Wagner v. Buttles
Wagner v. Buttles
Opinion of the Court
Prior to April 1, 1907, plaintiff worked for a tenant of the defendant Buttles. Rand was about to sue-
Either party had the right to terminate the original contract of employment at the end of any month. We can see no escape from the conclusion that the plaintiff effectually terminated it when he quit work October 1, 1907. If he commenced work under that contract on the strength of But-tles’s promise, surely that promise ceased to have any force or effect when plaintiff quit work and was paid 'all that was due him under his contract of hire. If Rand and the plaint
Some slight evidence was offered on tbe trial tending to show tbat, as to tbe plaintiff, Buttles and Rand beld themselves out as partners, and plaintiff argues tbat they are liable to him as such even though they were not partners inter se.
But one point remains to be considered. If the defendants were partners inter se the judgment is right, although recovery was not allowed on such ground. The agreement between the defendants falls within a class which the courts have found it difficult to classify. Beasons can be urged why the contract does not create the relation of landlord and tenant as that relation is defined by the common law. Beasons can also be urged to show that the relation of master and servant did not exist, and why the parties were not partners, and why the defendant Band was not a cropper. Beasons can also be advanced in support of a contention that the contract created each and every of the relations above specified. The New York court has christened this class of agreements “special contracts” (Taylor v. Bradley, 39 N. Y. 129), and our own court and some others have said that they partake of the nature of “an adventure” which entitles the person taking the farm to participate in the profits derivable therefrom. James v. James, ante, p. 78, 137 N. W. 1094, and cases cited. Some courts hold that agreements of the kind here involved make the parties thereto copartners. Lewis v. Wilkins, 62 N. C. 303; Thornton v. Barber, 48 App. Div. 298, 62 N. Y. Supp. 527; Leavitt v. Windsor L. & I. Co. 54 Fed. 439; Bank of Overton v. Thompson, 118 Fed. 798. The North Carolina decision was not followed in the subsequent case of Day v. Stevens, 88 N. C. 83. Between the dates on which the
Turning to the decisions in our own court: In Strain v. Gardner, 61 Wis. 174, 21 N. W. 35, it was held that a contract whereby Strain leased her farm to Gardner and was to he paid one third of the crops for its use created the relation of landlord and tenant. Substantially the same kind of an agreement was held to create the relation of landlord and tenant in Foley v. Sovthwestern L. Co. 94 Wis. 329, 68 N. W. 994.
In Rowlands v. Voechting, 115 Wis. 352, 91 N. W. 990, the contract was designated a lease, and it was stipulated therein that in lieu of rent the landowner should reserve one half of the income of the farm and the products raised thereon, including proceeds derived from the sale of milk, butter, eggs, etc., and that the tenant should render quarterly accounts of receipts and disbursements and furnish receipts showing the payment of disbursements, and that all expenses except farm
Tbe contract in tbe case before us is a much more elaborate affair than was tbe one involved in tbe Rowlands Case. Tbe two instruments are similar in these particulars: Tbe premises in each instance were “leased, demised, and let;” tbe parties were designated “lessor” and “lessee;” tbe leasing was for a definite term; certain expenses were to be borne equally by tbe parties; tbe lessees in each case were required to pay tbe farm labor employed; in each case tbe personal property leased was to be returned; each lessee agreed to pay road taxes, and each agreed to keep tbe buildings in a good state of repair.
Tbe principal points of difference between tbe two leases are,tbe following: In tbe present case the lessor reserved tbe right to erect additional buildings on tbe farm and tbe lessee agreed to haul tbe material therefor free of charge. Any additional live stock purchased for tbe farm was to be jointly paid for and jointly owned. In case it was necessary to buy any provender for tbe live stock, each agreed to pay one half tbe cost. Each agreed to pay one half tbe cost of threshing and corn shredding and of filling the-silo, except tbe lessee was to pay tbe labor cost entering into these items. Tbe lessor reserved tbe right to exercise a general supervision in tbe conduct and carrying on of tbe farm, by conferring and advising with tbe lessee. All tbe produce raised on tbe farm was to be
Tbe real essential points of difference between tbe two leases are four in number. In the instant case there was (1) a provision for tbe joint purchase and ownership of live stock for use on tbe farm; (2) tbe produce raised thereon was to be tbe joint property of tbe parties and could not be disposed of without tbe consent of Buttles; (3) Buttles reserved tbe right to exercise a general supervision in tbe conduct and carrying on of tbe farm, by conferring and advising with Rand; and (4) the parties agreed that their contract should not be construed as constituting a copartnership, and that neither party could contract debts on behalf of tbe other.
This latter provision is significant, though not conclusive, in determining the relationship of the parties. Spaulding v. Stubbings, 86 Wis. 255, 56 N. W. 469. In so far as intention is important in determining tbe question, it is clear that tbe paiUes did not intend to form a copartnership.
Tbe latest definition by this court of what constitutes a partnership is found in Langley v. Sanborn, 135 Wis. 178, 181, 114 N. W. 787, wherein it is said that wherever we have “a community of interest in tbe profits of tbe business as profits we have a copartnership. Tbe court pertinently remarks that tbe definition is elusive ánd difficult of application, because wherever it appears that one should share in tbe profits of an enterprise as compensation for tbe services, property, or opportunity furnished by him in aid of tbe business, no partnership results. He must share in profits as such and not as
We already have three decisions of this court which hold that an agreement to turn over a part of the crop raised in payment of rent is not inconsistent with the relation of landlord and tenant and does not create a copartnership. In other words, the landowner receives as compensation for the use of his farm part of the proceeds thereof. This is logical. The thing divided is not necessarily profits at all as far as the tenant is concerned. His share may have cost him more than it is worth, and the landlord is not called upon to make good any portion of the loss.
Notwithstanding the provision in reference to supervision and joint ownership, there is little to indicate that the money or property received by Buttles was not received as compensation for the use of the farm and pergonal property leased to* his co defendant. We see no reason why a tenant may not agree with his landlord to pay as rent a portion of the produce raised and agree to give him title and the right to dispose of
It is not inherently impossible for the parties to make such an agreement as was made here and still have a situation where the share received by Buttles was received as compensation for the use of the farm. This being so, the intention of the parties as to what their relations should be between themselves should govern. 1 Parsons, Cont. (9th ed.) 158. The question of partnership is an important one, and we have not had the benefit of any argument upon it by counsel. It has been discussed because it was thought when the case was under consideration that the question was fairly involved and was a reasonably close one.
By the Gourt. — Judgment reversed, and cause remanded with directions to dismiss the complaint.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Wagner v. Buttles, imp.
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- Published