Goldsberry v. Hile
Goldsberry v. Hile
Opinion of the Court
This is an action in equity instituted by petition of Gay R. Goldsberry, plaintiff and appellee, against Edythe
The case was tried to the court and a judgment rendered in favor of the plaintiff and against the defendants, and therein the interests of the parties were declared. Motion for new trial was duly filed. It was overruled. From the judgment and the order overruling the motion for new trial the defendants have appealed.
By the petition it is substantially alleged that from a date prior to January 1, 1949, and up to June 1, 1953, the plaintiff was the owner of certain real estate in Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska, located on Randolph Street, which was his home; that the defendant Edythe Gayle Hile, who is a daughter of the plaintiff, and Joe E. Hile, Jr., who is the husband of Edythe Gayle Hile, and their children, came to live in the home of plaintiff and continued to live there until together all of these parties moved elsewhere; that this property was sold on June 1, 1953, for $11,500; that in February 1953, the plaintiff purchased a parcel of real estate in Lincoln, Nebraska, known as 601 South Cotner Boulevard for which he paid $3,000; that on this property a new house was built ánd the $11,500 received was by the defendants taken and ápplied to the new house at 601 South
The pleaded conclusion of the plaintiff is that the arrangement was one of use and not transfer of interest or title; that he was not conscious of and never intended to part with title to any of the property to which reference has been made; and that what has been done is the result of misplaced trust in the defendants flow
As already pointed out the defendants did not by answer seek affirmative relief. They did however plead facts which they assert defeat a right of recovery on the cause of action pleaded by the plaintiff.
By the answer the relationship of the parties was admitted. It was admitted that the parties lived together for the period of time and in the locations declared in the petition, and that the record title of the three properties involved was correct.
By the answer to the extent necessary to state herein they deny that the title to the Cotner Boulevard property was placed in the defendant Edythe Gayle Hile without the knowledge and consent of the plaintiff; and pleaded it was later placed in her and the other defendant as joint tenants, and that the title to the property at 4725 Squth Street was transferred by deed of conveyance to the defendants.
They pleaded that the plaintiff purchased the Cotner Boulevard lot, took title to it in the name of the defendant Edythe Gayle Hile, and gave it to her as a present; and that the plaintiff knew about and was fully informed as to all later transactions.
They substantially denied any right or interest in the title to the real estate or personal property in the home or to the use or occupancy thereof in the plaintiff. They prayed for dismissal of the petition, for costs expended, and for general relief.
By the judgment of the district court certain personal property was ordered returned to plaintiff within 20 days from the date of judgment. A constructive trust was declared in the real estate at 4725 South Street to the extent of $16,704 and declared to be a lien subject only to accrued taxes and superior existing liens. The judgment provided for payment within 30 days and upon failure, direction was made for sale of land and improvements to provide funds for the payment of this
It is pointed out here that the record does not disclose that during the period of pendency and trial in the district court and in this court that the rights which the plaintiff claimed and the theory on which the case was presented by the pleadings and proof were not of an appropriate character for presentation of his claims, and likewise it is not contended that the judgment rendered fails to respond in appropriate character to the issues presented by the pleadings and tried by the court.
In this light the only substantial question for consideration on this appeal is that of whether or not the evidence is sufficient to sustain the judgment of the district court.
In this connection the effect of the plaintiff’s action was and is to have set aside a deed on the basis of parol evidence. The controlling rule under such circumstances is the following: “When the evidence to set aside a deed is in parol such evidence, in order to be sufficient to overcome the presumption arising from the express terms of the deed, must be clear, unequivocal, and convincing.” Paul v. McGahan, 156 Neb. 656, 57 N. W. 2d 283. See, also, Johnston v. Johnston, 155 Neb. 222, 51 N. W. 2d 332; Vielehr v. Malone, 158 Neb. 436, 63 N. W. 2d 497; Pike v. Triska, 165 Neb. 104, 84 N. W. 2d 311.
