Case Name: Ida Silberstein vs. Bessie Rosenzweig & another
Court: Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
Decision Date: 1927-11-21
Citations: 261 Mass. 224
Docket Number: 
Parties: Ida Silberstein vs. Bessie Rosenzweig & another.
Judges: 
Reporter: Massachusetts Reports
Volume: 261
Pages: 224–226

Head Matter:
Ida Silberstein vs. Bessie Rosenzweig & another.
Norfolk.
October 19, 1927.
November 21, 1927.
Present: Bbalky, Crosby, Pierce, Carroll, & Wait, JJ.
John Jackson Walsh, for the plaintiff.
H. Silverman, (I. E. Paretsky with him,) for the defendants.

Opinion:
Pierce, J.
This is an action on a covenant contained in a sealed instrument, executed between Ida Silberstein of the first, part and Bessie Rosenzweig and Israel Brecher of the second part, wherein "The said Brecher and Rosenzweig hereby agree to.hold the said Silberstein harmless from any and all claims against him [her] for any other commissions." At the close of the evidence the defendants moved that a verdict be directed in favor of each of the defendants. The trial judge allowed the motion, and the jury returned a verdict in favor of the defendants. The plaintiff excepted to the allowance of the motion, and the case is reported to this court upon a stipulation of the parties, which need not be recited here.
The facts pertinent to the issue are as follows: Pursuant to the sealed agreement, supra, the plaintiff, on or about June 20, 1921, conveyed to the defendants certain premises in Boston. The agreement contained the statement that " It is understood that a broker's commission of three hundred dollars on the said sale is to be paid to Julius Brecher by the said party of the first part [the plaintiff] if papers are passed"; and it also contained the covenant, supra, on which the plaintiff rests her right of recovery. On September 16, 1922, one Harry Klayman brought an action in the Superior Court against Philip Silberstein, husband of the plaintiff, to recover a real estate broker's commission for the sale of the land to the defendants. The plaintiff in that action held a verdict against Philip Silberstein on exceptions to this court. Klayman v. Silberstein, 252 Mass. 275. The damages sought to be recovered on the covenant, against these defendants, are the amount of the judgment thus obtained, and counsel fees and expenses for two trials. There is no reported evidence that the plaintiff was ever obligated to pay Klayman any sum as a commission for the sale of the land to the defendants, and no evidence of any agreement, much less of any obligation, on her part to indemnify her husband for any sum which he has paid or may pay on account of the judgment obtained against him and for his expenses incurred in defending the action. There is no evidence reported that would warrant a jury in finding any breach of the covenant. It follows that the judge rightly directed a verdict for the defendants on the pleadings and evidence. And it further follows that, in accordance with the terms of the stipulation, judgment is to be entered for the defendants on the verdict.
So ordered.