National Grocery Co. v. Simmons
National Grocery Co. v. Simmons
Opinion of the Court
This action was commenced by the National Grocery Company, a corporation, against Richard Irvine, R. G. Leslie, and D. W. Simmons, copartners as Irvine, Leslie & Company, and Nellie E. Simmons, wife of D. W. Simmons, to recover for merchandise sold. From a judgment, in plaintiff’s favor, the defendant D. W. Simmons has appealed.
The issue tried was whether D. W. Simmons was a member of the alleged copartnership or had held himself out to the respondent as such, and whether any judgment obtained against him was the community debt of himself and wife. The trial judge found that, for a long time prior to May 24, 1907,
The appellant contends the trial court erred in the findings made. Although respondent alleged appellant was a member of the firm of Irvine, Leslie & Company, no finding was made that he was a partner when respondent sold the goods. Appellant contends the court impliedly found he was not a partner, and argues that, if he is liable at all, it can only be on the theory of estoppel, but that the evidence shows no liability on that ground. He concedes that, during the year 1903, he was a member of the firm of Irvine, Leslie & Company, but insists that he withdrew before respondent sold it any merchandise, that he has not been a member since, and that he at no time since represented himself as one of the firm. It is immaterial for the purposes of this appeal whether appellant was a partner after the year 1903, or whether the trial court so found, as a careful examination of the evidence convinces us that the findings as to representations made by him must be sustained, and that no findings more favorable to appellant could have been made. We will not enter upon a discussion of the conflicting evidence, as no good purpose would be thereby served. It is not disputed that a partnership did at one time exist, of which appellant was a member;
The trial judge announced his opinion some time, after the hearing. In the meantime, further payments were made upon the respondent’s claim from partnership assets. Appellant now calls attention to the fact that the final judgment was in excess of the amount due at the date of its entry. Respondent admits this error, and expresses its willingness to correct the same.
The judgment will be affirmed, but with permission'to appellant to apply to the trial court for an order reducing it to the amount actually due at the date of its entry. Because of the error of respondent in taking an excessive judgment, the appellant will recover costs on this appeal.
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- National Grocery Company v. D. W. Simmons
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- Partnership — Holdins Out as Partner — Evidence-—Sufficiency. Findings- to the effect that defendant was liable for the debt of a co-partnership are sustained, where it appears that he was at one time a member of the firm, invested money therein, and held himself out as such to the plaintiff, that no formal dissolution was announced, and that, three years after he claims to have retired from the firm, he signed a writing agreeing to give his services to the firm for one year or employ a man to take his place, and signed the firm name to a note in payment of firm obligations, and indorsed another note for a partnership debt. Costs- — On Appeal — Allowance. Upon the reduction of an excessive judgment entered through the error of respondent, appellant will be allowed the costs on appeal.