Sims v. Willing
Sims v. Willing
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
The case submitted, is neither so full nor so satisfactory as-could be desired, but still enough appears to w rrant a legal inference that a partnership existed between Willing Francis, and the Sampayos. It is of no-consequence whether the flour was purchased on joint account or not, as a partnership may be formed by each contributing in specie, his portion of the article or thing in which the trade is to be carried on. A more material consideration is, that the whole was to be managed and sold on joint account, all equally participating in the profit or loss. The entire adventure was to have been sold on its arrival at Lisbon, by H. T. Sampayo, the consignee. As far as we can discover, the agreement entered into by Willing & Francis with F. T. Sampayo for himself and brother, went that far and no farther. Accordingly, there was an entire commixture of the interests of all; no part of the flour being the separate property of either, but the whole constituting one mass, without distinction as to brand or number. What would have been H. T. Sampayo’s power over the cargo if it had arrived at Lisbon ? The counsel for the defendant says, he was authorised to sell the part of Willing ci Francis, as their agent, and remit the proceeds to their correspondent in London.
This decision of the principal question, renders it unnecessary to consider the point made by the plaintiff’s counsel, as to a supposed liability of the defendant as a joint owner, in case the Court should think the partnership not established.
Then as to the last question : We are clear that interest ought to be charged from the time the advances were actually made by Mr. Sims. This action to compel contribution to what was a general charge, is in the nature of a bill in equity, and the money may be said to have been paid and advanced to the defendants use ; in which case interest, in the shape of damages, would clearly be recoverable from the time of the advancement. It is said, that interest follows the debt, as a shadow does the substance ; and although this is not a rule of universal application, I can discover no ground to make this case an exception. In actions for mo
Judgment for the plaintiff.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Sims against Willing and others
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published