Hall v. Plaine
Hall v. Plaine
Opinion of the Court
The simple question presented for the consideration and decision of the court in this case is, whether the ■cross petition or counterclaim of Hall states facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action in his favor against Plaine.
■ It is conceded by the counsel of both parties, that whether Preference be had to the covenant of seizin, against incumbrances, or general warranty, in the deed of Plaine to Ebbert, there was a breach of such covenant at the time of the execution of the deed. It is, thereupon, claimed by the counsel of Plaine, that said covenants did not thereafter run with the land, but became a chose in action; a claim for damages, which Ebbert, and Ebbert alone, could enforce against Plaine; that the breach was not only a technical, but a substantial one; that .the subsequent conveyance of the in-lot by Ebbert to Hall did not carry with it a right to sue Plaine on his broken covenant with Ebbert, for the reason that the right to sue Plaine, being in Ebbert, could not pass from him, dr vest in another, without an assignment or transfer for that purpose, and that a mere ■deed of conveyance, to transfer the title, does not operate as
That the breach was a substantial one, and that a covenant, substantially broken does not pass to a subsequent grantee by the mere conveyance of the title, are propositions fully sustained by the authorities cited by counsel. Perhaps at common law it would be difficult for Hall, on the case made in the pleadings, to maintain his action in his own name against Plaine, but it is unnecessary for us to decide that question. The case made in the pleadings does not stand upon the ground assumed by the counsel. It is averred that Ebbert purchased/or Sail. The consideration was $4000 — $2000 of which he paid down with Sail’s money, and gave his notes for the remaining $2000. On the 3d March, 1854, Hall assumed, the payment of the notes, and executed to Ebbert a bond of indemnity to save him harmless, and Ebbert, having been Sail’s agent in making said purchase, and being his trustee in receiving and' holding the title for his use, in consideration of the premises, conveyed the lot in fee to Hall, who has ever since held, and yet holds, the legal title, and all the interest acquired by Ebbert from Plaine.
The rule of the common law, that pleadings are to be construed most strongly against the pleader, is abrogated, the rule under the code being, that their “ obligations shall be liberally construed, with a view to substantial justice between the parties.”
The objection here is, that there is no averment of the assignment of the broken covenant by Ebbert to Hall. But it is only a fair construction of the above allegations, that Ebbert .was the agent of Hall in making the purchase; that he
The judgment of the court of common pleas is reversed. The demurrer is overruled, and the cause remanded to the court of common pleas for further proceedings.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.