Snavely v. Walls

PULLEN, P. J.

This is an appeal from a judgment awarding plaintiff the amount sued for, which arose out of an obligation upon a balance due on an open book account for lumber sold defendants. The question here presented is whether the evidence is sufficient to justify the finding that the dealings between the parties constituted a joint venture of Walls and DeKatz. The latter defaulted and did not appear at the trial.

The facts as gathered from the testimony reveal that plaintiff operated a sawmill in Shasta County, and during the fall of 1933 was visited by defendants Walls and DeKatz to examine his lumber and arrange for the purchase thereof.

[601]

The testimony of Mr. Walls adduced under section 2055 of the Code of Civil Procedure revealed that he accompanied DeKatz to the mill of plaintiff. He admitted that certain quantities of lumber were thereafter purchased from Mr. Snavely and that he paid for the same with his personal checks made payable to Snavely, upon which was a notation in the lower left hand corner, “Acct. A. DeKatz.” Walls claimed he was merely financing DeKatz, taking the invoice for the lumber in his name and the transaction was closed. This arrangement had been going on between these two men for some time, they having purchased and sold the product of many of the smaller mills in their vicinity.

Mr. Snavely testified, upon the day in question Walls and DeKatz called upon him and Mr. Walls told him they were there to see about buying lumber. It was stated either by Walls or DeKatz, but in the presence of the three, that they would pay eighty per cent when the lumber was loaded upon the cars and the balance when the lumber was delivered to the purchaser. Mr. DeKatz stated he had brought Mr. Walls down to inspect the lumber and that they were considering the purchase of the same. The witness said that either Walls or DeKatz used the word “we” when stating they were out buying lumber. A sale of the Snavely lumber was agreed upon, and subsequently checks were received from Mr. Walls in payment thereof. The balance, however, remained unpaid, which is the subject of this litigation. The business of buying the lumber was carried on in the name of Alturas Manufacturing Company, and- the invoice and bills of lading were so designated. Also Mr. Snavely carried the account in his books under the name of “Alturas Manufacturing Company, T. A. Walls and Alphonse DeKatz”. The only time Mr. Snavely talked to Mr. Walls was at the time above referred to. All the transactions were with Mr. DeKatz, except in regard to the payments which were made by check by Mr. Walls, and the one meeting hereinabove narrated.