Lepper v. Reilley
Lepper v. Reilley
Opinion of the Court
This is an action to recover for alleged services rendered by the plaintiff in drawing plans for the construction or alteration of a building. The answer is a general denial. The case was tried to the court and a jury, and resulted in a judgment for the defendant. The plaintiff appeals.
As to that the evidence shows the Lemps Brewing Company, at Salt Lake City, owned the ground and the building to be altered or constructed. The defendant, a wholesale and retail liquor dealer, was its distributor at that place. A Mr. Eidd testified that he was a general contractor and builder, and through the defendant knew of the alterations and improvements to be made, and that:
“I went to Mr. Lepper’s office and told him there was a prospect coming up, and asked him if he would like to get in and see if we could land it. I told him Mr. Eeilley was a particular friend of mine and would help me in landing the job; asked him if he would like to come in on the prospect. He said he would come in, as he had nothing on hand only prospect work. I made an appointment with Mr. Lepper to meet me at Lemps Bottling Works, and took him over the situation and got the measurements, and asked him to draw up the sketch for the proposed layout. Mr. Eeilley was with us a part of the time. I was with Mr. Lepper all the time. No conversation transpired between Mr. Eeilley and Mr; Lepper that I can remember of, unless it was on one point about the sewer or something. I saw Mr. Lepper a few days later. I went into the office one time. He showed me the plans which he had,
The defendant testified, in substance, that he did not order the plans, and had no conversation with the plaintiff about them until he presented the plans to him at his residence and showed them to him, but that he made no suggestions respecting them. He was asked if he was not “a general agent” of the brewing company, and he answered that he was not; that he was only a “distributor of their product,” but not an agent. The plaintiff, in presenting his bill, made it out “William J. Lemp Brewing Company, C. H. Reilley, Agent, to W. H. Lepper, Dr.”
The plaintiff testified:
“I did not make a charge on my books for this work. I mentally charged it to Mr. Reilley. I supposed the ground belonged to the Lemps. Mr. Reilley told me that the Lemps were going to construct the building for him. My bill was made out to Wm. J. Lemp Brewing Company, C. H. Reilley, Agent.”
The judgment therefore is affirmed, with costs.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- LEPPER v. REILLEY
- Status
- Published