School District v. Snyder
School District v. Snyder
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
In an action for the specific performance of a parol contract for the sale of land the first essential is to prove the contract and its part performance. The measure of proof in such cases has been given in Hart v. Carroll, 85 Pa. 508, as follows : “ In order to take a parol contract for the sale of lands out of the operation of the statute of frauds its terms must be shown by full, complete, satisfactory and indubitable proof. The evidence must define the boundaries and indicate the quantity of the land. It must fix the amount of the compensation. It must establish the fact that possession was taken in pursuance of the contract, and at or immediately after the time it was made; the fact that the change of possession was notorious, and the fact that it has been exclusive, continuous and maintained. And it must show performance or part performance by the vendee which could not be compensated in damages, and such as would make rescission inequitable and unjust.” Therefore, “when an attempt is made to establish title to land under a parol contract, proof thereof in all its essentials, and in its equities, should be so plain and clear as to preclude doubt or hesitation as to the contract and the equities arising thereunder: ” Miller v. Zufall, 113 Pa. 317; and “when any serious doubt exists in the mind of the chancellor as to the intention of the parties, he will not decree specific performance of a contract for the sale of land: ” Reilly v. Gautschi, 174 Pa. 80. The rules quoted have long been the established law of Pennsylvania on the subject and they would seem to be decisive of the case in hand.
At the outset the plaintiff is met with a denial of the con
After a full examination of the evidence submitted to us we are of opinion that there was sufficient conflict in it to create a serious doubt in the mind of the chancellor as to the existence of an agreement concluded between the parties. With the burden on the plaintiff to adduce convincing evidence of this paramount essential, doubt is left on a vital point. It is unnecessary to consider the other questions discussed on the argument, as they are all dependent on the main proposition, and, like the branches of an uprooted trunk, they must fall with it.
Now July 23, 1897, the decree of the court below is affirmed with the modification that the plaintiff have thirty days from this date in which to comply with its requirements. It is further ordered that the appellant pay all the costs incurred in this proceeding.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.