On the issue of whether or not the plaintiff was entitled to the claimed relief with reference to the real
The decision in this area depends primarily on the question of whether or not there was a gift or intended gift of the Cotner Boulevard property to the defendant Edythe Gayle Hile. The plaintiff positively stated that there was no gift and no intention to make such a gift. He claims lack of information as to how she obtained title to the property, and of the fact that title was passed to the two defendants, until a short time before the commencement of this action.
The evidence of plaintiff does not disclose the cost of this property on completion but it does disclose that the investment and expenditure in relation thereto amounted to more than $16,000. In addition to the investment made by the plaintiff it is reasonably inferable from his testimony that the defendant Joe E. Hile, Jr., made some contributions to the total cost. This evidence indicates that the details of handling of affairs relating to this matter as well as those relating to the sale of this property and the acquisition and handling of the property acquired on South Street were conducted by the defendant Joe E. Hile, Jr., and that he, the plaintiff, knew nothing at the time as to the deed taken by the defendants. His evidence was to the effect that although the money received for the Cotner Boulevard property was used in the purchase of the South Street property he never became informed as to the ultimate cost or price paid therefor.
In substance as to his understanding of the parties up to a short time prior to the commencement of the action here they lived together under a plan whereby they had mutually agreed on a plan of contribution to their interests, but that there was no gift of real estate made or agreed to by the plaintiff to the defendants or either of them.
On the part of the defendants, Edythe Gayle Hile gave testimony that the plaintiff purchased the lot on
The defendants adduced no evidence the effect of which was to say that any gift either of an interest in real estate or personal property was made by the plaintiff to the defendant Joe E. Hile, Jr. His interest in real estate, if any, was through transfer from his wife and on account of payments made by him.
The evidence indicates that he made payments or contributions in these areas but there is nothing which indicates with any degree of certainty the amount or amounts. He stated that records were kept by him but they were not available. Without any evidence either documentary or based on specific recollections as to
This is not a summary of the entire evidence but of what is deemed of important and controlling significance. On this the defendants contend that they are the owners of all of the property to the exclusion of any interest of the plaintiff therein or to any right in the use thereof. This is expressed by the defendant Edythe Gayle Hile, as disclosed by the following contained in the bill of exceptions: “Q Mrs. Hile, at this moment there isn’t any question in your mind that your father is asking for possession to take the property, I’m talking about the real estate, now, away from you; there isn’t any question in your mind at this point about that? A No. Q You know he’s not asking to take the property away from you, he’s asking for his money back, don’t you understand that? * * * Q At least, you understand that now? A Yes, I understand that. Q You’re not willing to give him his money back? A Well, I don’t feel that it is mine to give back. Q Whose is it now? A Well, I feel that it was given to us, and, I think, that we’re entitled to it. Q All the money and all the property was given to us, and that is who? A Joe. Q You and Joe? A Yes. Q And you’re entitled to it? A Yes. Q And you won’t give it back? A No.”
This evidence, coupled with that of which it is a part, demonstrates that the plaintiff had a right which originated in purchase and payment of fundjB accumulated by plaintiff of use and occupancy of real estate at 4725 South Street acquired in the manner outlined which he never abandoned but from which he was excluded by action of the defendants by letter dated June 4, 1962, which exclusion they proceeded to attempt to enforce by legal action. It also demonstrates that the defendants proceeded to and did assert title to personal property which belonged to the plaintiff without compensation.
The evidence of the defendants themselves is incapable
At the conclusion of the trial the court made findings of fact on the questions presented which will not be repeated here but in conformity with the findings in disposition of the case, the court declared a trust in favor of the plaintiff in the real estate for the amount which the plaintiff had contributed through the various transactions to the real estate at 4725 South Street and the improvements thereto, and fixed the amount and value thereof at $16,704 and rendered judgment accordingly.
Judgment was also rendered in favor of plaintiff and against the defendants for household goods, furniture, and tools of the value of $1,700 with provision for satisfaction by delivering the articles of property within 20 days.
The plaintiff was also awarded judgment for living expenses away from 4725 South Street during the pend-ency of the action in the amount of $1,131, and the costs of the action.
It appears that the judgment of the district court is sustained by the record, and it is affirmed.
Affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Gay R. Goldsberry v. Edythe Gayle Hile
- Status
- Published