L. S. Meharg Liquor Co. v. Davis

MAYFIELD, J. Appellant sued appellees as partners doing business ners doing business under the firm name of thé Washington Hotel Company. During the progress of the trial the complaint was amended by striking out all matters seeking to bind the partnership, thereby making the action one against the appellees individually. The action was assumpsit, for the purchase price of goods, consisting of liquors and beverages, sold by the plaintiff and its predecessor. The sale was made to the Washington Hotel Company, or to the Washington Hotel Bar, which is conceded to be the same thing. The only contested question was whether or not appellee Edwards was a member of the firm or partnership above named, or was otherwise liable with áppellee Davis for the purchase price of the goods in question. Davis does not dispute his liability; but he and Edwards both deny the fact of partnership between the two, or of any liability of Edwards for the price of the goods, and the jury so found; hence, this appeal. Counsel for appellant very correctly and candidly state in their brief that the only question for discussion on this appeal is: Can a person represent himself to be a partner in a concern, in a written application [485] filed with the Excise Commission, in order to obtain a license to sell liquors pursuant to section 9 of the Act of April 6, 1911 .(Laws 1911, p. 225), known as the “Smith Bill,” and be allowed afterwards, when sued for the price of the goods sold to the concern, to deny that he is a member of the firm? In other words, is he not concluded by his representation in writing, in a public document of this sort, as to his being a member of the partneship ? In a case like this, we confidently answer that he is not estopped nor concluded thereby from showing the truth of the matter. The vendor, the plaintiff, did not, and does not now, claim that it either knew of or relied upon the statute in question, nor is it claimed that plaintiff otherwise believed Edwards to be a partner when the sales were made, and no credit was extended to him. One who represents or holds himself out to be a partner of a firm, when he is not such in fact, is estopped and concluded from showing the contrary, as against those who relied and acted upon such representation ; but the rule is entirely different as to those' who knew not of the false representation and who did not rely or act upon it — and to this latter class the plaintiff here is conceded to belong. The mere fact that said defendant made application in writing, under the provisions of the act, for license to sell liquors under the firm name in question, does not change the rule in this case. If the Excise Commission had ‘acted upon his petition, and issued the license, relying upon the facts stated therein, then, as against the commission, the state, the county, or the municipality, or any other person who relied thereon he might have been estopped; but not as against those who confess they knew not of the petition or the representation, and did not rely upon it. Moreover, the facts in this case show that Ed [486] wards was not treated by tbe commission as a person to whom tbe license was issued, but that Davis was treated as the sole petitioner of tbe commission and that tbe license was so issued and tbe bond so executed. Tbe very authorities cited and relied upon by. appellant are in accordance with tbe bolding of tbe trial court and with what we have said above. In fact, we know of none to tbe contrary. In tbe case of Alexander v. Handley, 96 Ala. 220, 11 South. 390, it is said: “A party is not entitled to make a circumstance of which be was wholly ignorant tbe basis of an estoppel in pais in bis favor.” Tbe authorities cited do bold that where a plaintiff sues as a partner, or sues on a contract alleging that it was made by a partnership, be is thereby estopped from disputing tbe facts alleged; but that is quite a different case and state of facts from tbe one at bar. In tbe case of Marble & Son v. Lypes & Co., 82 Ala. 322, 324, 2 South. 701, 703, very similar to this, tbe exact question here considered was decided, and tbe law well stated by Somerville, J., as follows: “It was immaterial that Beggs permitted himself to be held out to tbe public as a partner of Lypes, unless tbe plaintiff was misled or injured by contracting tbe debt in suit on tbe faith of this fact, thus dealing with tbe alleged firm in ignorance of tbe true relationship of its members. Tbe principles upon which such a liability is permitted to be fastened on one, who in fact is not a partner, is analogous to that of an estoppel in pais; and there can be no such estoppel, in tbe absence of one’s being misled to bis prejudice by a supposed fact, either positively asserted, or tactly admitted by tbe party whom be seeks to bold liable.—Humes v. O’Bryan, 74 Ala. 64; Parsons on Part. 71, 412, 413; 2 Green 1. Ev. § 283.” [487] It follows that there was no error, and the judgment below is affirmed. Affirmed. Anderson, C. J., and McClellan and de Gradeenried, JJ., concur.