Hoffman v. Hoffman
Hoffman v. Hoffman
Opinion of the Court
Opinión by
The facts of the record establish: 1. That appellant’s father made to him a parol gift of the land in controve'rsy. 2. That the son entered upon the land and erected a dwelling and all the necessary outbuildings for his comfort and the improvement of the place. 3. That he was induced to abandon his home at the earnest solicitation of his father and take possession under the gift, and that these facts were all known to the appellee (his brother), as is manifest from the testimony in the case. There is some proof conducing to show that the appellant entered as a renter, but the great weight of the testimony as well as the act of the appellant in improving the premises rejects any such conclusion.
The award was not binding on the parties as the chancellor has decided, but in rendering a judgment canceling it the court below has failed to give the appellant the equitable relief to which he was entitled. The value of the improvements to be alowed the appellant less the rents is not to be determined by the enhanced value of the land upon which they were placed. If the father made the gift, and this is clearly established, it would be but poor compensation to the appellant to allow him pay for improvements made and then charge him with the rents, and by such a process bring the appellant in debt. The father under the circumstances
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.