Doss v. Cooper
Doss v. Cooper
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the Court.
Doss executed his obligation to Cooper, on the 27th January, 1823, for the conveyance of fifty acres of land, on or before the 1st of March, 1825. Cooper not paving paid the purchase money
In the winter of 1324-5, Doss, in the presence of Cooper, had a deed prepared, in pursuance of the covenant. It was written in the clerk’s office of Pulaski.- The parties then agreed, verbally, that Doss-should lake the deed with him to Shelbyville, and procure its execution, on the part of Doss’s wife, and then bring or send it to Cooper, at any convenient time; and thereupon, Cooper was to accept it. The deed bears date, 15th. February, 1824. Cooper was put into possession shortly after the contract was made, and there remained, until the land was sold, and purchased by Sallee, as hereafter stated.
On the 13th or 14th of March, 1825, Doss returned to Pulaski, from Shelby, with the deed certified,as having been acknowledged, on the day of its date, by Doss and wife, before the clerk of Shelby; the wife relinquishing her right to dower. The.deed was offered to Cooper, but he declined accepting it, at the time alleging, that Fitzpatrick held Doss’s bond for a title, and that he would get the bond upon the return of Fitzpatrick, (he being then absent from home) .and would then give up Doss’s bond, pay him his money, and accept the deed for a title. The witness who states this, says, when the deed was prepared, and at the time, it was agreed that Doss might take it home with him, to Shelby, that Cooper also agreed “he would take no advantage of the time the deed was lobe made by Doss; that it made no difference whether the conveyance was made by the time mentioned in the obligation or not.”
Fitzpatrick returned on the 14th of March. On the next day, the parties met in Somerset; and Doss again offered the deed to Cooper, who then refused to-accept it, because it had not been tendered, on the day Doss’s obligation required it, and instituted an action of covenant, to recover damages of Doss, for his failure to convey. Doss made no defence to the action, and a judgment was rendered against him,, at. the July term of the Pulaski circuit court, for $25G 75 certs. O i this judgment, an execution issued, and was levied op the land, then in possession of Cooper.
As a general rule, the vendor of land, who fails to convey, in pursuance of his title bond, through his own laches, cannot, successfully, apply to a court of chancery, tor a specific performance, after ins .covenant has been violated, upon the ground that his ven-dee being in possession, has sustained no injury. The interference of the chancellor to aid a negligent
■ What constitutes a proper case for this relief, - and whether the present is one of that discription, is therefore, the first necessary inquiry.
As chancery will not interfere, but to prevent iniquity, it may be said that whenever iniquity can be. prevented, it would be, in general, proper to interfere. Thus, where the vendee remains in possession, sustaining no material injury from delay in procuring title, and greatly impairs the value of the land by the manner of using it; and the vendor acfs-ptompUy with a view to secure and make the title to the .vendee, as was the case of Cook vs. Hendrick, the chancellor will compéí a specific execution on the application of the vendor. In Cotton vs. Ward, and vice versa, III. Mon. 513, it is said, “where a contract for the conveyance is merely executory, and a time fixed for the conveyonce to be made, if there be a delay beyond that time, in completing the title, which has leen occasioned by the fault of the vendor, the purchaser will not, in general, be compelled to accept a title.” But even in a case where the state of tke'tille occasions the delay, and not the negligence of the vendor, and the time of the performance is not of the essence of the contract, equity will compel a purchaser' to accept the title. Time will be allowed, to perfect the title. How would it be, where all the difficulties are produced from theactsof the vendee,anxious to lull the vendor to repose, so that be might get an advantage? Surely, in that case, the vendee ought not to profit by his own improper conduct; and the chancellor, when necessary, should interpose, to prevent it.
The propriety of such a decree, seems not to be doubted, in respect to Cooper; but it is intended that Sallee, who bought the land, under Cooper’s execution, is to be viewed in a more favorable light. It was Cooper’s duty to accept the title when offered to him. This refusal, rendered all his subsequent conduct, in bringing suit, giving ont execution, and causing it to be levied on the land, against conscience. Sallee, according to the evidence, knew all the facts. He was expressly notified on the day of the sale that Doss had tendered a deed to Cóoper. That deed was lodged in the clerk’s office, for Cooper, He was also notified, that Doss intended to look to the land, to secure the purchase money. With a knowledge, on the part of Sallee, of Cooper’s, nnconscientious proceedings, we cannot regard him in a more favorable attitude, than we do Cooper, so far as Doss is concerned. Besides, from all the facts exhibited, thfere is reason to believe that Sallee is the mere friend of Cooper, and not the bona fide purchaser, under Cooper’s execution.. But, conceding him to a be bona fide purchaser, still, Doss should.hot be affected by it. It might, possibly, giye Sallee a right in equity,
In respect to the claim of Fitzpatrick as assignee of the residue of Cooper’s judgment, it can avail nothing against Doss. Fitzpatrick took it, subject to all the equity which Doss had against Cpoper, and as already shewn, Doss’s equity must prevail against Cooper; it must likewise prevail against Fitzpatrick, in whose favor, under the prayer, in his answer, it would have been proper to render a decree against Cooper, for the amount assigned to Fitzpatrick, if the latter had made his answer a cross bill, and served the former with process.
The decree of the circuit court is reversed, and the cause remanded, with directions to perpetuate the injunction, and to subject the land to the payment of Doss’s judgments, against Cooper, if they have not been paid; and in other respects,to proceed in conformity to this opinion.
The appellant must recover his costs.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.