Kanner v. Startz
Kanner v. Startz
Opinion of the Court
H. Kanner and wife, Rebecca Kanner, sued A. G. Startz, J. 0. Yantis and wife, Susie Yantis, B. Jones, and Leonard Brown, on November 16, 1915, alleging that on September 8, 1915, plaintiff H. Kanner entered into a written agreement with A. G. Startz and B. Jones, whereby Startz was to sell Kanner certain cattle, personal property, and lots, and Kanner was to convey to Startz certain real estate, and Jones was to receive a conveyance from Startz of certain real estate, as his commission for negotiating the trade between Startz and Kanner, and between Kanner and Yantis; that a verbal agreement was made to the effect that the sales and conveyances heretofore mentioned were conditioned on the purchase by Yantis of tbe property Kanner was to receive from Startz; that on the same day Kanner made an agreement with defendant Yantis, acting through his agent, B. Jones, wherein Kanner was to convey to Yantis the lots and cattle to be received from Startz for $19,000, payable by conveyance of certain real estate and the execution of a note for the balance, secured by lien on the real estate to be conveyed by Kanner. The terms of the various trades were complicated, and need not be set out. Plaintiffs alleged that it was agreed that all abstracts should be brought down to date, and all papers and abstracts deposited with Leonard Brown, an attorney at law, who should draw up the instruments necessary to carry out the contracts; that about September 14, 1915, Kanner, Startz, and Jones, went to Brown’s office for the purpose of preparing the necessary instruments, but abandoned said written agreements and entered into verbal agreements with reference to the sale and trade between said parties, and agreed that the trade between Startz and Kanner, and between Kanner and Yantis, were to be conditioned upon the successful consummation of both trades. Plaintiffs then alleged the terms of the verbal contract between Startz and Kanner, and between Kanner and Yantis; that he executed,various instruments for the purpose of carrying out his part of the contracts, and that all instruments were executed except a deed by him to Startz and by Startz to B. Jones of certain real estate Jones was to receive as commission ; that it was agreed that the instruments so executed were to be held by said Leonard *604 Brown in escrow, and not to be delivered, unless tbe deal with Xantis was consummated; that Xantis did not complete his abstracts ; that no instruments were executed either by Kanner or Xantis carrying out the agreement between them, but certain instruments had been executed and left with Brown by Xantis, which were not in conformity with the terms of the trade; that while the papers relating to the Xantis deal were still in an incomplete state, and according to the agreement of the parties no instruments in Brown’s hands could be delivered until all matters were finally determined and agreed upon, Startz went to Brown’s office, and by fraud and deceit and by force and without the consent of Brown or Kanner unlawfully took possession of the papers by Kanner to Startz and placed same on record. Plaintiff Rebecca Kanner alleged that certain real estate was her homestead at the time Kanner executed a deed of trust thereon to secure a note for $2,000 to Startz, and that said deed of trust was void. She prayed that the deed of trust b'e canceled for that reason.
The plaintiffs prayed for cancellation of all the instruments secured by Startz from Brown, and for removal of clouds upon real estate caused by the recording of the instruments relating thereto; also for the cancellation of all instruments still held by Brown.
On January 12, 1916, Startz sued H. Kan-ner, J. O. Xantis, Susie Xantis, and L. B. Randall in the district court of the Seventy-Third district, of Bexar county, and said cause was transferred to the district court of the Forty-Fifth district, and consolidated with the suit brought by the Kanners. This suit was based upon three vendor’s lien notes executed and delivered to Startz by J. C. Xan-tis, for $1,000, $800, and $1,700, respectively. Startz sought to foreclose the vendor’s liens on the various lots for which said notes had been given, and to hold Susie Xantis upon her contract of assumption of the first three notes, and H. Kanner on contracts of assumption of all of said notes. He alleged that Randall claimed under a deed of trust by Xantis, and that his liens were superior to that of Randall.
