Stowe v. Nieto
Stowe v. Nieto
Opinion of the Court
Appeal from a judgment in favor of plaintiffs in an action for concellation of a promissory note and deed of trust and for damages.
Respondent Lowery L. Stowe purchased a tract of real property from appellants under the following circumstances: A real estate agent took Stowe to the property. They did not go on the land but stopped on the highway, the agent stating that he did not want to disturb the tenants. Neither Stowe nor the agent was acquainted with the neighborhood or the property. Stowe paid a deposit to the agent, receiving a receipt therefor, but no binding contract was made. Later Stowe was told by friends that the place had been flooded. Stowe went to the agent and together they called on Mrs. Nieto. She stated that the land had not been flooded, that the water never came over the driveway, and that the condition was even better since they had built a dyke. Stowe relied on the statement of Mrs. Nieto, purchased the property, paid part cash and gave a promissory note and deed of trust to secure the balance. He took possession in September, 1943. In February, 1944, a flood covered the property to a depth of four feet, causing the loss of respondents’ rabbits and chickens and damage to their machinery. Respondents immediately served a notice of rescission on appellants, offered to reconvey the property, and demanded the repayment of the portion of the purchase price that had been paid by respondents.
2. There is no merit in appellants’ claim that rabbits were lost by reason of the negligence of respondents. While attempting to move the rabbits to high ground respondents, standing in water four feet in depth, dropped a hutch and a few of the rabbits were drowned. Respondents were not negligent in attempting to rescue the animals from the flood. The remainder of the livestock apparently were drowned before they could be saved. Respondents are entitled to recover the value of property lost and the cost of repairing damaged machinery.
3. Neither is there any virtue in the claim that the judgment should be reversed by reason of the fact that it merely relieved respondents from making further payments on their note and did not require them to reconvey the property. In their notice of rescission respondents offered to
The judgment is affirmed.
Moore, P. J., and McComb, J., concurred.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.