Wisp v. Hazard

Ross, J. By statute in this state it is declared: “ A factor has ostensible authority to deal with the property of his principal as his own, in transactions with persons not having notice of the actual ownership.” (Civil Code, § 2369.) The facts of the case at bar bring the case directly within the provisions of this statute. One Wyatt was the plaintiffs’ factor, employed by the latter to sell certain personal property, and vested by the plaintiffs with its possession and control. Wyatt stored the property in a warehouse in his own name, had it insured in a like manner, and subsequently, without the consent or knowledge of the plaintiffs, pledged the property to the defendants as collateral security for a loan of two thousand dollars made to him by the defendants—the loan being made by defendants in the ordinary course of their business as bankers, [461] in good faith, without notice that the property belonged to the plaintiffs, but believing Wyatt to be its owner. The question is whether the loan is protected by the provision of the statute above quoted. It is said for the appellants, that inasmuch as the code, by section 2317 of the article on the “ authority of agents,” has defined “ ostensible authority ” to be “ such as a principal, intentionally or by want of ordinary care, causes or allows a third person to believe the agent to possess,” the words “ ostensible authority,” used in section 2369 with respect to factors, should be held to have been used in that sense only. It is true, a factor is an agent. He is defined by our statute to be " an agent who, in the pursuit of an independent calling, is employed by another to sell property for him, and is vested by the latter with the possession or control of the property, or authorized to receive payment therefor from the purchaser.” (Civil Code, § 2026.) But the statute makes a distinction between factors and agents in general, and confers upon the former other and greater powers than are conferred upon the latter. As has been seen, section 2026 of the Civil Code defines a factor. By section 2295 of the same code it is declared: " An agent is one who represents another, called the principal, in dealings with third persons. Such representation is called agency.” And it is among the succeeding sections prescribing the “ authority of agents ” that section 2317, defining “ ostensible authority,” is found. Clearly, this relates to the ostensible authority of agents in general. But when the statute comes-to speak of the authority of a factor, previously defined, not as " one who represents another, called the principal, in dealings with third persons,” but as “ an agent who, in the pursuit of an independent calling, is employed by another to sell property for him, and is vested by the latter with the possession or control of the property, or authorized to receive payment therefor from the purchaser,” it is provided that factors have authority beyond that of agents in general. " In addition to the authority of agents in general,” says section 2368 of the Civil Code, a factor has actual authority from his principal, unless specially restricted: 1. To insure property consigned to him uninsured. 2. To sell on credit any thing intrusted to him for sale, except such things as it is contrary to usage to sell on [462] credit; but not to pledge, mortgage or barter the same; and, 3. To delegate his authority to his partner or servant, but not to any person in an independent employment. ” With the limitations and restrictions stated, a factor has, by virtue of this section, actual authority to do all acts there specified. The statute next goes further, and provides that “ a factor has ostensible authority to deal with the property of his principal as his own, in transactions with persons not having notice of the actual ownership.” This language is very plain, and was evidently designed to protect those who, without notice of the actual ownership, deal with the factor in respect to the property of his principal. The authority is as real where it is declared to be ostensible, as it is where it is declared to be actual. Wherever it is declared to exist, it is controlling. The evidence is sufficient to sustain the findings. Judgment and order affirmed. McKee, J., and McKinstry, J., concurred.