After the consolidation of the suit Startz answered the Kanners’ petition by general demurrer, special exceptions, and general denial. 1-Ie then, by way of cross-action, complained of Kanner and wife, Xantis and wife, and L. Jones, alleging the execution of the written contract between himself and Kan-ner made September 8, 1915; and that it had not been abrogated by any subsequent verbal agreement, but if any subsequent oral or written agreements had been made the same were of a minor and immaterial nature, and were embodied in the instruments thereafter executed in consummation of the contract between Kanner and Startz and deposited with Brown. He specially denied that the contract was in any way dependent or conditioned upon the contract between Kanner and Xantis. He described the various instruments which had been placed with Brown. As to the property described in Kanner’s petition as that which was to be conveyed to Startz and by Startz to Jones in payment of commissions, he alleged that it was subsequently agreed that Kanner should convey same directly to Jones. He alleged the full compliance of himself and Kanner with the terms of the contract, by the execution and delivery of the instruments, and that the instruments were left with Brown solely for the purpose of placing the necessary revenue stamps thereon, and that both parties had authorized Brown to attach and cancel said stamps and hand such instruments to the party to whom they had already been delivered, respectively; that when he returned for his instruments so executed and delivered to him by Kanner, Brown refused to hand the same to him, stating that Kanner had instructed him not to do> so; that afterwards Kanner agreed with Startz that if Startz would give him a credit of $500 on a certain note and cancel another $500 note, ho (Kan-ner) would pay Startz $500 and withdraw his instructions to Brown not to let Startz have said instruments; that Startz agreed to this in order to avoid further trouble and the expense of litigation; that such agreement was without consideration and was obtained by fraud, but Startz met Kanner at Brown’s office on September 17, 1915, for the purpose of complying therewith, and Kanner failed and refused to comply therewith and to permit Brown to deliver such other instruments; that thereupon he took possession of such instruments and placed same of record. He also pleaded that Kan-ner on the 17th and 18th of September, 1915, after such instruments were placed of record, ratified and confirmed all of the same and the former delivery thereof, and delivered possession to Xantis of the cattle and real estate purchased from Startz.
He pleaded further that he had made certain payments on notes assumed by him, and had paid taxes and interest, which under the terms of the contract Kanner was to pay; that Kanner had withheld the possession of all the properties conveyed to him; and that he (Startz) was entitled to recover $100 per month as the reasonable value of the rents and revenues therefrom. He also alleged that Kanner had represented that the premises, claimed in plaintiffs’ petition to be the homestead, did not constitute the Kanner homestead, and that Mrs. Kanner knew of such representations; that by reason thereof they were estopped to assert that the premises in fact constituted their homestead. He prayed that if the deed of trust should be canceled he have judgment against Kanner for the amount of the note. He also prayed that the instruments from Kanner to him be declared valid; that he *605 have judgment for rents, revenues, interest, and for removal of cloud upon his title to the real estate claimed hy him under the instruments executed by Kanner. In the alternative he prayed for damages in the sum of $19,000, the alleged value of the property received hy Kanner from him, and alleged to have been disposed of.
Plaintiffs filed a supplemental petition,- in answer to Startz’s pleading, containing special exceptions, a general denial, special denials, and allegations that the real facts were as pleaded hy them. Startz filed a trial amendment alleging his willingness to comply in every respect with his agreement, and that he consented to the memoranda of agreement dated, September 17, 1915, signed by him and Kanner, by which he agreed to. cancel one note for $500 on the terms and conditions set out in the memoranda. He tendered the note into court, and withdrew his allegations that it was without consideration and obtained by fraud. He further alleged that he would at all times have been willing to cancel said note had Kanner complied with or offered to comply with said agreement. J. O. Yantis answered, and by cross-action sought specific performance of the contract with Kanner, and in the alternative the recovery of damages for its breach. As the court dismissed plaintiffs’ suit against Yantis and Yantis’ cross-action, it will not be necessary to state the allegations of Yantis’ cross-action.
B. Jones’ answer consisted of general demurrer, general denial, and a cross-action against Kanner, alleging that as the agent of Kanner and Startz he negotiated the exchange of the properties mentioned in the written contract between them, and became entitled to the usual and customary commission, and that it was agreed between Kan-ner, Startz, and this defendant that Kanner should convey him certain property in payment of the commissions due by Kanner and Startz; that Kanner failed and refused to make such conveyance. 1-Ie also alleged that Kanner owed him $812.50 as commission for procuring the exchange of Kanner’s property with Yantis, as shown by the agreement between them. He sought specific performance of the contract to convey him the property, and for the rental value thereof while it was withheld by Kanner, and in the alternative prayed for judgment for his commissions on both deals, with interest.
Plaintiffs’ answer to L. Jones’ pleading consisted of a general demurrer, a general denial, and allegations that the facts were as set out in their original and supplemental petition. Plaintiffs filed a trial amendment for the purpose of obviating various objections made by way of special exceptions. Among other things they described the various contracts and instruments they sought to annul, and stated additional details concerning the agreements they claimed were made, and the various particulars in which they contended the instruments prepared and left with Brown failed to carry out the agreements actually made. They again alleged that the trades between Kanner and Startz and Kanner and Yantis were each dependent upon the other, and that Jones’ commissions were dependent upon the closing of all of said trades. Plaintiffs filed a second trial amendment containing a general demurrer and special exceptions to Startz’s trial amendment, a general denial, a plea that if any contract was made as therein alleged, that the same was not in writing, was indefinite, lacked description - of property, and was void and contrary to the statute of frauds. They further alleged that the original contract of Startz with Kanner and h. Jones, and of Kanner with Yantis, both made September ' 8, 1915, were void for vagueness, indefiniteness, and insufficiency of description, and not sufficient to support an action for specific performance.
The consolidated cause was tried without a jury and judgment rendered that Kanner- and wife take nothing as against Brown and Jones; that they take nothing as against Startz on their plea for injunction, damages, and .the annulment of contracts, deeds, deed of trust and notes, executed or assumed respectively by Kanner in favor of Startz, and for removal of cloud upon the title to the properties (described in said instruments, but without prejudice to any rights of Kan-ner and wife to assert their defense of homestead in any subsequent suit or proceedings to foreclose the said deed of trust by Startz or the holder of the said $2,000 note, and without prejudice to any right of Startz to controvert such homestead claim. It was further decreed that instruments executed by and between Kanner and Startz, except the cattle note No. 1 for $500, are valid and binding obligations and conveyances, and that Startz recover from Kanner the title and possession of the real estate in the city of San Antonio, described as lot 17, block.8, new city block' 1800, the east 42 feet of lot 20, block 4, new city block 2209, the west 14 feet of lot 19, and east 30 feet of lot 18 in block 4, new city block 2209, lot 15, block 112, county block 4061 in San Jose addition to the city of San Antonio, in accordance with the stipulations expressed in the deeds from Kanner to Startz; also that Startz recover of Kanner $1,053 for rents on said properties, with interest from date of judgment. The cattle note No. 1 for $500 was canceled. It was decreed that the Kanners take nothing on their prayer for damages, and that Startz takes nothing against Kan-ner on that portion of his cross-action praying for damages caused by clouding of title.
The judgment awarded Jones $819 as rents on the Perez street properties, $552.50 as commission on the Yantis contract, specific performance of the contract between Kanner and Jones, and that Kanner execute and deliver to Jones a general warranty deed *606 conveying him the parcels of land in the city of San Antonio designated as Nos. 933, 936, and 937 Perez street, said premises being fully described in the judgment, and it being provided that Jones was to be liable for the incumbrance of $2,500 against said premises, with interest thereon from September S, 1915, and that the deed should contain a stipulation that Jones assumed the payment of such debt. It was further decreed that Startz recover of Yantis $4,690, with interest, and foreclosures of liens as against Yan-tis, Mrs. Yantis, and Kanner, in accordance with his prayer in his suit consolidated with Kanner’s suit; that any cloud upon the title to said lands by reason of any interest or claim Randall may have had be annulled and removed. All causes of action asserted by the Kanners against Yantis and by Yan-tis against them were dismissed. The costs growing out of the cause of action asserted against Yantis by Startz were adjudged against Yantis. All other costs were adjudged against Kanner. The Kanners alone appealed.
By the seventeenth assignment it is contended the court erred in denying all relief to plaintiffs as against Startz. Ijhe proposition submitted, and the only one relied on, raises the issue whether or not the contract between Kanner and Startz was dependent or conditioned upon the contract between Kanner and Yantis. The evidence supports a finding that the contract between Kanner and Startz was not in any way conditioned or dependent upon the contract between Kan-ner and Yantis. Plaintiffs pleaded that the agreement concerning the dependency of the contract was not embraced in the written contract, that a separate contract was made verbally to that effect, and that it was made a part of the verbal contract which he contended supplanted the written contract. These averments were contradicted by Startz, who was corroborated by several witnesses. The same proposition is submitted under assignments 24, 26, 29, and 34, but under assignments 26 and 34 certain other proposi-1 tions are urged, which will be disposed of by the following findings of fact. The trade between Kanner and Startz, as finally agreed on, was evidenced by written instruments, such as deeds, deed of trust, and notes, all of which were duly executed and ready for delivery, when the suggestion was made that internal revenue stamps were required to be 'attached thereto. Startz testified he left the deeds he got from Kanner with Brown, and that Kanner also left his with Brown for the purpose of having the necessary stamps attached.
