Faith v. Meisetschlager

KERRIGAN, J.

This appeal is from a judgment in favor of the defendant in an action brought by plaintiff for the recovery of the sum of one thousand five hundred dollars, claimed as commissions for the sale of real property.

The contract was entered into by plaintiff’s assignor and defendant, and that portion necessary for a discussion of the ease reads as follows:

“Fresno, Cal., April 15, 1918.

“I hereby appoint the Action Realty Company of Fresno my agent, with the exclusive right to sell the property described on the reverse side of this card for the price and under the conditions hereon described, or for any less amount authorized by me, and receive deposit on same.

“I agree to furnish deed and abstract showing clear title in me to date, and should Action Realty Company sell such property, or be instrumental in, selling the same, I agree to pay them five per cent commission on the selling price. This authorization is to remain in force and effect for sixty days and thereafter until revoked by me in writing.

“Action Realty Co. etc.

“Fb. Meisetschlageb.”

The complaint recites that the company had expended money in advertising and showing the property to prospective purchasers, and that it had used all means to effect a sale thereof; that the plaintiff and his assignor had fulfilled their part of the contract so far as it was possible, but that defendant had breached the agreement by making a sale of the premises himself without first canceling the plaintiff’s rights thereunder, and that defendant had refused to pay the commission agreed upon. The case, therefore, presents

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the single question of the proper construction to be given to the contract.

The trial court found that neither the plaintiff nor his assignor, the Action Realty Company, had performed the stipulations in the contract which entitled them to the commission upon the sale of the property.

As ground for reversal it is claimed by appellant that as the agreement provided that plaintiff’s assignor should have the exclusive right to sell the property, the action of the owner himself in making a sale within the period limited could not operate to defeat the right of plaintiff’s assignor to the amount of the commission provided for, notwithstanding the fact that it had failed to make a sale or produce a purchaser. Standing alone, this argument might have force. The contract, however, contains a specific provision that the Action Realty Company should be entitled to the payment of the specified commission if it were instrumental in selling the property, and no provision is contained therein denying the right of the owner to make a sale. Construed as a whole, we are of the opinion that the instrument amounts to nothing more than an exclusive agency.