Coley v. Coley
Coley v. Coley
Opinion of the Court
The object of the plaintiff’s bill is, to compel a reconveyance to him, of certain premises, which he had previously deeded to the defendants. The ground of the application, principally relied upon in the bill, was, the combination and fraud of the defendants, in procuring their deed. But as the plaintiff is deprived of this ground of relief, by the finding that there was no such fraud or combination as is alleged, the plaintiff now relies upon the mutual mistake of the parties, and of the magistrate employed to draw up the deed, as to the effect of a reservation contained in it.
The plaintiff is the uncle and step-father of the defendants ; and executed the deed in consideration of his affection for them, as his relations. The statement, therefore, in the instrument, that it was given in consideration of a thousand dollars, is incorrect, as is shown by the finding. The reser-ervation follows immediately after the description of the property, and is in these words : “ Reserving to myself the use and improvement of said property, during my natural
It is insisted, that the only proper relief, provided the plaintiff is entitled to any relief, is, to have his deed set aside, and the property reconveyed to him. We think this claim cannot be sustained. If the power to sell was valid, the instrument would be precisely what the parties intended, and there would be no occasion to ask for relief; and w'holly to set aside the deed, because the parties happened to be mistaken in regard to the legal effect of this clause, would be placing them in a very different situation from what was contemplated, by any one. It is said, this ought to be done, because the deed was without any valuable consideration, and was voluntary. This, in certain cases, would be an answer to any claim, on the part of the voluntary grantees, if they were compelled to come into court, to have a voluntary conveyance made effectual, in consequence of some such mistake as is here claimed. But we do not think it entitled to any weight, where a grantor is asking to be relieved against the consequences of his voluntary deed.
As, then, the plaintiff has no right, under any circumstances, to have his deed set aside, and himself placed in a better condition than he would be in, if the mistake had not existed, but his only right must be, to have the deed made effectual according to the intent; it seems clear, that he ought first to show, as a ground for relief, that the event has happened, upon which alone he intended to reserve the power to sel!. He intended to reserve this power, only in case the avails should be wanted for his support. But it is not al
It is apparent, from this view of the subject, that the question, whether this mistake is of a character to authorize the court to correct it, is not involved in the decision. That is a question of some difficulty; and we do not feel inclined unnecessarily to enter into it. We are satisfied the plaintiffs bill should be dismissed, on the ground that the exigency has not yet transpired upon which he intended to reserve the power to sell; and so we advise the superior court.
In this opinion the other Judges concurred.
Bill dismissed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Coley against Coley and others
- Status
- Published