Adams

The plaintiff, a real estate broker of Porterville and Goleta, appeals from an adverse judgment in an action by which he seeks to recover a fee for allegedly finding a purchaser ready, able and willing to buy the 20-acre orange grove in Kern County owned by the defendant, Alex Angelich, and his tenant in common, Mike Janoko. The defendant and Mr. Janoko inherited the land from a cousin; Mr. Janoko was in charge of the agricultural operations, but Mr. Angelich who lived in Long Beach was a stranger to orange growing.

The record shows that in the late spring of 1962 the cotenants discussed between themselves the possible sale of the property with particular stress on the figure of $85,000. *259 The respondent heard no more about a sale until the early part of August 1962, when Frank Janoko, Jr., licensed real estate salesman working for the plaintiff and incidentally a nephew of Mike Janoko, came to his apartment in Long Beach and told him he had a buyer who would pay $85,000 for the land. At that time, respondent said he wanted $90,000, and, in compliance with the proposed sale figure, Mr. Angelich and Mr. Mike Janoko signed a written agreement giving Mr. Adams an exclusive right…