Axtell v. Muller

McOOY, J.. Action for specific performance of an alleged contract for sale of land. The complaint alleged the making of a [221] contract and breach thereof. The answer denied the making of the contract and pleaded the statute of frauds. Findings and judgment were in favor of defendant, and plaintiff appeals. The assignments of error present for consideration the questions of the- sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the findings and ■-the sufficiency of findings to sustain the judgment. The vital .finding hy the trial court was: “That the plaintiff and defendant did not enter into any contract or agreement in writing for the purchase and sale of the real estate described in the complaint subscribed by the defendant •or by any person thereunto by him authorized in writing; nor was •any note or memorandum of such contract or agreement made in writing and subscribed by the defendant or by any.person there•unto by him authorized in writing; nor did the defendant agree to contract with the plaintiff to sell to him the said real estate •described in the complaint.” [1,2] It appears from the evidence preserved in the record that appellant and respondent had some written correspondence in relation to the sale of said land; that respondent had listed said land for sale with one Lioucks, who was authorized to find a purchaser for respondent for said land upon specified terms; that appellant wrote respondent that he would like to purchase said land on specified terms; that respondent replied, in substance, that he would not enter into a contract with appellant, but that said land' was listed with Loucks for sale, and that appellant •should see the agent Loucks about a sale thereof; that appellant then saw said agent and agreed with the agent to purchase on the specified terms; that a written receipt or memorandum for sale was made and signed by appellant and Loucks as the agent of respondent, and forwarded to a bank for approval by respondent; that respondent refused to execute or approve the . said memorandum; that a contract for 'sale, executed by appellant, was then sent to respondent for his signature; and that respondent refused to enter into such or any contract for sale for said land with appellant. The agent in question was never in writing authorized to make any contracts with the purchaser he might find for said land, and therefore had no authority to sign a memorandum under the statute of frauds. The authority of the agent as shown ’ hy the listing contract was to find a person who was [222] able, ready, and willing to purchase on the prescribed terms. The ordinary authority of a real estate broker with whom land had been listed for sale does not extend to and does not confer any authority upon the agent to sign a contract for or in the name of the landowner. The mere giving of an agent authority to sell does not, by force of the terms used, confer authority to sign the vendor’s name to a contract to sell. Watters v. Dancey, 23 S. D. 481, 122 N.W. 430, 139 Am. St. Rep. 1071; Purkey v. Harding, 23 S. D. 632, 123 N. W. 69; Hickox v. Bacon, 17 S. D. 563, 97 N. W. 847; Lewis v. Jones, 43 S. D. 282, 178 N. W. 1001; Brandrup v. Britten, 11 N. D. 376, 92 N. W. 453. The evidence in this case failed to show that any written contract for sale of said'land was ever entered into by the appellant and respondent, nor by any one authorized in writing signed by respondent. Finding no error in the record, the judgment and order appealed from are affirmed.