Fullmer v. Poust

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Fullmer v. Poust, 155 Pa. 275 (Pa. 1893)
26 A. 543; 1893 Pa. LEXIS 1239
Gbeen, McCollum, Stebbett, Thompson, Williams

Fullmer v. Poust

Opinion of the Court

Per Curiam,

While the plaintiff’s agreement to sell and convey the lot to *278defendant for two hundred dollars, payable on or before November 15,1890, and his covenant to build thereon for her a house, of the size, etc., therein specified, for the further consideration of two hundred and fifty dollars, payable, fifty dollars within thirty days, and the residue on May 15, 1891, etc., are written on the same paper, they do not necessarily constitute an entire contract. The former is so distinct from the latter, as to time of payment, etc., that they may well be treated as severable. If the part to be performed by one party consists of several and distinct items, and the price to be paid by the other is apportioned to each item to be performed, or is left to be implied by the law, such a contract will generally be held to be severable. But, if the consideration to be paid is single and entire, the contract must be held to be entire, although the subject thereof may consist of several distinct and wholly independent items : 2 Parsons, Cont. 29, 31; Lucesco Oil Co. v. Brewer, 66 Pa. 351; Scott v. Kittanning Coal Co., 89 Pa. 231; Graver v. Scott, 80 Pa. 88; Morgan v. McKee, 77 Pa. 228. The distinction is clearly pointed out by the late Mr. Justice Williams in Lucesco Oil Co. v. Brewer, supra.

The consideration for the lot was paid within the time specified in the contract, and, shortly thereafter, upon urgent demand of the defendant, the deed therefor was executed and delivered. The payments on the building contract were not all promptly made, and, within the time required by law, plaintiff filed a lien against the house, etc., and afterwards issued this scire facias thereon.

The contract to sell and convey vested in defendant an equitable interest in the lot, on which a mechanic’s lien would attach. That equitable interest was enlarged into a fee by conveyance of the legal title; and the building covenant being severable from the contract to convey the lot, the plaintiff was clearly entitled to enforce his lien against the building, etc., for the purpose of collecting balance due him by defendant under the contract with her for erection of the house.

The specifications of error do not require special consideration. Neither of them is sustained.

Judgment affirmed.

Reference

Cited By
10 cases
Status
Published
Syllabus
Severable contracts—Consideration—Mechanic's lien—Equitable title. If the part of a contract to be performed by one party consists of several and distinct items, and the price to be paid by the other is apportioned to each item to be performed, or is left to be implied by the law, such a contract will generally be held to be severable. But if the consideration to be paid is single and entire, the contract must be held to bo entire, although the subject thereof may consist of several distinct and wholly independent items. Plaintiff agreed to sell and convey to defendant a lot for two hundred dollars payable on or before Nov. 15, 1890. In the same paper he aiso agreed to build on the lot a house for the further consideration of two hundred and fifty dollars, payable fifty dollars within thirty days, and the residue on May 15, 1891. The consideration for the lot was paid within the time specified, and shortly thereafter a deed therefor was executed and delivered. The payments on the building contract not having been promptly made, plaintiff, within the time required by law, filed a mechanics’ lion against the house. Held, that the building covenant was severable from the contract to convey the lot, and that plaintiff was entitled to enforce his lien against the building for the balance due him under the contract for the erection of the house.