Reynolds v. Rickgauer
Reynolds v. Rickgauer
Opinion of the Court
This action was brought for the purpose of declaring void a contract of sale of the .plaintiff’s homestead, which it is alleged was fraudulently procured, and to remove the cloud upon the title to the same created by the alleged unauthorized recording of a deed thereto which was executed by the plaintiffs to defendant, and which it is alleged had been placed in escrow, but had. been fraudulently procured and placed upon record by the defendant.
The testimony of the plaintiff and his witnesses is substantially to the effect that plaintiff is a farmer, living upon and owning a tract of land in Boyd county, which was incumbered by mortgages to the extent of about $800. A foreclosure decree had been rendered against the land, and it had been advertised for sale under the decree. A short time prior to the time for the sale, the defendant-went to the plaintiff’s farm and stated to plaintiff that he would lose the place by the foreclosure sale; that he could not borrow any money on the land by reason of the land being in litigation; that he, Rickgauer, owned a $3,000 stock of goods at Naper, Nebraska, that they were all new goods and worth dollar for dollar, and that he would buy the plaintiff’s farm, and his live stock, and other property, and would pay $1,500 for the land, and $457 for the personal property, the plaintiff to take $1,000 in goods at invoice price from the store at Naper; that he would pay the indebtedness upon the land and upon the personal property, and would pay the balance to the plaintiff. It was agreed between the parties that the deed to the land should be left at the bank at Spencer, Nebraska, until plaintiff inspected the goods.
The deed was executed and was delivered to Rickgauer
On the other hand, the story told by the defendant and his witnesses is to the effect that he made no representations to the plaintiff with reference to his being unable to borrow money on the land, or that he would lose it by the foreclosure sale; that the land is only Avorth about $2,500 at the outside; that the goods on hand at Naper Avere worth close to $2,400, and that, while it is an old stock, the articles are in fair second-hand condition. It is shown, however, upon the cross-examination of one Ness, Avho was the clerk in charge of the store at Naper for the defendant, that on the Friday before the case Avas to be tried, when some one was going to inspect the stock for the plaintiff, Ness received a telephone message from Rickgauer to close the store until after the trial, and it is further shown by
Upon consideration of all the testimony, we think the weight thereof is with the plaintiff. As to the fraud charged, we are satisfied that the defendant made the representations alleged; that they were false; and that the plaintiff was deceived thereby. It appears that the next day, as soon as the plaintiff ascertained the fraud, he rescinded the contract and demanded a return of the deed, which was refused. Upon the whole case, we are of the opinion that the plaintiff was deceived and defrauded, and that he had the right to rescind the contract upon that-account,, and to demand and receive his deed. The petition seems sufficiently to set forth a cause of action, and we think the judgment of the district court is fully supported by the evidence.
We recommend that the judgment of the district court be affirmed.
By the Court: For the reasons stated in the foregoing opinion, the judgment of the district court is
Affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- James L. Reynolds v. Henry Rickgauer
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published