Marks v. Grace

Opinion op the Court by Commissioner Hobson Affirming. For several years before the year 1919 D. L. Grace was in the employ of Marks and Stix of Cincinnati, Ohio, as a traveling salesman. They paid him $100.00 a month and also allowed him five per cent commission on his sales, bnt charged against the commissions the payments of $100.00 a month and also his expenses. He lived at Hector, Arkansas, and in the spring of 1919 he wrote them proposing to open a shoe store there, and after some correspondence an arrangement was made between them by which the store was opened. Marks and Stix furnished the goods, they to receive all of the proceeds of the store, less expenses, and Grace to receive the commission on these goods as though he had sold them as a traveling salesman. His son and daughter were to run the store and were to receive a salary. The following written contract was entered into: “April 1,1919. “Marks & Stix and D. L. Grace, doing business under the style of D. L. Grace, Son & Co., have this day entered into the following contract and agreement : “Marks & Stix agree to consign merchandise to D. L. Grace, Son & Co., the title of which remains with them until sold at retail to the ultimate consumer. “D. L. Grace, Son & Co. agree to accept said merchandise on consignment, and sell them at retail and settle for them as sold, in other words, remit for said goods sold weekly. [458] “D. L. Grace further agrees that he will not buy or accept merchandise or consignment from any other source. He further agrees to inventory said stock of merchandise every six months, and furnish the aforesaid Marks & Stix a true copy of said inventory. “The above contract and agreement to remain in force at the option of Marks & Stix. On termination of contract all unsold or unpaid for goods as per above contract to be put in shipping order and returned to Marks & Stix. “It is further agreed to keep this stock of merchandise fully insured in the name of Marks & Stix and that all insurance policies on this stock are to be held at their office in Cincinnati, Ohio. “D. L. Grace & Son. “Marks & Stix.” It will be observed that the paper does not contain the whole contract. After they had run this store in this way until the following February they sold it and had a settlement upon which Marks & Stix fell in debt to Grace in the sum of $448.25, being the balance due him on his commisions at 5%, less what he had received in the way of cash and his expenses. He then moved to Paducah, Kentucky, and by an arrangement with Marks & Stix típened a store there under the same contract as the store in Rector, Arkansas. He continued to travel there as before and received the monthly payment of $100.00 as before. The store at Rector was a success; the store at Paducah was not a success, but lost money, and when closed left a loss falling on Marks & Stix of $3,812.99. They brought this suit against Grace, who was doing business in the name of D. L. Grace, Son & Co. and took out an order of delivery for the goods in the store. He by his answer set up a counterclaim, charging that $448.25 was due him for commissions on the store at Rector and a commission of $1,485.05 as commissions on the store at Paducah. The plaintiff demurred to the counterclaim; the demurrer was overruled. On final hearing the circuit court gave judgment in favor of Grace on his counterclaim in the sum of $448.25, being the commissions due him on the Rector store, but dismissed his counterclaim as to the commissions on the Paducah store. From this judgment Marks & Stix appeal and Grace prosecutes a cross-appeal. [459] The demurrer to the counterclaim was properly overruled. It was alleged in the answer that Marks & Stix were nonresidents of the state and had no property in the state. If Grace could not maintain his counterclaim in this action he was without remedy. .It is well settled in this state that under such' circumstances an equitable counterclaim may be maintained. Newman’s Pleading, section 475E. The agreement to pay. Grace 5% commission was made after the written contract was made and was a part of the transaction of selling the store at Rector. Evidence of a subsequent agreement is always admissible although the original agreement is put in' writing. There was sufficient consideration for the agreement, for it was part of the arrangement under which that store was sold by Grace. And that the agreement was made is conclusively shown by the settlement in writing then made by the parties. The court, therefore, did not err in giving judgment for this money. It is earnestly insisted that the petition sought damages in the sum of $500.00 for the detention of the property by Grace and that the court erred in not allowing plaintiff damages for the detention. But there was no proof of any actual loss and there was no error in not giving substantial damages; On the cross-appeal the evidence is clear that the Paducah store instead of making money lost to Marks & Stix $3,812.99. While Grace was to be paid a commission he was first to pay for tbe goods he got, and from all the correspondence it is perfectly plain that the store at Paducah was started to give him an opportunity to make some money and that it was definitely understood that Marks & Stix were not to pay him commissions before they were paid for the goods. In cases of this sort this court gives considerable weight to the judgment of the chancellor and his conclusion is not disturbed on the facts if on the whole record the mind is left in doubt as to the truth. Applying this rule here the court is clearly of the opinion that the chancellor’s judgment can not be disturbed on the facts. Judgment affirmed on the original and on the cross appeal.