Smith v. Orpheum Amusement Co.
Smith v. Orpheum Amusement Co.
Opinion of the Court
The plaintiffs, partners in business, brought this action against the Orpheum Amusement Company, a corporation, and Scoweroft and Garrett, to recover a balance due for services rendered at the alleged instance and request of the defendants, in preparing plans and specifications for, and superintending the remodeling of, a theater building known as the Grand Opera House in Ogden, and thereafter known as the Orpheum' Theater Building. The case was tried to the court without a jury. At the conclusion of plaintiffs’ evidence the court granted a nonsuit. as to the Orpheum Amusement Company, and overruled a similar motion as to
He complains of tbe findings and tbe judgment. We think they are not supported by tbe evidence. Tbe court granted tbe nonsuit as to tbe Orpbeum Amusement Company partly because tbe motion apparently was not resisted, and partly upon tbe view entertained by tbe court that the services were not engaged by nor rendered for it. If tbe corporation was not itself liable, and if either of tbe defendants, Garrett or Scowcroft, were personally liable, it, upon tbe record, is difficult to understand on what theory tbe court found Garrett alone liable, for tbe evidence without dispute shows that tbe services were rendered equally at tbe request and direction of both. Tbe material and pertinent question in tbe case is whether tbe services were rendered at tbe request and direction of Garrett and Scowcroft as managers and officers of tbe corporation and for it, or for themselves in their individual capacity, or without a disclosure that they were acting for tbe corporation and not for themselves. We think tbe evidence, without substantial dispute, shows that tbe plaintiffs rendered tbe services for tbe corporation, and that they dealt with Garrett and Scowcroft as managers and officers of tbe corporation. Tbe plaintiffs alleged, and tbe evidence shows, that tbe Orpbeum Amusement Company was organized and created on the 19th day of April, 1909. On that day its articles of incorporation were filed. Scowcroft then, and at tbe time of the trial, was tbe president of tbe corporation, David 0. Eccles vice president, Garrett tbe secretary, and John Pin-gree tbe treasurer. Tbe remodeling of tbe theater building was done by tbe corporation, and for its use and benefit, and not for tbe individual use or benefit of Scowcroft and Garrett. There is not a scintilla of evidence to show tbe contrary. Scowcroft and Garrett engaged tbe services, of tbe plaintiffs to draw plans and specifications for and to superintend tbe remodeling. They did that on behalf of tbe corporation and for its use and benefit, and not for the individ
Smith, the other plaintiff, testified that the principal plans and specifications were prepared1 June 3, 1909. He was asked and he answered: “Q. Did you know there was an Orpheum Company at that time? A. Well, I didn’t make inquiry in regard what company — how the company was formed. I knew that Scoweroft and Garrett were behind it. Q. You knew there was a company though, did you? A. I knew they were in a company; yes, sir. Q. You knew that you were doing work for a. company? A. Yes, sir. Q. And' you knew that Garrett and Scoweroft were acting as managers of that company at that time? A. Yes, sir. Q. And you knew you were dealing with them as managers of the Orpheum Company at that time, didn’t you ? A. Yes. Q. How long before that time did you know about it ? A. I couldn’t say. Q. As a matter of fact, you knew about it all the time? A. I knew that there was a company, of course; that there was a company that was going to remodel it for the Orpheum circuit. Q. You knew there was a company organized for this when you were first approached on the subject? A. Yes, sir.” He further testified that before the plaintiffs commenced work he knew that Eccles, Scoweroft, Garrett, Pingree, and Roy Eccles were connected with the company, and that Garrett and Scoweroft acted as the representatives of some company, and that he obtained this information from his associate Hodgson.
Thus, considering the matter upon the evidence alone of the plaintiffs’ it clearly appears that they rendered the services for the corporation and not for Garrett or Scoweroft in their individual capacity. Nor is there any evidence to show that Scoweroft and Garrett, in their individual capacity, either by express promise, or impliedly, promised or agreed
The judgment of the court below is therefore reversed, and the case remanded for a new trial. Costs to appellant.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- SMITH v. ORPHEUM AMUSEMENT COMPANY
- Status
- Published