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40 Minn. 11

Sterling v. Bock

Supreme Court of Minnesota

Decided January 11, 1889

Supreme Court of Minnesota · decided 1889-01-11

Action in the district court for Hennepin county, against the defendants as partners doing business under the name of “Pence Opera House Company,” for breach of the following written contract, being Exhibit A to the complaint: “This agreement, made this 14th day of August, 1886, between W. E. Sterling, party of the first part, and Pence Opera House Co., party of the second part, witnesseth: That said party of the first part, in consideration of the promises and agreements…

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently June 1915

2 state decisions

Relies on Whitney v. Wyman · Gibson v. Warden

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1889-01-11

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Mitchell, J.1

¶1There are no merits in this appeal. The evidence showed that the defendants were partners under the style of “The Pence Opera House Company.” The contract, Exhibit A, was within the scope of the partnership business, and hence its execution on behalf of the firm within the authority of any of the partners. It shows on its face that it was intended to be the contract of the firm. It was executed in person by two of the partners, and after its execution it was, with full knowledge of its existence, ratified by all the partners by accepting plaintiff’s services performed under it. Under such circumstances, it is the contract of the firm, and binding on all the partners, regardless of the precise form of its execution. 1 Lindl. Partn. 178; Whitney v. Wyman, 101 U. S. 392.

¶2*13Not being required to be under seal, the seals attached to the names of Bock and plaintiff may be rejected as surplusage, and the instrument treated as the parol contract of the firm. Gibson v. Warden, 14 Wall. 244; Milton v. Mosher, 7 Met. 244. Or, if it be treated as a sealed instrument, having, after its execution, been'ratified by all the partners, it becomes the deed of the firm, the same as if executed by all of them under seal. Story, Partn. § 122. There was therefore no error in admitting the contract in evidence.

¶3Order affirmed.

¶4 Dickinson and Vanderburgh, JJ., being absent in canvassing the vote for state officers, took no part in this case.

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