Supreme Court of New Jersey, 1939

Wemple v. B. F. Goodrich Co.

Wemple v. B. F. Goodrich Co.
Supreme Court of New Jersey · Decided September 22, 1939 · Bodine
8 A.2d 326; 126 N.J. Eq. 220; 1939 N.J. LEXIS 596 (Atlantic Reporter, Second Series)

Wemple v. B. F. Goodrich Co.

Opinion of the Court

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Bodine, J.

The defendant appeals from a decree directing the specific performance of an agreement bearing date December 20th, 1935, calling for the transfer of certain judgments for a sum certain to be paid as specified. The amount to be paid was less than the face value of the judgments.

Such a contract, if breached, called for money damages only and is not within the jurisdiction of a court of equity to specifically perform. The damages for the breach of such a contract being easily ascertainable and recoverable at law, equitable relief should have been withheld. Curtice Bros. Co. v. Catts, 72 N. J. Eq. 831; Burr v. Bloomsbury, 101 N. J. Eq. 615.

The decree is, therefore, reversed with costs to the end that the bill may be dismissed.

Bor affirmance — None.

For reversal — The Chiee-Justice, Parker, Case, Bodine, Dowges, Heher, Peeskie, Porter, Heteield, Dear, Wells, WolesKeil, Raeeerty, Hague, JJ. 14.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.