Donley v. Porter , 119 Iowa 542 ( 1903 )

Deemer, J.

As the case was tried to the court without a jury, its findings as to the facts will not be disturbed in the absence of a showing of passion or prejudice. That defendant appointed plaintiff as his agent to find a purchaser for his property must, in view of the rule just announced, be accepted as a verity, for there was evidence to support such a finding, although it may not have preponderated toward that conclusion. To be entitled to his commission, it was incumbent on plaintiff to sh >w that he did find a purchaser who was able, ready, and willing to take the property for the price and on the terms named by the defendant. These terms were $1,800 in cash. That plaintiff found a purchaser who was able, ready and will ing to carry out his contract is conceded, and the only questions for determination are: First, did plaintiff make such a contract with this purchaser as he was authorized to make? and, second, if he did not do so, did defendant waive strict compliance therewith? The purchaser offered to give $1800, for the property, — paid $50 down, and was to pay the balance when the deed was ■delivered. Plaintiff wrote defendant as follows regarding the sale:

“The terms of the sale, as I made them, were: I made ■contract sale for $1,800.00 cash, — ;$50 paid down, and the balance of cash to be paid when the deed and abstract, ■showing good title, is given. I expect to receive the regular commission for making such sale, — 5 per cent, on the first $1,000,00, and two and one-hcdf per cent on amount ■over the first $1,000.00; $70.00 in all. Send the deed and abstract to the Citizens’ State Bank, and the money will be paid to the bank; also send the lease. I wish you would write me at once, and let me know when possession ■can be given under the lease, and when the papers will be forwarded to the bank.”

To this defendant responded saying:

“Your letter at hand, and cpntents noted. I presume that you understand the terms and conditions which I am required to make. I have to have the cash, as it is a trustee matter, and their price is $1,800.00 net. I could not go your way home, as matters via. 111. Central required my attention. Yours truly, A. L. Porter.

“P.S. I could not give immediate possession. A. L. P.”

In answer to this the plaintiff wrote: “Your letter of the 7th at hand, and contents noted. In reply, will say that you, perhaps, have received my letters by this time, informing you of the terms of sale, etc. In regard to the commission due now, I do not see how you interpret that I was to sell the place for $1,800.00 net. Your advice tome was to sell for $1,800.00, and, as I have done so, I will expect a commission, of course. Suppose I had sold for $2,000.00; could I have kept the $200.00 over what I was-instructed to sell for? Not much. However, this is a matter for you and I to settle between ourselves, and does not interest the buyer. The buyer wants the property,, and I have made contract with him to deliver the same, and I trust you wilL forward .the papers as explained in another letter.”

Defendant then wrote:

“At present the price of the house and premises is-$1,800.00 net. I cannot give possession before spring.”'

Responding to that, plaintiff wrote as follows:

“I herewith inclose to you-deed for the Moats property», for your signature. Send the deed, lease, and abstract to the bank here, with such instructions as you deem necessary. The question of commission due me on this-sale will be and can be settled by us later. Please hurry the papers along, and oblige. Yours truly, Porter Donly.

This was followed by a letter under date of November 16th, which reads as follows:

“Yours of the 15th inst. at hand, and contents noted. It would not be good policy for me to execute and forward deed, leaving matters to settle later behind. The lowest-net appraisement, with a heavy loss to the heirs, was-$1,800.00, and that is the amount that I expected to credit-up to the heirs, while, at the same time, would like to be fair to all parties. The forwarding the deed should be the last act of the whole transaction. I am trying to please the general public, and am especially desirous to please nine heirs for whom I am trustee.”

This closed the correspondence, but there is evidence that defendant would have completed the sale, had it been for $1,800 net. Defendant is a resident of the state of Illinois, and his counsel argue that the effect of his proposal to take $1,800 for the property was that the money should be paid at his place of residence. He further argues that the sale made by plaintiff was not for cash, and that the conditions with reference to the delivery of the deed and the furnishing of an abstract, of title were unauthorized. These propositions are all. sound, and conclusive of the case, unless it be found that defendant waived these conditions and requirements, or so conducted himself as to be estopped from relying on them.

Had defendant made any of the objections he now relies upon when plaintiff informed him as to the sale, doubtless no recovery could be had. Certainly there could have been no recovery unless the objectionable features of. the contract had reen removed. But when his attention was called to it, the only objection he made was that he should have $1,800 net to him. He retained the deeds until the last, and was evidently endeavoring to induce plaintiff to waive his commission, or to make a new contract with the purchaser, similar in all respects to the original one, save as to price. The objections on which he relied were without merit, for he did not mention a net price when he placed the property in the hands of plaintiff for sale. The rule of law is well settled that, where a. party gives a reason for his conduct and decision touching anything involved in a controversy, he cannot, after litigation has .begun, change his ground, and put his .conduct upon another and different consideration; “He is not permitted to thus mend his hold, and is estopped from doing so by settled principles of law.” Weaver v. Snow, 60 Ill. App. 624; Smith v. Keeler, 151 Ill. 518 (38 N. E. Rep. 250); Fenn v. Ware, 100 Ga. 563 (28 S. E. Rep. 238); Duclos v. Cunningham, 102 N. Y. 678 (6 N. E. Rep. 790); Blood v. Shannon, 29 Cal. 393. In each of these cases a broker was suing for his commission, and in each defendant was contending that the sale was not according to the terms given the broker. None of the cases relied upon by appellant involve this principle, and they are therefore not decisive of the question before us. Had defendant made the objections on which he now relies, doubtless the plaintiff would have been able to cure the defects, and thus earned his commission, for it appears 'that the purchaser was ready, able, and willing to take the property, and to pay $1,800 cash therefor.

Our conclusion is that the judgment is right, and it is AFFIRMED.