Summary
In Mogulewsky v. Rohrig (104 App. Div. 147) an action was brought by a contractor for a balance, which under the contract was to be paid only when a permanent loan was placed upon the building.
Summary of this case from Dedona Contracting Corp. v. 111 West End Corp.Opinion
April, 1905.
J. Power Donellan, for the appellant.
Louis B. Boudin, for the respondent.
Present — HIRSCHBERG, P.J., BARTLETT, WOODWARD and HOOKER, JJ.
This suit was brought to recover a balance claimed for work, labor and services performed and materials furnished in the construction of a building. Such construction was provided for in a written contract under seal, executed by the firm of Gordon Koslowitzky on the one part, and "Katie Behrens pr William F. Rohrig, Attorney in fact," on the other. The contract described W.F. Rohrig as superintendent, and required the work to be done to his satisfaction. The plaintiff has succeeded by assignment to the rights of Gordon Koslowitzky. It will be observed that in this action he is seeking to enforce their claim, not against Katie Behrens, but against William F. Rohrig, whose name does not appear in the contract as a party, and the principal question presented upon this appeal is whether the proof establishes any liability against William F. Rohrig.
It is clear that he could not be held liable if the plaintiff's cause of action depended alone upon the contract. But it does not. Abraham Gordon, a member of the firm which did the work, testified that when the first payment fell due on the job Mr. Rohrig told him in substance that he had used Katie Behrens' name in the transaction merely because he himself was in bankruptcy; that he was the owner of the building and was responsible for everything; that they would get all their money and everything would be all right, and that he directed them to go ahead with their work and said that he would pay them for it. This evidence, which was not contradicted, justified the Municipal Court judge in finding that Mr. Rohrig, as principal, entered into an independent oral contract with Gordon Koslowitzky for the conduct of the work to completion upon the terms specified in the Behrens agreement. I do not see why it was not competent for him to do this. The oral contract was executed by the firm, and Mr. Rohrig thereupon became obligated to pay the agreed amount.
The last payment was to be made when a permanent loan was placed upon the building, and as no such loan was obtained, the appellant insists that the balance is not yet payable. This objection is not available to the owner, who is solely at fault for not having obtained such loan, and has permitted the premises to be sold under foreclosure.
The judgment should be affirmed.
Judgment of the Municipal Court unanimously affirmed, with costs.