Katz v. Bear, 21823

Decision Date01 June 1951
Docket NumberNo. 21823,21823
Citation52 So.2d 903
PartiesKATZ v. BEAR et al.
CourtFlorida Supreme Court

Montague Rosenberg, Miami Beach, for appellant.

Nathanson, Oka & Spaet and William Brody, all of Miami Beach, for appellee.

PER CURIAM.

The plaintiff-appellant sued the defendants-appellees to recover a realtor's commission for the sale of a lease on a hotel at Miami Beach, Florida. The five year leasehold interest sold for the sum of $35,000.00. The sum of $30,000.00 was paid in cash. The owner allowed the purchaser time in which to pay the realtor's commission as agreed to in the sum of $5,000.00. The salesman of the plaintiff-appellant, Mr. Heyman, introduced Mr. Friedman, the purchaser, to Mr. Bear, the owner, but the sale was not closed until some eight days thereafter.

At the close of the plaintiff's case in the lower court a motion for a directed verdict was made on the theory that a jury, from the evidence adduced, could not under the law find a verdict for the plaintiff. The trial court granted defendant's motion and directed the jury to return a verdict for the defendant below. A motion for a new trial was made by the original plaintiff and was denied by the trial court. Judgment for the defendant was entered and plaintiff appealed.

It is contended here that the plaintiff was not entitled to the commission because there was not a meeting of the minds of the parties on the item of $5,000.00 which the owner referred to as a commission. The purchaser then had $30,000.00 in cash and was willing to pay the amount for the hotel. The owner refused to accept the $30,000.00, but eight days thereafter accepted said sum and the purchaser's additional promise to pay at a subsequent date the commission in the sum of $5,000.00. The broker brought the parties together and a continuous negotiation existed which later resulted in a trade. It is true that the original terms of the trade were changed by mutual consent. The broker produced a purchaser ready, able and willing to buy the hotel. He later bought it on the owner's terms. See Taylor v. Dorsey, 155 Fla. 305, 19 So.2d 876.

Power to direct a verdict should be cautiously exercised and the same should never be granted unless the evidence is such that under no view which the jury might lawfully take of the evidence favorable to the adverse party could a verdict for the adverse party be sustained. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Jenkins, 152 Fla. 486, 12 So.2d 374. A...

To continue reading

Request your trial
25 cases
  • Abeles v. Adams Engineering Co.
    • United States
    • New Jersey Superior Court — Appellate Division
    • 21 d1 Novembro d1 1960
    ...certif. denied 22 N.J. 219, 125 A.2d 233 (1956); Taylor v. Dorsey, 155 Fla. 305, 19 So.2d 876, 878 (Sup.Ct.1944); Katz v. Bear, 52 So.2d 903 (Fla.Sup.Ct.1951); Parrish v. Tyre, 59 So.2d 250 Furthermore, if we assume that the broker had brought the defendant and Prudential into a binding con......
  • Hilkmeyer v. Latin Am. Air Cargo Expediters, Inc.
    • United States
    • Florida Supreme Court
    • 24 d3 Abril d3 1957
    ...to prove the issues, the case should be submitted to the jury as a question of fact under appropriate instructions.' Katz v. Bear, Fla. 1951, 52 So.2d 903, 904. See for example, Oppenheimer v. Werner, Fla.1950, 46 So.2d 870; Chaney v. Headley, Fla.1956, 90 So.2d 297; Bryan v. Loftin, Fla.19......
  • Olin's, Inc. v. Avis Rental Car System of Fla., Inc.
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • 22 d2 Maio d2 1962
    ...to prove the issues, the case should be submitted to the jury as a question of fact under appropriate instructions.' Katz v. Bear, Fla.1951, 52 So.2d 903, 904.' See Oppenheimer v. Werner, Fla.1950, 46 So.2d 870; Chaney v. Headly, Fla.1956, 90 So.2d 297; Bryan v. Loftin, Fla.1951, 51 So.2d 7......
  • Peairs v. Florida Pub. Co., C-2
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • 6 d3 Setembro d3 1961
    ...could a verdict for the latter party be sustained. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Jenkins, 1943, 152 Fla. 486, 12 So.2d 374; Katz v. Bear, Fla.1951, 52 So.2d 903. 'A motion for a directed verdict admits for the purpose of such motion the facts in evidence and every reasonable and proper conc......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT