O'Harro v. Akey
O'Harro v. Akey
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
The action Was one for damages for breach of a contract to convey land. The plaintiff recovered and the defendant appeals. ' ■
The petition set forth the contract, stated that the defendant had repudiated it, and claimed damages. The contract reads as follows:
“This Agreement Entered into By and between E J Ohare, Known as First Party in this Contract, and E J Akey, as Second Party, First Party agrees to trade her Residence of 10 Rooms Located in Manhattan*512 Riley Co Kan. Consideration $10,000, Subject to a Mortgage of $2000, This Property is too Have Perfect Tittle and to be Clear of all Incumbrace, Excepting the Mortgage of $2,000 and to give Posesión of same on approval of Tittle and Exceptance of the Following Described Farm, of Said Second Party.
“S. E. Vi of Sec 4, Town 33 Range 20 Labett Co. Kans. Consideration $12,000, Clear and perfect Tittle Excepting a First Mortgage of $4,000, Drawing 5, Vz% Intrest, Due in January 1920, Said Second Party Trades for this Propert Subject to Lease Now on the Farm and Held by, George W Brown, Lease is Good for the Year of 1914 and Expires March 1st 1915.
“The Party of the Second Part agrees to Give Party of the First Part untill the 15th day of April, 1914 to Inspect the Farm, and Approve of same, or this Contract to be Null and Void, Both Parties hereby Give their Notes for $200, apiece as a guarantee of good Faith on their Part, and the Notes to be Held, in Excrow by Bradley untill final Settlement, in case of failure of either Party to fullfill this Contract, after the Inspection by Party of the First Part, and Accepted, by First Party then in this case the Note would be come the property of G. W. Bradley as Payment for Commission, on the Failure of either party to fullfill this Contract, and the other parties Note Retimed.”
The answer admitted execution of the contract and contained a general denial. One affirmative defense was pleaded, which was that the plaintiff was not able to perform because she had incumbered her property with a mortgage of $2500 bearing eight per cent interest instead of a mortgage for $2000 as the contract provided, and that the defendant would not accept the property on those terms although the plaintiff asked him to do so. The reply was that subsequent to the execution of the written contract the defendant, for his own benefit, requested the plaintiff to borrow as much money as she could on- her property and pay him the proceeds above $2000. The plaintiff undertook to do this. She was able to borrow but $2500, which she did at the lowest rate of interest obtainable, and deposited $500 of the amount in a bank at Manhattan to be delivered to the defendant when he performed on his side.
The plaintiff and the defendant listed their properties with the same agent, who had an office in Topeka. About April 1, 1914, the defendant and the agent went to Manhattan and the plaintiff and the defendant there agreed to exchange properties and agreed on all the terms of the exchange. The defendant and the agent returned to Topeka. The written contract embodying the terms agreed on was prepared in the agent’s office,
The defendant testified he had no conversation whatever with the plaintiff when at Manhattan in April about her boi*rowing as much above $2000 as possible and turning the cash over to him. When at Manhattan in August he did not inquire about the deposit and was not told it was in the bank subject to his disposal when the contract was consummated. He read
The defendant submitted certain special questions which were answered by the jury as follows:
“Question 1: Was the plaintiff ever ready, able and willing to comply with the contract in suit? Yes.
“If the question is answered ‘yes’ state ¿he time. Answer 1: On or after May 23, 1914.
“Question 2: Did the defendant execute and tender the deed to the Labette Co. farm to Bradley? Answer 2: No.
“Question 3: Did the defendant ever refuse to comply with the agreement sued upon? Answer 3: We do not find that defendant refused verbally or in writing but absolutely failed to comply to agreement sued upon.
“Question 4: Did the plaintiff ever notify the defendant that she approved, unconditionally, the farm and deal? Answer: Yes, through Bradley, their agent.
“Question 5: Did the plaintiff ever notify the defendant that her deed was deposited in Manhattan Bank? If you answer the question yes, state how and when she gave such notice. Answer 5:. No, but the evidence shows she deposited it there according to agreement.
“Question 6: If the plaintiff ever deposited her deed in the Bank, state when she did so. Answer 6: Aug. 8th, 1914.”
The defendant says the reply was eliminated from the case by the plaintiff’s own testimony. Recurring to the reply, it will be observed that it stated the defendant’s request relating to obtaining as much money above $2000 as possible was made after the contract was executed. The plaintiff testified the request was made after the agreement had been made but before it was reduced to writing and signed. Discrepancies of this kind between pleading and proof arte not strange occurrences and are not ground for summarily tossing pleadings out of a case. The statute makes them quite immaterial unless the adverse party be misled to his prejudice. In that event he must make a showing, and the pleading may then be amended. (Civ. Code, § 134.) At the time of the trial the defendant did not regard the variance of sufficient consequence to pursue the course indicated by the statute.
Another defect in the petition which the defendant regards as fatal is pointed out. It was not discovered while the case was before the district court. Because no ruling on the subject was demanded or made, no error was committed and there is nothing to review.
It is said the plaintiff never did accept and approve the contract sued on. She signed the contract. The only acceptance and approval which it required was of the defendant’s farm by April 15. The plaintiff’s testimony relating to that subject has been stated. The jury had before it the correspondence and conduct of the parties, the parties themselves, and all their testimony, and chose whom they would believe. They believed the plaintiff, and there is enough in the record to indicate that they did not act arbitrarily.
It is said the plaintiff attached new conditions to the contract. The agent’s correspondence with the defendant, the plaintiff’s statement of account as a basis of settlement, and other features of the evidence are referred to. That the $2500 mortgage was not in itself a new condition is not an open question. The plaintiff said it originated in the defendant’s own request which she fulfilled to the best of her ability. The request, if made as the plaintiff testified, did not constitute a modification of the written contract. The contract remained just the same, but a method of compliance which would be beneficial to the defendant was suggested. If, as the plaintiff testified, she acted on the suggestion and did the best she could to accommodate the defendant, he is estopped to complain. The defendant contradicted the plaintiff, contradicted the pres-' ideht of the bank, and otherwise repudiated the plaintiff’s ex
It is said the defendant’s assent to whatever he assented to when at Manhattan in August was assent to a new proposition not made the basis of the action. The things discussed at Manhattan in August were the $2500 mortgage matter and the details incident to performance. Agreements respecting details of performance do not constitute modifications of the original agreement, and in this instance the details discussed were all matters of fulfillment and not of substitution. The mortgage for $2500 originated in the defendant’s request or it did not. The evidence was conflicting and the verdict of the jury concluded the matter.
The defendant’s wife had never been a resident of Kansas. Her attitude toward the trade was immaterial. The plaintiff had the right to fix a reasonable time within which long-delayed performance should take place or the defendant would be in default. The jury were so instructed and the verdict disposed of that subject.
Various instructions to the jury are criticized. The criticisms result very largely from the defendant’s view of the pleadings, which this court does not accept, and from the defendant’s view of the evidence, which the jury did not accept. The in
Some matters discussed in the briefs which have not been referred to are deemed to be sufficiently covered by what has been said.
The judgment of the district court is affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.