Buerstatte v. Swanson

Day, J. The plaintiff, Chris Buerstatte, obtained a decree in the district court for Saunders county against the defendant, Charles A. Swanson, enjoining the latter from engaging in the undertaking business in the city of Wahoo, Nebraska, for a period of five years from May 25, 1920. The plaintiff’s action was based upon an agreement between the plaintiff and the defendant, by the terms of which the defendant agreed for considerations named to refrain from engaging in the furniture or undertaking business in the city of Wahoo for a period of five years. From this decree the defendant appeals. The record shows that on and prior to May 25, 1920, the defendant owned and conducted a furniture and undertaking business in the city of Wahoo. On that date the parties entered into a written contract, by the terms of which the plaintiff agreed to buy and the defendant agreed to sell the stock of furniture, fixtures, and undertaking supplies, including an automobile hearse. By the terms of the contract the purchase price was to be determined by an appraisement in the manner provided therein. The total value [31] fixed by the appraisers was $17,769.69. In this appraisement the value of the hearse was fixed at $1,000. The plaintiff took over the business, assumed full charge of all the property enumerated in the contract except the hearse, and paid to the defendant $16,769.69. The dispute between the parties is whether the contract as entered into was subsequently modified in so far as it included the hearse. It was the theory of the defendant that the plaintiff had breached the contract by refusing to take the hearse, and for that reason the defendant claimed the right to again enter into the undertaking business at Wahoo, and was proceeding to do so, when the present action was commenced. The plaintiff’s theory was that, after the contract was made, by mutual agreement between the parties the hearse was eliminated from the items of property which the plaintiff agreed to purchase. The trial court did not pass upon the question whether the contract was so modified, but held that the plaintiff had substantially complied with the contract of sale, and was therefore entitled to the protection of a court of equity. The court also held that the defendant had an adequate remedy at law. The case is before us for a trial de novo. The plaintiff testified that about June 21, 1921, the defendant complained that the value of the hearse, as fixed by the appraisers, was too low; that it was worth at least $1,500, and that the appraisement should have been for that sum; that thereupon it was agreed between the parties that the defendant should keep the hearse, and that the plaintiff was to pay him rent therefor for such times as he used it. This is denied by the defendant. The only evidence bearing upon this phase of the case was that given by the parties, and letters passing between them and checks given by the plaintiff in payment of rent for the use of the hearse. Upon a trial de novo we are quite satisfied that the testimony fully sustains the plaintiff’s theory, and that the contract, by mutual consent, was so modified as to eliminate the hearse therefrom. The contract provided, as one of the inducements thereof, that the defendant would “not engage in the furniture or [32] undertaking business in the city of Wahoo, Saunders county, Nebraska, either directly or indirectly, for a period of five years from the date of this agreement.” The rule is established in this state that an agreement by one of' the parties to refrain from engaging in a competitive business for a reasonable time and within a limited area, not larger than reasonably necessary for the protection of the other party, is valid and enforceable. Mollyneaux v. Wittenberg, 39 Neb. 547; Herpolsheimer v. Funke, 1 Neb. (Unof.) 304; Hickey v. Brinkley, 88 Neb. 356. Extensive arguments have been made by both sides in support of and against the theory adopted by the trial court that there had been a substantial compliance with the contract by the plaintiff, but in the view which we have taken of the evidence it seems unnecessary to discuss that phase of the case. In view of the evidence, it seems clear that the plaintiff has fully performed the contract, and is entitled to the relief prayed. The decree of the trial court was right, and it is, therefore, Affirmed. Note — See Contracts, 13 C. J. p. 472, sec. 417.