Haarala v. Mickelson
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Haarala v. Mickelson
Opinion of the Court
Lisa S. Kivijarvi deeded 80 acres of land in Otter Tail county to her daughter, the defendant, Selma Mickelson, on the 21st day of September, 1910. This action was brought by the mother for a vendor’s lien and the foreclosure thereof against the land conveyed for the alleged purchase price of $2,385. Findings were made for plaintiff, but before judgment she died, and by stipulation the administrator of her estate was substituted as plaintiff, and judgment entered, from which this appeal is taken.
The assignments of error center upon the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the findings to the effect that there was a sale under the terms of which there was due and payable on the delivery of the deed the sum of $2,385, so as to support the judgment for foreclosure as decreed; or was the transaction a gift, as defendants contend ?
The record shows that the mother carried on a farm in Otter Tail county, upon which she resided with her husband. She, however, was the owner of the farm, together with other property, and appears to have been the actual head of the family. Both she and her husband were close to 80 years of age at the time of the transaction. There were several children, and the mother had, at times, assisted the different ones, including this daughter, with money and property. Three or four years before this deed was executed, defendants were in the state of Washington, and were apparently in hard circumstances. Mrs. Kivijarvi admitted that she then wrote them that she had bought these 80 acres across the road from her own farm for them to live on, and sent them money, so that they could come back to Minnesota. When they came, she says she took them to this land
There is no claim of fraud, deception, or undue influence in the transaction. The intention was to convey the land. And if the record showed nothing more than the fact that the consideration stated in the deed was not paid, the inference could well be drawn that there was a sale, and that the agreement was that the payment of the price was to be made immediately on delivery of the deed. Sennett v. Shehan, 27 Minn. 328, 7 N. W. 266. But, conceding that there was a sale, and not a gift, the evidence, in our opinion, Clearly points to the conclusion that in no event could there have been an understanding or agreement that the balance of the price, namely, $2,285, was to be paid when the deed was delivered, or within a short time thereafter. The defendants could not get to
It is also hard to believe that one who had had several land transactions, like plaintiff, and who had accumulated property, so as-not only to have a fair competence for herself and husband, but so-that she could, from time to time, assist the children, was not acquainted with the usual mode of evidencing a transaction like the-one in hand by note, mortgage, or other writing. The only question put to Mrs. Kivijarvi in reference to when the balance was to be-paid was on cross-examination, when she was asked: “Well, when did Selma promise to pay the balance % Answer: She didn’t know when she would pay the balance.”
It is true that all parties to this litigation labored under the disadvantage of testifying through an interpreter, and also that they were more or less strangers to the legal requirements in transactions involving matters now under consideration. Therefore the improbable in the situation of the parties and the contradictions in the testimony of Mrs. Kivijarvi should not reflect so strongly against her theory of the right to prevail as if she were acquainted with our language and experienced in our ways of doing business. But, making all due allowance for this, there still appears such entire lack of evidence to support the essential finding on which the judgment as to the foreclosure of the vendor’s lien must rest, namely, that the-purchase price was to be paid immediately upon the delivery of the-deed, that the judgment cannot stand. The court, in other words,, imported into the transaction a provision which was neither discussed nor agreed upon by the parties themselves, and which the evi
Furthermore, if there was a sale, it is difficult to escape the conviction that $100 was then paid, so that in no event could a vendor’s, lien for a sum including that amount be adjudged. Mrs. Kivijarvi’sversion of how that money was paid, and how it thereafter got into her daughter’s possession, and remained there without the slightest; protest, or request to return it, ought to extinguish the vendor’s lien, to that amount at least. There is no claim that the daughter repossessed herself of this $100 by trickery, fraud, or force. Nor is it easy to reconcile the mother’s conduct with reference to this alleged payment on any other theory than that she regarded the money all the time as her daughter’s, used merely in the bank to lend legality to the transaction. On cross-examination she stated that she gave: the $100 back to Selma, according to the understanding.
We do not desire to modify in the least the rule that is stated thus, in Koller v. Chicago, St P. M. & O. Ry. Co. 113 Minn. 173, 180, 129 N. W. 223:
“We are not required to reconcile the conflicting evidence, nor to> solve doubts arising therefrom. It was for the jury and the trial' court to determine the facts. We have only to determine whether' the evidence, taken as a whole, fairly tends to -support the jury.”
To the same effect, among other decisions, is Northland Produce Co. v. Stephens, 116 Minn. 23, 133 N. W. 93, wherein it is held that “we have only to inquire whether the evidence is clearly and palpably against the findings. If there be evidence in the record, fairly tending to support the findings, they must be sustained.”
Aside from the challenged finding that there is no evidence to> show that the purchase price was due immediately upon the delivery of the deed, we think the evidence in regard to there being a sale, instead of a gift, is so unsatisfactory that the findings made Cannot
“Now, didn’t you give this land to Selma with the understanding that she was to live there, and keep the land and not dispose of it?” Answer: “Yes, sir.”
Question: “Didn’t you tell Selma not to sell the land to John [the brother] — that you did not want him to buy it?” Answer: “She can’t remember.”
Question: “You never asked for this $100.again, did you, that you gave back to Selma at Otter Tail ?” Answer: “I can’t remember.”
Question: “Now, last winter, after this summons and complaint was served on Selma, didn’t you offer to buy that land back from Selma?” Answer: “Yes, sir; but it was the understanding not to sell to a stranger, that she would''take it back.”
Question: “And that is why you brought this suit to prevent that sale?” Answer: “Yes, sir.”
Question: “If they had lived on the land and not attempted to sell the land, then you would not have proceeded with this suit?” Answer: “She don’t think so.”
Question: “The intention was that the land should be kept by Selma, and never be sold to strangers; that was your intention?” Answer: “Yes, sir.”
Judgment is reversed, and a new trial awarded.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- S. J. HAARALA v. SELMA MICKELSON and Another
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published