Froedtert v. Haines

SIBLEY, Circuit Judge. Forrest L. Haines, a real estate broker at Miami Beach, Florida, sued Kurtis R. Froedtert, a resident of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who owned valuable residential property at Miami Beach, fdr $10,000 as compensation earned in a negotiation for the leasing of the property. The claim is set forth in the first count as arising on a contract to find a lessee ready, able and willing to lease upon terms agreed to by Froedtert; in the second count as arising on a contract to effect a lease upon agreed terms; and a third count was a quantum meruit for work and services done at Froedtert’s request. The judge, trying the case without a jury, found that counts one and two were not proven, but gave judgment for $4,000 on count three. Both sides have appealed. All the communications of Haines with Froedtert and Froedtert’s Milwaukee lawyer were by letter and telegram, and there is but little oral testimony. There was never the usual listing of the property with the broker, with terms stated by the owner. Froedtert first wrote Haines that the former’s home was for rent for the coming season and invited an offer from any client of Haines. This led to Haines finding one Williams, who wished to lease for ninety-nine years with an option to buy. Froed [339] tert said he would consider a lease forty-nine years with option to buy at a stated figure which included the house furnishings, everything to be subject to Froedtert’s final confirmation. Tedious negotiations covering several months followed, complicated forms of lease being at last prepared and almost agreed on. By this time it developed that Williams wished to make of the property a pleasure resort with fifty to one hundred “cabanas” erected, which would require a permit from the City Council, and Froedtert wished the architect’s plans all to be subject to his approval. No agreement seems to have been reached about that. Finally Froedtert insisted that he ought, in view of the proposed alterations, to have two years’ rent instead of one paid in advance. That demand, along with the lateness of the season, broke off the negotiations. for The evidence as to any agreement about compensation is this: After the discussion reached the point of drafting a lease, Froedtert, by his attorney, enquired “what charges would be made for commissions or services in connection with the making of this lease”. Haines replied that he would expect the regular brokerage commission provided by the Miami Beach Realty Board, according to which there would be an option to pay 5% on the value of the property as figured in the lease, $188,000, which he would agree might be paid one-half when the deal is closed and the remainder when the second year’s rental is paid; or “5% on the ground rent when and as paid. Then when the purchase option is exercised you would pay us 5% on the purchase price. In the event the option to purchase is never exercised, you would continue to pay us 5% on the ground rent for 49 years.” To that Froedtert answered by wire: “Total commission not to exceed $10,000, payable $2,000 year as rent is collected or unpaid balance payable if option to purchase is exercised. No commission on sale in event option is exercised.” Blaines answered: “Your proposition as per your wire November 8th for commission payment is satisfactory”. What has been quoted makes it clear that Haines was regarded as serving Froedtert, and was to be paid. It is also clear that if the lease then under discussion had been signed up, Haines was to be paid $2,000 per year as the rent should be collected till he got $10,000, and if in the meanwhile the option to purchase was exercised the unpaid balance of the $10,000 would be then collectible, but no additional commission on the sale would be due. But the lease was not effected. No rents were ever paid nor was the option to buy executed. Haines, however, would be entitled to damages if he had brought the parties to a full agreement, and Froedtert had capriciously or in bad faith refused to sign the lease. The judge found as a fact that this was not true, but that Froedtert really was insisting that the prepayment of two years’ rent was necessary to his protection, and some other minor things were not agreed on. The record indeed contains no proof, except Haines’ say-so in a letter, that Williams had accepted all terms and was ready to sign, or that the City Council had formally authorized or approved the plans of Williams. We cannot say that the judge erred in his finding of fact that the lease was not actually effected. The first count also was not proven, for there is no evidence that Froedtert employed Haines to find a lessee ready, able and willing to lease on terms laid down by Froedtert, and that Haines procured such a lessee. Froedtert continually reserved to himself final approval of everything, and as above stated the negotiations were of a give and take kind in the effort to effect a lease. We are doubtful as to a recovery being allowable on the third count. It is unusual for a real estate broker to be compensated for a trade that was not quite made. But under the peculiar facts of this case we have concluded that the trial judge did not err in finding some compensation due. Froedtert did request and receive assistance from Haines, who, with his assistants, expended much effort during months of time in the endeavor to make some disposition of the property that Froedtert would approve. If Froedtert had dropped the matter just before the agreement about commissions was made it might justly be concluded that he owed Haines something for his time and efforts. The agreement about commissions of course included compensation for all efforts, but it applied only in case the written lease then under discussion should be agreed on.. When Froedtert refused to agree to it, the agreement for commissions went for naught; but the trial judge thought Froedtert, though his refusal was not wholly capricious and in bad faith, had [340] acted “somewhat arbitrarily”, and that Haines was remitted to his former right to have some compensation on a quantum meruit. He was not bound by the opinion of the brokers who testified that a larger sum was reasonable. Judgment on each appeal affirmed.