Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

1 Ohio Law. Abs. 344

Abrams v. Kangesser

Ohio Court of Appeals

Decided February 26, 1923

Ohio Court of Appeals · decided 1923-02-26

<p>No. 318</p> <p>This opinion has not been published except in Abstract.</p> <p>AGENCY — (1) Corporation, the officers of which know of á ¡contract, bound by contract made by its authorized agent — (2) Undisclosed principal may be shown by oral evidence.</p>

Decided 1923-02-26

¶1Epitomized Opinion

PARDEE, J.

¶2Robert and Harry Kangesser offered in writing, July 14, 1919, to sell to Abrams the balance of a 99 year lease on certain property. By the terms of payment specified, Abrams was required to pay $1000, upon acceptance. Abrams did give to Harry K. a check for $10,000, which said Harry K. had certified and kept for several months. Upon failure of the Kangessers to convey the property, Abrams brought suit and discovered that, by certain litigation, interest in the lease had passed, previous to July, 1919, to the Hayden Investment Co., a corporation of which the Kangessers were officers. The Investment Co. was made a defendant but claimed that the Kangessers had no authority to make the contract in question. The evidence indicated that the officers of the company knew of the offer and acceptance, and that Harry K. had possession of the check. Held by court of appeals, in giving order for specific performance: -

¶31. When a party who has intimate business connection with a corporation, makes a contract, with the knowledge of the officers of said corporation, and which said officers do not attempt to disaffirm, said party may be considered as acting as the agent of the corporation, and the contract is binding.

¶42. An undisclosed principal may be shown in cases of this kind by oral evidence.

/1/ohiolawabs/344 · .json · Public domain