Buck v. Woodson
Buck v. Woodson
Opinion of the Court
Woodson, as a real estate broker, sued Buck for a commission, alleging that he procured a purchaser for a section of land owned by Buck in the person of Geo. W. Baker, to whom Buck sold the land thereafter; that theretofore appellant listed the land with appellee for sale, agreeing, if appel-lee secured ai purchaser, and brought about a sale for such price as appellant should accept, to pay appellee a commission of 5 per cent, on the full amount of the selling price, alleging the price received on the sale of the land, and the commission earned thereby to be $603.05.
After a general denial, the appellant pleaded: (2) That he listed his land with appel-lee, to be sold for $20 per acre, or a total of $17,445, and that the listing did not authorize an exchange of land;, that Baker was not presented to appellant as a prospective purchaser of the land, but was brought by appel-lee to appellant with the statement that Baker would probably exchange other lands for appellant’s land, but nothing was said with reference to Baker’s being a prospective purchaser. (3) At the time mentioned appellee was representing Baker, and not defendant, and had Baker’s land listed for sale or exchange, and was to receive a commission from Baker in case he was successful in making the deal. (4) Appellant, a few days after the discussion to exchange the land, showed Baker the land, unassisted by appellee, who was not then in the country. (5) That about the 14th day of August, 1915, unassisted by appellee, appellant sold to Baker the land. (6) That appellant did not know that appel-lee had Baker’s land listed for sale or exchange at the time appellee brought Baker to appellant There was no knowledge on the *245 part of either Baker or appellant that appel-lee was expecting a commission out of the other, “and said silent understanding with himself was a fraud upon defendant.’’
The appellee excepted specially to each of the paragraphs Nos. 2 to 6, inclusive — the effect of the exceptions being that the answer did not allege that the sale did not grow out of the introduction 'of the parties to exchange; that it is immaterial to plaintiff’s cause of action whether he had Baker’s land listed or not, as it nowhere alleges that ap-pellee 'took Baker’s land as part of the sale as finally made; that there was no allegation that, an exchange was consummated, and for that reason the contract between appellee and Baker is immaterial, there being no allegation that appellee had collected, or would attempt to collect, commission from Baker, and for that reason there was no fraud practiced. The trial court sustained each of the exceptions to all of the named paragraphs of the answer, and the case was tried upon appellant’s general denial. The appellant excepted to the action of the court in sustaining the exceptions and assigns error thereon.
On the trial of the case the appellant offered to prove by Baker that at the time ap-pellee carried him to see appellant, proposing an exchange of lands, that he (Baker) had his lands listed with appellee for sale or exchange, and was to pay appellee a commission in case of such sale or exchange. The bill of exception recites that Baker would have so testified. The appellant also offered to testify that at that time he had no knowledge that appellee was acting for Baker as agent in offering the exchange or to sell his land. Upon objection being made by appellee to the proffered testimony, on the ground that it was immaterial, the court sustained the objection and refused the introduction of the testimony, to which proper bills of exception were taken and assignments presented in this court.
The evidence upon the trial in part shows that Baker saw appellee’s advertisement of the land and other land, and called on him, and, after getting a description of the land, said he would take the land if appellee would take his land in exchange. It appears that appellee called on appellant about the proffered trade, but appellant stated he wanted to sell, but further said he would see about it. Appellee then took Baker to see appellant, and when the proposition of exchange was made appellant stated that he wanted to sell. Appellee was then ready to leave the country for an extended trip, and stated to the parties what .they did would be all right with him. Appellant took Baker to look at the land, and in discussing the exchange Baker priced his land double in value to that of appellant’s, if an exchange could be effected. Baker could not bay appellant’s land, unless .he could effect an exchange or sell his land. When appellant refused to exchange, he asked for time to s'ell his land, and it would appear that he was given a few days, and in the meantime, through another agent, Baker sold his land, and then bought appellant’s land, paying about $15 per acre, or about what appellant had in it; the deed reciting a cash consideration of $650 and the assumption of six notes against the land, for the principal sum-of $1,630 each, with 6 per cent, interest.
The jury in answer to the only issue submitted, fopnd that the appellee was the procuring cause of the sale made by appellant to Baker. The court rendered judgment for the amount sued for upon the findings of the jury.
We shall not notice the first and second assignments of error, and not discuss them, as they relate to the sufficiency of the testimony.
The fourth, fifth, seventh, and eighth assignments assail the action of the court in sustaining the exception to the answer and the exclusion of the testimony offered.
It is urged by appellee that the evidence is sufficient to support the finding of the jury that appellee was the procuring cause of the sale, and, that being established, the question of double agency becomes immaterial, as it was shown the exchange was not effected, or a sale of Baker’s land made, by appellee. It is true, if the broker, employed to sell land, finds the purchaser through his efforts as the agent of the owner, and the purchaser is induced to apply to the owner through the means employed by the broker, the owner is liable on his contract with the broker, when the owner effects a sale with the party so produced satisfactory to himself. The broker is entitled to his compensation, if he leaves the negotiations to the owner after so producing the purchaser. Graves v. Bains, 78 Tex. 92, 14 S. W. 256; Hodde v. Malone, 196 S. W. 347; Masters v. Hunt, 197 S. W. 219; Hancock v. Stacy, 103 Tex. 219, 125 S. *246 W. 884; Shaw v. Faires, 165 S. W. 501; Webb y. Harding, 159 S. W. 1029; Parks v. Sullivan, 152 S. W. 704; Martin v. Jeffries, 172 S. W. 148; Akers v. Moore, 209 S. W. 241, this day handed down by us.
It is also the rule established in this state that a broker cannot act in the double capacity for both buyer and seller, and recover a commission from both. On grounds of public policy, such agent will not be allowed to recover compensation from either party, unless he acts with full knowledge and consent of both principals: it will not affect the rule if the principal was not in fact injured, or that the agent intended no wrong or that the other party acted in good faith. Armstrong v. O’Brien, 83 Tex. 635, 19 S. W. 268; Moore v. Kelley, 162 S. W. 1034; Bass v. Tolbert, 51 Tex. Civ. App. 437, 112 S. W. 1077; Braden v. Scherer, etc.; 61 Tex. Civ. App. 240, 128 S. W. 1159; Tinsley v. Penniman. 12 Tex. Civ. App. 591, 34 S. W. 365; Yoakum v. Gossett, 200 S. W. 582; Mechera on Agency, vol. 1, § 1206; 4 R. C. L. “Broker,” g 64, p. 328.
It will be unnecessary to discuss other assignments. For the reasons above stated, the judgment of the trial court will be reversed, and the cause remanded.
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