Toombs v. West & Obear

Lumpkin, Justice. This was an action by West & Obear against Toombsupon a promissory note payable to them. The defendant’s plea alleged, in substance, as follows: The plaintiffs, being agents of the Manhattan Life Insurance Company, desired to issue a policy on the life of one Tumlin and to obtain the defendant’s note for the premium thereon. In order to induce him to give the note, they promised to procure Tumlin an appointment as agent of' the company, and represented that he could soon realize enough from his commissions to pay off’ the note, it-being expressly agreed between the parties to the note and Tumlin, that Toombs should be .interested in. the commissions earned by Tumlin to the extent of the amount of the note; and had this contract been carried out, Tumlin could, with reasonable certainty, have earned money enough to pay the note. In consideration of' the promise and representation made by the plaintiffs, Toombs signed the note, but after it was made and delivered, the plaintiffs failed and refused to procure the agency for Tumlin. Properly construed, the undertakings of the plaintiffs,, in consideration of which the note was given, amounted [281] to a stipulation on their part to procure employment for Tumlin by which he would earn enough money to pay off the note, and there was a total breach of this stipulation. We think the plea set up a good defence to the-action on the note. Whether, if Tumlin had been appointed agent, he would have been successful and would have made money enough to satisfy the note cannot be known; but the plaintiffs will not be heard to say he would have failed,because,by the breach of their contract,, they denied him the opportunity even to make the effort and besides, the plea alleges, in effect, he would have succeeded, and on demurrer this allegation must be taken as true. The court erred in striking the plea. Judgment reversed.