Skriver v. Haberstroh
Skriver v. Haberstroh
Opinion of the Court
This is an action on a contract for an exchange of farm land for an interest in city property. Plaintiff, who owned an option for the purchase of the farm land, alleged nonperformance by defendant and obtained a judgment for $1,050. Defendant appealed.
It is contended by defendant that plaintiff practiced fraud on him and on the Coulters, in that he gave false deeds purporting to convey to Coulter certain • land in Sioux county, Nebraska, to the end that defendant might be induced to believe that plaintiff was paying the Coulters more than the amount that was expressed in the option contract that he entered into with them. It does not clearly appear that such representations were made to defendant, nor does the contract sued on name the amount that plaintiff was obligated to pay to the Coulters.
The record, fairly construed, shows that plaintiff performed his part of the contract, but that defendant refused to assign his interest in the real estate contracts to plaintiff as he agreed to do. He entered into the contract ■voluntarily with the expectation, it may be assumed, of
Defendant argues that plaintiff was unable to pay the Coulters, on September 1, 1917, the purchase price agreed on between them, and was thus unable to fulfil his part of the Coulter contract. But plaintiff gave the Coulters his personal obligation for all of the purchase price, in excess of the incumbrance, and this suit does not concern them. The record is solely concerned with the transaction between plaintiff and defendant. It is clear that defendant cannot be heard to complain if, by his refusal to assign the contracts on the city lots, plaintiff was thereby unable to make payment to the owners.' And the record shows that plaintiff relied on such assignment to the end that he might meet his obligation to the Coulters. The record throughout is inconsistent with defendant’s contention that plaintiff agreed to get a deed from the Coulters for a commission of $250. It is unreasonable to believe that plaintiff would have given his personal obligation to the Coulters, to secure the land, in a sum in excess of $6,000 if his remuneration had been restricted to a commission.
There is a conflict-in the testimony as to whether defendant accepted the Coulter deed from plaintiff and directed plaintiff to have it recorded, and also with respect to possession by defendant. On this point it may be observed that the record contains a warranty deed of the land in controversy from defendant Haberstroh and his wife to D. J. Cóulter, dated September 4, 1917. The recitals therein disclose possession, lawful seisin, and lawful right to convey as owners. Within a day or two thereafter the same land was conveyed by the Coulters to defendant’s wife. This circumstance does not indicate good faith on defendant’s part.
The evidence on the material questions in the case conflicts. Nevertheless we have tried the case de novo and
We do not find reversible error. The' judgment is therefore
Affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Peder Skriver v. William A. Haberstroh
- Status
- Published