Case ID: ad_93/html/0452-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Jenks, J.:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

J. Howard Ashfield and Louis I. Grimes, Appellants, v. David K. Case, Individually, and as Trustee for Charles R. Porterfield and Mary Augusta Mott, Respondent.
    
      jReal estate broker — commissions for procuring a loan—producing a party who accepts the application but thereafter refuses to make the loan.
    
    A broker employed to procure a loan upon real estate, who induces a person ■ financially able and otherwise competent to make the loan, to execute a written acceptance of the application for the loan, is not entitled to his commissions, if such person subsequently refuses to make the loan.
    ' Appeal by the plaintiffs, J. Howard Ashfield and another, from a judgment of the Municipal Court of the city of Hew York borough of Brooklyn, in favor of the defendant, entered on the 28th day of January, 1904.
    
      Ralph E. Hemstreet, for the appellants.
    
      David K. Case, respondent, in person.
   Jenks, J.:

The action is for brokers’ commissions for services in procuring a loan upon real estate. The parties agreed upon the facts. The defendant trustee authorized the plaintiffs to procure the loan and promised' to pay $100 commission therefor. The plaintiffs were the efficient cause of procuring Wilson to accept, in writing, the application. Thereupon they reported to the defendant, exhibited the writing, and demanded their commission, which was refused. Wilson was financially able and otherwise competent to enter into the contract, but withdrew his acceptance and refused to make the loan, although the defendant Was at all times ready, willing and competent to enter into the contract and never' refused to do so.

I think that the judgment must be affirmed upon the authority of Crasto v. White (52 Hun, 473). There is indicated in that case a plain distinction between a broker employed to procure a purchaser and one employed to procure a loan, and the reason stated in that opinion need not be quoted or recast by me.. The cases "cited by the learned counsel for the appellants, save one, involve contracts to procure a purchaser. The single exception is Gatling v. Central Spar Verein (67 App. Div. 50). In that case the liability of the defendant is expressly asserted to depend. upon the act or misfortune of the defendant in not consummating the transaction, and Crasto v. White (supra) is cited as an authority.

The judgment should be affirmed, with costs.

All concurred.

Judgment of the Municipal Court affirmed, with costs.