large part of the discussion in the paper books is devoted to the question as to whether this agreement constitutes a partnership. It will be observed that it is not signed by both parties. It is but a promise on the part of the defendant to pay, depending upon the success of the business, a certain sum in lieu of interest. There is nothing in the agreement which indicates that the plaintiff is to be a partner in the business. Whether it has that effect' as far as the creditors of the defendant are
Assignments of error are overruled. Judgment affirmed.
Reference
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- Partnership — Participation in profits — Intention. A mere participation in the profits of a business will not make the parties partners, inter se, whatever it may do to third persons unless they so intend. In an action of assumpsit based upon an agreement in writing signed by the defendant alone, it appeared that defendant agreed in the writing to pay to plaintiff the sum of thirteen hundred dollars, subject to three conditions: (1) that in lieu of interest defendant should pay forty per cent, of the profits earned in his business provided the profits exceeded twenty-five hundred dollars; (2) that if less than twenty-five hundred was earned the promise to pay would be renewed for another year on the same terms; and (3) that if the business showed a loss, plaintiff was to accept another promise to pay thirteen hundred dollars less fifteen per cent, under the same terms for another year. The action was brought after the end of the second year for thirteen hundred dollars less fifteen per cent., the business having resulted in a loss. Held, (1) that there was no partnership between the parties inter se; (2) that there was no obligation by the plaintiff to wait longer than a period of two years; (3) that the plaintiff was entitled to recover the amount claimed in the suit.