Case Name: SCHROEDER et v. WERNERT
Court: Ohio Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Ohio
Decision Date: 1926-01-04
Citations: 4 Ohio Law Abs. 141
Docket Number: No. 1581
Parties: SCHROEDER et v. WERNERT
Judges: 
Reporter: The Ohio Law Abstract
Volume: 4
Pages: 141–141

Head Matter:
SCHROEDER et v. WERNERT
Ohio Appeals, 6th Dist., Lucas Co.
No. 1581.
Decided Jan. 4, 1926
Attorneys — Wm. H. McLellan and F. A. Carabin for ‘Schroeder et; Fraser, Hiett, & Wall and Geo. E. Effler for Wernert; all of Toledo.

Opinion:
RICHARDS, J.
A contract entered into by and between one Burkett, a contractor, and Henry Wernert, a lot owner whereby Burkett was to build a house on the lot owned by Wernert; and after the completion of same, to have the power to sell said house and make a distribution of the proceeds.
Subsequently to this agreement, but prior to the completion of the house, Burkett entered into a written contract with George Schroeder agreeing to sell him said house.
Wernert refused to consummate this transaction and Schroeder brought action to recover $6000 alleged to have been lost by him through this real estate transaction.
The Lucas Common Pleas charged the jury that the contract between Burkett and Wernert did not authorize Burkett to sell the property before completion, and if there could be any recovery at all it would have to be on the principle of ratification. Schroeder prosecuted error on said charge. The Court of Appeals held:
1. Where a contract between a lot owner and contractor authorizes said contractor to sell after completion, the contractor as agent of the owner, is not empowered to enter into a contract of sale until after the building is completed.
2. Whether or not such contract of sale was ratified by owner, is a matter for the jury to decide.
Judgment affirmed.