Case Name: Gerding v. Haskin
Court: New York Superior Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1893-01
Citations: 2 Misc. 172
Docket Number: 
Parties: Gerding v. Haskin.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Miscellaneous Reports
Volume: 2
Pages: 172–174

Head Matter:
Gerding v. Haskin.
(New York Superior Court
General Term,
January, 1893.)
In an action to recover brokerage for procuring a purchaser for defendant’s property, the plaintiff proved his employment to sell; that he found a purchaser to buy on the owner’s terms, and that defendants ultimately refused to consummate the sale. The jury found for plaintiff. Held, proper; that as there was no proof Of inability on the part of the, proposed purchaser to perform his contract, ability would be presumed. ‘
It is not proper to refer to the testimony of a witness and ask the court to charge that if the jury believe the witness they must find in a certain way, or that a certain conclusion follows, as it prevents the jury from determining what facts are established by the witness’ evidence.
Appeal by the defendants from a judgment entered on a verdict rendered in favor of the plaintiff, and from an order denying a motion made by the defendants for a new trial. The opinion states the case.
Abel Orook, for defendants (appellants).
0. Bambridge Smith and J. Traeey Langcm, for plaintiff (respondent).

Opinion:
MoAdajm, J.
The action is to recover brokerage -for procuring a purchaser for property of the defendants (owned as tenants in common), and known as the Ryer farm, at East Tremont, N. Y. The plaintiff alleged and proved his employment to sell for $110,000. (2) That he found purchasers willing to "buy on the owners' terms, and (3) that the defendants ultimately refused to consummate the sale. The jury found for the plaintiff and awarded him the usual brokerage of one per cent. The conditions upon which brokerage is earned are not disputed, and the law in regard thereto too well settled to require reiteration. It is sufficient to say without recapitulating it, that the evidence sustains the findings of the jury, a circumstance which requires us to consider with care the specific objections urged against the recovery. First. It is claimed that one tenant in common cannot bind his cotenant to sell property or perform any duties in respect thereto. Van Doren v. Balty, 11 Hun, 241; Bowman v. Travis, 54 N. Y. 640 ; McLean v. McLean, 96 id. 655 ; Tuers v. Tuers, 100 id. 200. The answer to this is that the evidence sufficiently shows a joint employment by both defendants. Second. That the proposed purchaser must be able as well as willing to perform. Duclos v. Cunningham, 102 N. Y. 678. Tills is true, but ability to perform is presumed in the absence of evidence to the contrary, and there was no proof of inability here. Hart v. Hoffman, 44 How. Pr. 168. Third. The defendants rely upon two exceptions; one, to the refusal to dismiss the complaint, which is without merit, because the case on the conflicting evidence presented questions which the jury alone could lawfully determine; the other is to the refusal of the trial judge to charge that, " if the jury accepted the defendant Tappan's testimony, that no commission should be paid until the deed actually passed, no verdict could be rendered for the plaintiff." The trial judge had already instructed the jury that, although a broker becomes entitled to the usual commissions when he brings a purchaser to the owner who is able and willing to take the property, " this may be varied by express agreement." This was stating the law as clearly, as the defendants were entitled to have it put. The defendants framed their request in a form which could not be charged, for, as the Court of Appeals said in Dolan v. Dela ware & Hudson C. Co., 71 N. Y. 285, " it is not proper to refer to the testimony of a witness and aslc the court to charge that if the jury believe the witness they must find in a certain way, or that a certain conclusion follows," as it prevents the jury from determining what facts are established by the witness' evidence. See also McGrath, v. Met. L.I. Co., 6 N. Y. St. Repr. 376. This disposes of all there is to this case, and as no error was committed to the prejudice of the defendants, it follows that the judgment and order appealed from must be affirmed, with costs.
Gildebsleeve, J., concurs.
Judgment and order affirmed.