Hoffman v. Steele ( 1913 )

ViNJE, J.

Plaintiff claims tbe evidence does not support tbe verdict. _ His testimony is substantially to tbe effect that on or about January 16, 1911, be met tbe defendant Steele and told bim that be thought be bad a buyer for bis farm; that be asked Steele to list tbe farm with bim; that Steele refused to do so, but said that if plaintiff would bring bim a buyer be would pay tbe usual commission, which was stated to be five per cent, for tbe first $1,000 and two and one-half per cent, on tbe balance. Tbe defendant’s testimony is to tbe effect that be absolutely refused to list tbe farm with plaintiff; that be made no contract or bargain with bim with reference to tbe plaintiff furnishing a purchaser for the farm; that be stated be would not pay tbe usual commission, or any commission, but that if plaintiff brought bim a purchaser to whom be sold be would make plaintiff a present. Tbe conversation between plaintiff and defendant took place in tbe absence of other witnesses. Tbe defendant, however, is corroborated to some extent by Mr. and Mrs. Hahn and another witness, in this, that during 'the negotiations for tbe sale of tbe farm, they testified, plaintiff stated that be was to get nothing out of tbe deal. And plaintiff admits that defendant refused to list tbe farm with bim. It is a verity in tbe case that plaintiff introduced Hahn, tbe purchaser, to tbe defendant and that tbe defendant sold bis farm to Hahn, and that tbe plaintiff participated more or less in tbe negotiations leading up to the closing of tbe deal. After tbe deal was made tbe defendant presented a check for $35 to plaintiff, stating that be had promised to give him a present if he found a purchaser for the farm, and that this check was such present. The plaintiff then stated that he was entitled to his full commission and would receive the check as part payment thereon. The amount claimed in the complaint is the commission plaintiff would have earned under the contract as claimed by him, less the $35.

Just why an appeal is taken to this court is not apparent. The burden was upon the plaintiff to establish by a preponderance of the evidence and to a reasonable certainty the fact that a contract was made as 'testified to by him. He is squarely contradicted by the defendant and the latter is, as before stated, corroborated by other witnesses and by the fact that he refused to list the farm with plaintiff. The jury found for defendant, and the trial court refused to disturb their verdict. Under such circumstances it seems that this court ought not to be burdened with an examination of the record and asked to set aside the verdict of the jury sustained by the decision of the trial court, especially when the evidence seems to preponderate in favor of the verdict. Daubner v. McFarlin, 136 Wis. 515, 117 N. W. 1002.

The only other error alleged is that defendant was allowed to show that plaintiff had sold a farm for Hahn about a year prior to the sale of the Steele farm, and that at the time of such sale plaintiff had agreed to assist him in securing ‘another farm. It appears from the record that defendant’s counsel sought to introduce this evidence for the purpose of showing that plaintiff was the agent of Hahn and not of Steele. The court, however, sustained plaintiff’s objection to it. It is true that later, without objection, the witness Hahn testified that plaintiff told him: “I agreed to help you, and I am going to help you to this farm if you buy it. I don’t get nothing out of it. He would not list it to me, but I agreed to help you and I am going to do it.” Plaintiff claims this evidence had a tendency to give the jury the impression that plaintiff was working for Hahn and was not entitled to compensation from Steele. The instructions to the jury are not preserved in the record. The court, however, stated in the presence of the jury, in ruling upon an objection by plaintiff to the question, “Did you have any arrangement or talk with Mr. Hoffman prior to the purchase of the first farm when he procured for you another farm?’’’ “There is no issue by the answer which would make that material.” Defendant’s counsel added: “I would like to show the arrangement he made with the plaintiff for procuring a farm for him, and that, in pursuance of that arrangement, he did so,” to which plaintiff’s counsel objected and the objection was sustained. Hence it appears from the record that the court in effect instructed the jury that any arrangement which the plaintiff may have had with Hahn for procuring another farm for him was immaterial to the issues in the present case. The testimony that plaintiff agreed to assist Hahn in securing another farm was competent. The issue was whether defendant hired plaintiff to sell his farm. Defendant claimed that he did not. It appeared that plaintiff took part in the negotiations. To explain this fact and to rebut the presumption arising therefrom that plaintiff was hired by defendant, evidence that plaintiff had agreed to help Hahn, the purchaser, was competent on the ground that any fact relevant to any fact in issue may be shown. The trial court’s ruling, therefore, was prejudicial to defendant and not to plaintiff.

By the Court. — Judgment affirmed.