Court Opinion

ID: 8806572
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-26 14:49:24.618589+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:04:07.496804
License: Public Domain

Mr. Justice Baume delivered the, opinion of the court. The appellees, U. A. Brady and Dora Brady, his wife, recovered a verdict and judgment against the appellant, James H. Koontz, in the County Court of Shelby county, for $24.91 for goods, wares and merchandise sold and for labor performed by said appellees to and for appellant. The judgment must be reversed and the cause remanded,. primarily, because there is no evidence in the case which authorizes a recovery by the appellees jointly. The evidence in the record discloses that appellee, U. A. Brady, at the time of the transactions in question, was engaged in the business of general merchandising, and sold to appellant flour, coffee, corn, knives, plow shares, horse collars and the like, and that appellee, Dora Brady, in addition to performing the ordinary duties of a housewife, did some work in the way of sewing and making women’s garments, and made skirts, waists and dresses for the children of appellant. It is not questioned but that a husband and wife may form a partnership and transact business as .partners, but such relation does not exist merely by virtue of the marriage of the parties, and can only be created by special contract. No contract partnership relation is shown to have existed between appellees. It is merely claimed on their behalf that each was interested in the work and business of the other by virtue of their relation as husband and wife. In this state of the record it is clear that appellees had no joint interest or right respecting the transactions involved as authorized their joinder as plaintiffs in the action. The judgment of the County Court wall be reversed and the cause remanded. Reversed and remanded.