Opinion ID: 1181038
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: corporation as a party

Text: The only affidavit, deposition or other verified material before the court at the time of its ruling on this issue was an affidavit of appellee Thomas Sawyer in which he stated that appellant had held himself out as an individual doing business as Cline Plumbing and Heating without any reference to a corporation at all times during the dealings between them. The contract between the parties was not in writing. The corporate name of appellant's business did not include the word company or the word incorporated or an abbreviation of either of these words. Appellant was the legally required master plumber for the business. As indicated ante, there is a question as to whether this case was tried as a contract case or as a negligence case, or both. The rule for tort liability is stated: Of course, the individual by whom the tortious act is committed cannot himself escape liability on the ground that he was acting for the corporation. Such individual and the corporation are jointly liable and may be joined as defendants. 19 Am.Jur.2d, Corporations § 1427, p. 823. The rule for contract liability is stated: One who acts as agent for another in making a contract is individually liable thereon if, at the time of making the contract, he fails to disclose his agency and the identity of his principal, regardless of whether or not he was authorized as agent to execute the contract. In such case, the agent is subject to all the liabilities, express or implied, created by the contract, in the same manner as if he were the principal in interest. If the agent would avoid personal liability, the duty is on him to disclose his principal; it is not upon the party with whom the agent deals to discover the principal.    3 Am.Jur.2d, Agency § 317, pp. 674-675.    [I]t is the agent's duty to disclose his capacity as agent of a corporation if he is to escape personal liability for contracts made by him. American Rent All, Inc. v. Culotta, La. App., 328 So.2d 743, 744 (1976). See Carlesimo v. Schwebel, 87 Cal. App.2d 482, 197 P.2d 167 (1948); and 19 C.J.S. Corporations § 840. The record does not contain evidence that appellees knew, or should have known, that they were entering into an agreement with appellant other than in his individual capacity. The trial court properly denied appellant's motion in this respect.