Oppenheimer v. Miller
Oppenheimer v. Miller
Opinion of the Court
This is a suit for the recovery of a commission by a real estate agent for the sale of certain residential property in' Dallas alleged to have been made by appellee, who was the plaintiff below.
It was alleged that appellant listed the property with appellee for sale upon the following terms: $15,750, payable as follows: $5,000 cash and $2,687.50 payable at or before the expiration of one year thereafter, and the same amount payable on or before the expiration of two years, or three years, and of four years after date; the deferred payments to be evidenced by four notes payable respectively at the end of one, two, three, and four years after date with interest at the rate of 7 per cent, per annum.
The issue having been joined, the case was tried before a jury and was submitted upon special issues in connection with a correct charge as to the burden of proof. The issues submitted and the respective answers of the jury thereto were as follows:
“Did the defendant, Oppenheimer, ever agree with plaintiff, Miller, that he (Miller) could secure a purchaser for the property in question? Answer Yes or No. Answer: Yes.
“Did the defendant, Oppenheimer, ever tell plaintiff, Miller, upon what terms and conditions he (Oppenheimer) would sell the property in controversy? Answer Yes or No. Answer: Yes.
“Did the plaintiff Miller secure a purchaser who was ready, willing, and able to purchase the property upon the terms and conditions under which defendant, Oppenheimer, would sell, if you have found from the evidence that defendant, Oppenheimer, agreed to sell upon any agreed terms or conditions? Answer Yes or No. Answer: Yes.”
All of the issues presented were clearly raised by the evidence, which fully supported each of the answers rendered by the jury.
“Did Oppenheimer, on the occasion of Miller’s first visit to his office, request Miller to find him (Oppenheimer) a purchaser for his property?”
The proof disclosed that Miller called on appellant several months before the date on which he claimed to have made the sale for Oppenheimer, and asked if his property was for sale. There is some conflict between testimony of appellant and appellee as to the substance of the conversation which passed between them at that time, but the variance is immaterial because there is no contention that any agreement was then arrived at which had any bearing whatever upon the. sale appellee claims to have made. Appellee seems not to contend that anything said at that-.time constituted any part of the obligation which he relied upon in this'case. Appellant contended that he never authorized appellee at any time -to seR the property. Appellee asserted a contract of agency made at a date subsequent to his first visit to appellant, which asserted contract bore no relation whatever to the first visit. We are therefore of the opinion that the question did not present a proper or material issue, and that the court correctly declined to submit it.
The court refused to give a special issue requested by appellant which was as follows:
“Did Oppenheimer agree to accept $5,000 in cash and pay Miller a commission of $750 out of the $5,000 cash payment?”
Appellant complains that the court erroneously refused to submit this issue.
Appellee testified that the first time he had a conversation with appellant in whicli the latter submitted to him a definite price for the property the property was listed at $12,-500. He testified that this was seven or eight months prior to the time he made the transaction upon which he claims a commission. He testified. that some time thereafter he went to appellant and told him that he had a client who might be interested in the property, and inquired of Oppenheimer if he was still willing to sell, and that Oppenheimer replied that he was, and stated that he wanted $15,000 for the property. Appellee testified that no terms were then discussed. According to his testimony, Miller was deal *207 ing with a Mr. Schaerdel and Schaerdel’s agent. He testified that after the $15,000 offer was made he took it up with Schaerdel through Schaerdel’s agent. Schaerdel then, according to Miller’s testimony, made an offer of $14,000, stating that terms could be discussed afterwards if the price should be satisfactory to Oppenheimer. The offer was declined by Oppenheimer, who stated that he would not take less than $15,000 net for the property. It was testified that $15,000 gross was thereupon offered by Schaerdel, the proposition being that $3,000 cash was to be paid, and the balance in notes bearing interest at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum. A contract was prepared containing these provisions; the deferred payments being $3,000 each. This was submitted to Oppenheimer, and he declined to sign it, for the reason that he wanted $15,000 net. Miller testified that when Oppenheimer declined to accept the written offer or contract he then requested Oppenheimer to read it over in order that he might ascertain whether or not the terms and conditions were satisfactory. He swore that Oppenheimer did read it over,' and thereupon stated that he would not take less than $5,-000 cash, the deferred payments bearing 7 per cent, interest, and with a rental agreement that he (Oppenheimer) was to rent the premises from Schaerdel at $75 per month. A contract was then prepared and signed by Schaerdel by the terms of which Schaerdel bound himself to pay $15,750 for the property, $5,000 cash, and the balance in deferred payments evidenced by four promissory notes each for $2,687.50, bearing interest at the rate of 7 per cent, per annum and payable, respectively, on or before one, two, three, and four years after date. According to the evidence given by Miller, the purpose of making the total consideration $15,750 was to secure to appellant $15,000 net, the $750 being to cover the commission. Appellee testified that nothing was said at any time about the $5,-000 cash payment being a net cash payment. According to his testimony, the only proposition as to a net amount was that the total net consideration to be received by Oppenheimer should be $15,000. Oppenheimer himself testified that he never agreed to seE the property for $15,000 net to him. He swore that when the offer was submitted to him he refused to sign the contract and stated that he would have to consider it at least two weeks. He also stated that he told the agent he would not entertain less than $5,000 cash on a $15,000 deal. Oppenheimer testified that when the contract was submitted to him he informed Miller that he would not pay the commission, and that Miller stated he did not know whether he could get the other party “to honor it or not.”
We have carefully considered all of the assignments of error, and are of the opinion that the case was correctly submitted to the jury upon issues determinative of every essential question. These issues having been answered favorably to appellee, there was no error in the judgment entered in conformity with the answers, and it is accordingly affirmed.
Affirmed.
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Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.