Holvey v. Stewart

• Citation: 509 P.2d 17,265 Or. 242
• Parties: Robert HOLVEY and Margaret Holvey, Respondents, v. Eugene A. STEWART, Appellant.
• Decision Date: 19 April 1973
• Court: Supreme Court of Oregon

Page 17

509 P.2d 17

265 Or. 242

Robert HOLVEY and Margaret Holvey, Respondents, v. Eugene A. STEWART, Appellant.

Supreme Court of Oregon.

Argued and Submitted Jan. 12, 1973.

Decided April 19, 1973.

David F. Lentz, Eugene, argued the cause for appellant. With him on the briefs was Alan R. Mitchell, Eugene.

Gary J. Susak, La Grande, argued the cause for respondents. With him on the brief were Carey & Gooding, P.C., La Grande.

Before O'CONNELL, C.J., and McALLISTER, DENECKE, HOLMAN, TONGUE and BRYSON, JJ.

DENECKE, Justice.

This appeal concerns what defendant has labeled his 'cross-complaint.' In this pleading defendant alleged he was plaintiffs' partner in the construction and sale of certain apartments. Defendant asked that an accounting be made by plaintiffs; that the partnership be dissolved; and that he receive one-half of the partnership assets and his contribution. The trial court held the partnership was limited to one 8- unit apartment, ordered plaintiffs to account for that operation, and ordered that the partnership then be dissolved.

The defendant appeals contending the partnership encompasses other properties.

One of the plaintiffs, Mr. Holvey, was a builder in La Grande, Oregon. Mrs. Holvey, his wife, is the other plaintiff. Defendant is a general insurance broker in Eugene. During 1968 the parties negotiated toward some agreement whereby Stewart would supply financing for Mr. Holvey's building projects. In May 1968 they executed, as partners, a 'Loan Brokerage Agreement' with a firm which was to secure financing for them. Nothing came of this.

The parties executed an informal agreement, dated December 1, 1968, which appears to state that Stewart was to pay $1,500 'now' and another $1,500 in 60 days and Stewart would thereby acquire '50% Of all units in La Grande.' Stewart gave Holvey $1,500 at this time and another $1,000 in February. Shortly thereafter Holvey purchased the land for a 17-unit apartment and commenced construction.

A certificate of Limited Partnership of Bob Holvey Construction, Oregon, Ltd. was filed November 10, 1969, with the state. The certificate is executed by the parties to this litigation and bears the date August 4, 1969. It states the term of the partnership is 10 years commencing March 31, 1969. The purpose of the partnership is the construction, operation and sale of rental properties. It recites that Stewart has paid $3,000 and is to pay another $5,750 which is to be paid from partnership profits. In October 1969 a form of partnership agreement was tendered by Stewart to the Holveys for execution but it was never signed.

In August and September 1969 Stewart paid another $6,300 to the Holveys, making a total of $8,800. The 17-unit apartment was completed at about this time. Also, some property on which an 8-unit apartment was to be erected was purchased at this time by the Holveys with their personal funds.

In October 1969 Bomar Construction, a corporation, was formed for plaintiffs. Bomar commenced building the 8-unit apartment. Expected financing did not materialize, and, therefore, Stewart, the Holveys and Bomar entered into agreements reciting that Stewart had deposited $20,000 as security with the lender and in consideration the lender would loan another $20,000 to Bomar to construct the 8-unit apartment. For such financing the agreement recited that Stewart was to receive a one-half interest in the apartment. That building was completed and title to the property was in Bomar.

At some time subsequent, a 4-unit apartment was built by the Holveys. All three of the apartments mentioned here have been sold. No accounting has been made to Stewart for the proceeds of any of the sales. Stewart has been repaid all of the collateral he deposited with the lender except for $1,000 and the decree in this case provides that he...