Court Opinion

ID: 6690053
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 21:36:53.151124+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:01:05.039255
License: Public Domain

WHITING, J.
Plaintiff and one Amundson were associated as real estate brokers. The} sold a tract of land 'belonging to defendants. Amundson assigned to plaintiff all claims growing out of such sale .which he .had against defendants. This action was then brought to recover, on express -contract, commissions which plaintiff claimed as due from defendants.
.The action, resulted in a directed verdict for defendants. *648From the judgment entered thereon and from an order denying a new trial this appeal was taken.
•The facts were undisputed, and nearly all were stipulated'. We shall examine the record, not merely to determine whether the facts properly established sustained the cause of action pleaded, but also to determine whether such facts would sustain any cause of action in favor of appellant.
The defendants sent Amundson the following telegram,:
“Newton wires offer for land. Flow much cash, sum- paid annually and rate of interest? Is buyer strong' financially? Inclined to sell to responsible man. One thirty five net. Purchaser paying your commission and all war and revenue taxes. Get your -banker figure tax. Letter mailed reach, Newton Saturday.”
Plaintiff and Amundhon already had, or soon thereafter procured, a prospective purchaser, who agreed to pay $145 per acre for the land. This party signed a writing containing the proposed terms. This writing was submitted to respondents, and eventually a sale was closed a-t $145 an acre.
[1] Appellant contends that, by sending the telegram to‘ Amundson, respondents entered into a contract under which Amundson became entitled to everything he could procure over $135 per acre for the land. Iru this appellant is clearly wrong. The sending of such telegram did not have any effect of binding respondents in any manner. At the most it merely advised Amundson that they were inclined to make a sale if they could get $135 net. They asked for further information-. It took some further action 0» their part to make them liable even on quantum meruit, as it is ’ plain that they were free to have rejected the proposition evidenced by the writing signed by the purchaser, and, in case of such rejection, would have incurred no liability for commissions.
[2] But, by accepting the offer and closing- £he sale, respondents became liable for commissions; upon contract if the mind's of respondents and “Amundson ever met on the amount of commissions; otherwise upon quantum meruit. As there was no evidence as to what a fair quantum meruit would be, we *649need only determine whether the minds of these parties ever met on the amount of commissions to which Amundson should he entitled in case of sale.-
[3] It will be noticed that the telegram sent Amundson mentioned one “Newton” as the party from; whom respondents learned that there had been an offer on the land. The telegram itself did not indicate what information was. contained in Newton’s letter. There is no evidence to indicate what relation Newton bore to the parties to this contract. Respondents offered and there was received in evidence, over appellant’s objection, the telegram which respondents had received from Newton This telegram read as follows:
“Just got a - letter from Amundson saying he can get one hundred thirty five for your three hundred twenty -acres. He will want one dollar commission. Weather is -dry and warm, good, many picking corn-.”
[4] Amundson swore that he never advised Newton as to commission he would expect. This evidence is uneontradicted. Under those circumstances was this telegram, to respondents competent evidence for any purpose? We think it was. The real question in this case is, Did the minds of the parties meet? The telegram to Amundson was not such a clear statement on the question of commissions as to warrant Amundson in going ahead on the assumption that he could have all over $135 an acre and the tax; especially is this true when the telegram, he receives advises him that respondents are wiring' him because of information they had received from Newton. Amundson should have taken steps to- learn definitely what was in respondent’s minds before he assumed that the telegram received by him constituted a definite offer to him of all above the $135 and tax. It is beyond all dispute that, in sending the telegram to Amundson, respondent had in mind a commission of $1 per acre. Dor this they offered judgment and such judgment was directed. It is quite probable that they would never have sent such telegram; if thev had known that Amundson had not fixed the commission at $1 per acre. It is quite possible and even probable that, if they had not understood the commission was *650to be $i an acre, they would themselves have named the commission they were willing to allow. The minds of the parties never met. . .
The judgment and'order appealed from are affirmed.