Opinion ID: 1663637
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: gordons' appeal

Text: V. The amount of liquidated damages. Gordons contend they were entitled to recover Leibold's commission from Pfabs as an expense of sale under the first sentence of the liquidated damages clause and at the same time forfeit the $5,000 advance payment, applying only half that amount on Leibold's commission, under the second sentence of the clause. Thus, they maintain they were entitled to $2,500 in damages over and above the amount of Leibold's commission. The trial court found Gordons' damages in the amount of Leibold's commission and ordered the entire advance payment credited against the award. See Waters v. Pearson, supra. In their original petition, Gordons asked that the advance payment be applied to their damages. Later they filed an amendment adding a second count to the petition, alleging a right to have the advance payment forfeited and divided equally with Leibold. We will assume, without deciding, that Gordons' present contention was adequately raised in this amendment. In their answer to this amendment, Pfabs resisted forfeiture on grounds that Gordons had not complied with the forfeiture provisions of Code chapter 656 and that such forfeiture would constitute a penalty instead of liquidated damages. The interpretation of the second sentence of the liquidated damages clause urged by Gordons is vulnerable to both defenses. Wilson v. Piper, 234 Iowa 456, 12 N.W.2d 826 (1944); Brown v. Verzani, 181 Iowa 237, 164 N.W. 601 (1917); Joeckel v. Johnson, 178 Iowa 231, 159 N.W. 672 (1916). The trial court did not err in crediting the entire advance payment against Gordons' damages. VI. Leibold's right to a commission. In resisting Leibold's petition of intervention, Gordons pleaded only a general denial, putting in issue only whether Leibold earned a commission in accordance with the terms of the listing agreement. Now they argue Leibold was entitled to something less than a full commission because of Pfabs' refusal to complete the purchase. This contention was not made in the trial court and cannot effectively be urged here for the first time. But, in rejecting the contention on that ground, we also point out Gordons acknowledge their contention is contrary to the principle in our cases that a real estate broker earns a commission under a listing agreement like that involved here when he produces a ready, willing and able buyer upon terms stated or agreed upon, even though the buyer subsequently breaches the resulting purchase contract. See Mullenger v. Clause, 178 N.W.2d 420, 427 (Iowa 1970). VII. Apportionment of costs. The trial court apportioned court costs 40 percent to Gordons and 60 percent to Pfabs. Gordons complain that they should not have been assessed costs because they prevailed on their claim against Pfabs. This complaint ignores the fact that they did not prevail in their resistance to Leibold's claim against them. The trial court did not abuse its discretion in charging Gordons with a portion of the costs. See Ashdown v. Ely, 140 Iowa 739, 743, 117 N.W. 976, 978 (1909); § 625.3, The Code. We find no merit in either appeal. Costs on appeal shall be assessed 40 percent to Gordons and 60 percent to Pfabs. AFFIRMED.