In view of the foregoing conclusions, it.is apparent that it is immaterial as between Startz and Kanner whether the original written contract between them was sufficient under the statute of frauds. Their final contract, completed by a legal delivery, was evidenced by the instruments executed by them and placed in Brown’s hands.
Under the thirty-fourth assignment the additional proposition is made that when the court by its decree enforces specific performance in favor of Startz as to the Kanner-Startz contract, it should require Startz as a condition precedent to the granting of such relief to do all things required of him under his contract. As we understand the judgment the court did not decree specific performance of the contract, but decreed that there had been a valid delivery of the instruments in question, and declined to cancel same. The contention is that Startz did not deliver the cattle to Kanner, but the testimony supports a finding that Kanner directed Startz to deliver the same to Yantis, and that this was done. The delivery of the instruments and closing of the trade was not made dependent on the delivery of cattle, to Kanner, because he had directed that they be delivered to Yantis. The proposition does not constitute a contention that Kanner is entitled to rescind on account of the dealings of Startz with reference to the cattle, or that 1 e is entitled to damages on account thereof, nor are any pleadings pointed out in the statement wherein any such issue is raised. The assignments mentioned are all overruled.
By the twenty-second, twenty-third, and thirty-third assignments complaint is made of the judgment in favor of L. Jones. - The only proposition urged is that where the payment of commissions is dependent “upon the consummation of mutual deals, and the deals are not consummated, and the payments of commissions are further dependent on the performance of certain acts by the agent, which he fails or refuses to perform, then he is not entitled to his commission.” The so-called proposition embraces two distinct contentions. The first is that the .payment of commissions was dependent upon the consummation of mutual deals, which were not consummated, and therefore the judgment is erroneous. In the statement it is asserted that the undisputed evidence shows that the contracts were mutually conditioned on each other. The statement is not sufficient and is not aided materially by the reference to the statement under the seventeenth assignment. The testimony supports a finding that the Kanner-Startz contract was not conditioned upon the consummation of the Kan-ner-Yantis contract. There is no evidence pointed out which shows that Jones was not to receive a commission on the Kanner-Startz deal, unless the deal between Kanner and Yantis was consummated. The second contention embraced in the proposition is that when the payment of commissions is dependent on the performance of certain acts by the agent, which he fails or refuses to perform, he is not entitled to commission. In the statement it is asserted that Jones’ commission was dependent on the assumption and payment by him of a lien on certain property, and that in the deed made to Mary K. Jones by Kanner, at Jones’ request, Jones did not assume or make the payments on the houses he was to get as his commission. Jones was to assume the payment of a certain note. Kanner. did not insist on making deed to Jones, in order to recite therein that Jones assumed the payment of the note, but consented to a deed being drawn conveying the land to Mary K. Jones, subject to the lien evidenced by the note. Kanner declined on other grounds to sign the deed. It does not appear that Jones ever refused to assume the payment of the note. The judgment requires that he do so. There is no merit in the contention that Jones would be precluded from recovering a commission by reason of his failure to assume the note. The assignments are overruled.
By the twenty-fifth assignment complaint is made of the judgment in so far as it orders “that Yantis pay all costs of court growing out of the cause of action asserted against him in former suit B 11329, and that Kanner pay all costs herein.” The court dismissed Kanner’s suit in so far as it asserted a cause of action against Yantis, and dismissed Yantis’ cross-action against Kanner. The cross-action related to the identical matters covered by Yantis' answer-, and it does not appear that its filing caused the accrual of any costs. There could be no additional costs by reason of such cross-action. Appellants do not complain of the judgment of dismissal of their cause of action or Yantis’ cross-action. They, therefore, cannot expect Yantis to pay costs caused by the filing of their suit against him, and of course cannot expect him to pay the costs incurred in the trial of plaintiffs’ case against Startz and Jones. The assignment is overruled.
There is no merit in the contention that the instruments executed by Kanner to Startz should not have been admitted. Tire propositions presented have been disposed of adversely to appellants in discussing other assignments. The thirty-fifth assignment is overruled.
The judgment is affirmed.
@=»For otter oases see same topic and KEY-NUMBER in all Key-Numbered Digests and Indexes
Reference
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- KANNER Et Ux. v. STARTZ Et Al.
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