Hopper v. Denham, 83-199

• Court: Arkansas Supreme Court
• Writing for the Court: DUDLEY; ADKISSON, C.J., and HICKMAN
• Citation: Hopper v. Denham, 281 Ark. 84, 661 S.W.2d 379 (Ark. 1983)
• Decision Date: 12 December 1983
• Docket Number: No. 83-199,83-199
• Parties: Bobby HOPPER, Appellant, v. Mary DENHAM, D/B/A Woodland Realty, Gallery of Homes, Appellee.

Page 379

661 S.W.2d 379

281 Ark. 84

Bobby HOPPER, Appellant, v. Mary DENHAM, D/B/A Woodland Realty, Gallery of Homes, Appellee.

No. 83-199.

Supreme Court of Arkansas.

Dec. 12, 1983.

Cypert & Roy, Springdale, for appellant.

Gordon L. Cummings, Fayetteville, for appellee.

DUDLEY, Justice.

Bobby Hopper, the appellant, and his wife, Lois, sold a tract of commercial real estate in Springdale to Consumers Market, Inc., for $450,000.00. The appellee, Mary Denham, a real estate broker, demanded a broker's commission of eight percent of the sales price. The Hoppers denied owing a commission to appellee or her agency. The appellee then filed suit against both Hoppers and, in a jury trial, was awarded the full commission of eight percent, or $36,000.00, plus pre-judgment interest of $4,154.29 against Bobby Hopper. He appeals the award. We affirm.

In February, 1980, appellant Bobby Hopper, placed signs on the tract. The signs contained the words "For Sale by Owner" along with his name and telephone number. He removed the signs shortly afterward. Subsequently, an agent for appellee's agency contacted appellant, hoping that the contact would result in a listing arrangement for the agency. Appellant declined to execute a written listing agreement but agreed that, should the agent or agency procure a buyer, the appellant would receive $500,000.00 and the agency would receive any part of the sales price over that amount. Pursuant to this understanding, two of appellee's agents, the appellant, and a representative of Consumers Market, the potential buyer, met in July, 1980. At this time the tract was offered to Consumers for $555,000.00, but the offer was not accepted.

At a second meeting, in August, 1980, the Consumers representatives expressed interest in a sale if the price were lowered. Following this meeting, the appellee's agents and the appellant discussed reducing the price. The appellee alleged that a new arrangement was made in which appellant would pay eight percent of the sale price to the agency as a commission. The existence of this agreement, testified to by appellee's agents, was denied at trial by appellant.

No progress was made toward a sale in the following months, and appellant had the impression that the appellee's agency was no longer trying to sell the tract to Consumers. Appellant also stated that he had given up on selling the land to Consumers. Later, appellant, through direct contact with Consumers, consummated a sale of the property for $450,000.00. The deed was dated February 26, 1981, and filed of record on February 27, 1981. Appellee sued appellant and his wife, Lois Hopper, for the commission. The trial court granted a directed verdict in favor of Lois Hopper but let the case against appellant go to the jury. The jury returned a $36,000.00 judgment against appellant. The trial court, upon motion by appellee, awarded pre-judgment interest of $4,154.29.

Appellant first argues that the trial court erred by failing to grant a directed verdict in his favor for either of two reasons: (1) that only one contract was proved and under that contract appellee could collect a commission only if a buyer were found ready, willing, and able to purchase the tract at a price of more than $500,000.00 or; (2) that any contract between appellee and appellant was abandoned by appellee.

We find no merit in either contention. First, two of appellee's agents, Jerry Allred and Elam Denham, testified about a second mutual agreement by which appellee was to receive a commission of eight percent of the sales price for procuring a ready, willing, and able buyer. For performance of that second agreement, it was not necessary that the agent make the sale. It has long been held that a broker, employed to sell property, is entitled to his commission where he initiated negotiations between the principal and another which resulted in a sale by the principal. Hodges v. Bayley, 102 Ark. 200, 143 S.W. 92 (1912). Second, appellee's agent most closely involved with the property, Jerry Allred, testified about continuing efforts to sell the property through January of 1981, when the agency learned of the sale by Hopper to Consumers. In particular, Allred testified that, between June 27, 1980, and January 30, 1981, he called Consumers 24 times and was called by Consumers 24 times. This continuing effort refutes any contention that appellee's agency had abandoned the contract. Thus, substantial evidence existed that appellee was entitled to her commission, and the trial court's refusal to grant a directed verdict was not error.

Appellant next argues that the court erred in denying his motion for a new trial challenging the sufficiency of the evidence. However, since the trial court was correct in finding that the evidence was sufficient to deny the motion for a directed verdict, it necessarily follows that a motion for a new trial based upon the insufficiency of the evidence was correctly denied. Green v. Gowen, 279 Ark. 382, 652 S.W.2d 624 (1983).

The appellant contends that one of his requested instructions was erroneously refused. The trial court correctly refused the instruction because other instructions were given which covered the subject. A party is not entitled to his particular preference in the wording of instructions, and a trial judge is not required to give repetitious or redundant instructions. Hough v. Continental Leasing Corp., 275 Ark. 340, 630 S.W.2d 19 (1982).

The appellant next contends that the trial court erred in refusing to set aside the verdict because of misconduct on the part of appellee's counsel. He argues that appellee's counsel improperly conducted voir dire and made statements during closing argument which were improper but in neither instance was an objection made. By not objecting to questions on voir dire and to statements made during closing argument, the trial court was not apprised of the alleged error and was not given a chance to correct the mistakes, if any. Therefore, the matter is not preserved for appellate review. Wasp Oil, Inc. v. Arkansas Oil and Gas, Inc., 280 Ark. 420, 658 S.W.2d 397 (1983). For the rare exceptions to the basic requirement of an objection in the trial court see Wicks v. State, 270 Ark. 781, 606 S.W.2d 366 (1980). However, the appellant did object when, during opening statement, the appellee's counsel referred to the net profit made by the appellant in the transaction. The trial court sustained the objection and admonished the jury: ".... the jury will disregard any statement with respect to the amount of net profit the Hoppers may or may not have received, that's not an issue in this lawsuit." Later, while appellee's attorney was questioning the appellant, the...