Jackson v. Spivey

• Decision Date: 14 February 1975
• Docket Number: No. 60251,60251
• Citation: 325 N.E.2d 323,26 Ill.App.3d 670
• Parties: Wendell L. JACKSON, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. William SPIVEY and Nationwide Window Cleaning Co., Inc., an Illinois Corporation, Defendant-Appellee.
• Court: United States Appellate Court of Illinois

Page 323

325 N.E.2d 323

26 Ill.App.3d 670

Wendell L. JACKSON, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. William SPIVEY and Nationwide Window Cleaning Co., Inc., an Illinois Corporation, Defendant-Appellee.

No. 60251.

Appellate Court of Illinois First District, Fifth Division.

Feb. 14, 1975.

Di Monte & Lizak, Chicago, for plaintiff-appellant.

Stanton & Healy, Chicago (Edwin A. Strugala, Chicago, of counsel), for defendant-appellee.

DRUCKER, Justice.

Plaintiff brought this contract action against defendants, William Spivey and Nationwide Window Cleaning Co., Icn., (hereinafter Nationwide) to recover $14,000 due on an alleged oral contract to purchase his 40 per cent interest in the partnership known as J. and J. Window Cleaning Co. At the close of plaintiff's case the trial judge sitting without a jury granted Spivey's motion for a finding in his favor. The judge then entered judgment against Nationwide in the amount of $14,000 and dismissed Spivey from the case. Nationwide does not appeal. Plaintiff appeals the dismissal of Spivey from the case and he phrases the sole issue on appeal to be 'whether there was sufficient evidence to support a prima facie case as against . . . William Spivey, individually, thereby precluding the granting of a directed verdict in favor of . . . (Spivey).' ¹

The pertinent evidence adduced at trial was as follows: Spivey was called as a witness pursuant to Section 60 of the Civil Practice Act (Ill.Rev.Stat.1973, ch. 110, par. 60) and testified that he was president of Nationwide. He had known plaintiff approximately three to four years. Plaintiff was with the company that did work for Nationwide. He and plaintiff engaged in a certain business transaction, the outcome of which was that for $20,000 Nationwide bought plaintiff's 40 per cent interest in J. and J. Window Cleaning Co. Plaintiff was to transfer his partnership interest, which he later did. Spivey acknowledged that plaintiff had completed everything he had to do under the contract.

The first payment to be made was $1500, which was given to plaintiff, as was the balance of the down payment, an additional $4500. The $14,000 balance has not been paid because Nationwide 'went broke.' After December 30, 1970, plaintiff no longer retained his interest in the partnership. At this point in the trial Nationwide stipulated 'that it was a valid contract between Nationwide and (plaintiff), that a note was signed by Nationwide to the effect that Nationwide owes him $14,000.'

Plaintiff, over defendant's objection, then had three exhibits, all records of Nationwide, marked for identification. Plaintiff's Exhibit No. 1 was a journal account entitled 'due from Officer Wm. Spivey.' Spivey did not know about that entry but felt there was no relationship between the $4500 indicated in the journal and the payment by Nationwide to plaintiff. Plaintiff's Exhibit No. 2 was an adjusting journal account with three entries, one of which shows $1500 'due from Officer.' Again, Spivey did not know about the entry. Plaintiff's Exhibit No. 3 was Nationwide's federal corporate income tax return for 1971. In looking at this document Spivey did not see nationwide's obligation to plaintiff listed. Thereafter defendants moved to strike the documents, and plaintiff moved to offer the documents into evidence; both motions the court took under advisement. It was also stipulated that the business transaction with plaintiff took place on December 30, 1970.

Plaintiff next testified in his own behalf. He has known Spivey approximately four years. His partnership subcontracted window cleaning from him. On December 30, 1970, he and Spivey had a meeting wherein they discussed the final terms for Spivey to purchase plaintiff's interest in J. and J. Window Cleaning Co. At that time they discussed the payments that were to be made, when they were to be made, and they shook hands on the deal. The purchase chase price was $20,000, and Spivey was the purchaser. All of plaintiff's discussions about the transaction were with Spivey.

Plaintiff did transfer his interest in the partnership. As far as plaintiff knew, there were no deals with Nationwide to buy any share of J. and J. Window Cleaning Co; that it was a personal debt of Spivey. As to the payments he received, on December 30, 1970, Spivey gave him a check for $1500. One month later, in January, Spivey gave him a second check for $4500, and that was the last payment he received. The next payment of $4000 was supposed to have been paid July 22, 1971, but was not made.

On cross-examination plaintiff admitted he knew of Nationwide, that he knew Spivey was president of Nationwide, and $15,000 per year of work came from Spivey as Nationwide's president. He did receive a paper which stated the balance of payments and on what days they were to be paid. He no longer has possession of this note. His children got hold of it and destroyed it.

Defendants' counsel then questioned plaintiff with regard to six exhibits. Defendants' first exhibit was a copy of the note that was given to plaintiff at the time that the transaction was closed. It shows a promise to pay plaintiff $18,500, payable in three installments, the first payment to be made on January 22, 1971, with the payer as Nationwide. On the back of the note (Exhibit No. 2) it shows three installments: $4500 on January 22, 1971; $4000 on July 22, 1971; and $10,000 on July 22, 1972. Defendants' Exhibits No. 3 and No. 4 are two Nationwide checks made out for $4500 and $1500 respectively, payable to plaintiff and with Nationwide as the payer. Under Nationwide's atamped name Spivey's signature appears.

Defendants' Exhibit No. 5 is a bill of sale designating plaintiff as the seller and Nationwide as the buyer of plaintiff's interest in the partnership. At the bottom is plaintiff's signature. Defendants' Exhibit No. 6 is a general assignment reciting that for $20,000 plaintiff sells, assigns, transfers and sets over to the assignee, 'Nationwide Window Cleaning Co., Inc.' plaintiff's interest in the partnership. This document was signed by plaintiff and acknowledged by the remaining 60 per cent owner of the partnership. At this point defendants' Exhibits Nos. 1 to 6 were received in evidence without objection.

On redirect examination plaintiff reasserted that 'the deal was that I would sell forty per cent of the company to William Spivey as an individual. At no time did we discuss Nationwide.' The deal was oral. Following this plaintiff rested his case. Plaintiff's three exhibits were never received in evidence nor did plaintiff procure a ruling from the trial judge on them although they were discussed in closing argument.

During closing argument plaintiff's counsel admitted that at the time of the transaction plaintiff wanted to sell what he had, and he didn't care who bought it just so that he got his money.

Opinion

Plaintiff contends that there was sufficient evidence to support a prima facie case as against Spivey individually, and therefore the court erred in directing a finding for Spivey. Both ...