Dinnan v. Bloomfield Hills Land Co.
Dinnan v. Bloomfield Hills Land Co.
Opinion of the Court
These parties reside in Pontiac and both deal in real estate. Plaintiff secured an option on certain real estate on Saginaw street, described as lot No. 3 and the south 31 feet of lot No. 2, of Hammond’s
“We agree to purchase South Saginaw street frontage as per agreement with Dinnan and agree to pay therefor $9,100 as per said agreement.
“Bloomfield Hills Land Company,
“J. E. Tillson, Secretary.”
The following was made soon thereafter as a part of the agreement:
“South 31 feet of lot 2, north 10 feet of lot 3 and remainder of lot 3, Pontiac, Michigan, Hammond addition.
“Re part of lot 2: All of lot 3 as per above, Hammond addition, being 81 foot frontage, South Saginaw street, Pontiac, same width to railway as per deeds and'abstracts showing perfect title.
“Being third and fourth properties south of land owned by American Savings Bank as per description on top of sheet.
“Dinnan offers to cause above to be conveyed at purchase price to Dinnan of $8,965, plus a profit to Dinnan of commission, etc., making the sale price to Bloomfield Hills Land Company, or order, $9,100. Terms to be not to exceed $2,500 cash and balance $60.00 per month, including! interest.
(Reverse side)
“June second, 1919.
“Property on reverse side being 81 feet South Saginaw sold to Bloomfield Hills Land Company according to terms reverse side — and $50.00 received this date on consideration of $9,100, deal to be closed as soon as abstract delivered and examined not exceeding thirty days,
(Signed); “P. W. Dinnan.”
It appears to have been understood that plaintiff wasi getting a commission of $135 on the sale. A few days after this agreement was made plaintiff came to defendant and'informed him that it would have to pay more down on the property or he could not consum
“Pried reduced $124, purchaser to pay down to $2,000 mortgage on Gamble place and Heitsch place down to unpaid amount on contract.
“P. W. Dinnan.”
After the purchases were made defendant learned for the first time that plaintiff did not pay $4,600 for one lot, but instead paid $4,100. When defendant settled with plaintiff it refused to pay him any more than he had paid for the lots and plaintiff brought this suit to recover a claimed balance of $351. Defendant pleaded the general issue and set up its agreement with plaintiff in which it claimed that it had overpaid plaintiff in the sum of $266 by reason of plaintiff’s misrepresentation as to the purchase price. The matter was heard by a jury and a verdict rendered for plaintiff for his entire claim. Subsequently this verdict was set aside by the trial court and a judgment rendered for the defendant for the sum of $266. Plaintiff insists this was error upon the part of the trial court.
It was the claim of plaintiff on the trial, that he did not read the agreement by which he agreed to sell the property to defendant; that the agreement was drawn up by an agent of the defendant and was read to him, but that it did not contain any provisions that he should sell the lots at cost plus his commission; and if the agreement contained this provision defendant’s agent did not read it to him. He further said he was a man of limited education, but did not claim he could not read it. This contention furnished the question of
In the event that this court should arrive at the conclusion which it has on this question plaintiff has assigned certain errors on the conduct of the trial which he asserts entitle him to a retrial.
(a) It is insisted that the trial court was in error in refusing to admit the first contract, Exhibit A, without admitting at the same time the balance of the contract, which was Exhibit B. Both were parts of
(b) Plaintiff was prevented from cross-examining defendant’s witness as to the values of real estate in the vicinity of this property. Plaintiff claims this testimony was competent to show whether defendant was deceived. We do not think the judgment of the witness on the question of values was material. The parties were dealing with a contract which had a fixed consideration, and it was of little moment what either of the parties thought on the question of values after the contract was made and signed.
We have examined the remaining assignments, but we find nothing in them which calls for a reversal of the case.
The judgment is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- DINNAN v. BLOOMFIELD HILLS LAND CO.
- Status
- Published