Graham v. Gutierrez del Arroyo
Graham v. Gutierrez del Arroyo
Opinion of the Court
delivered the following opinion:
This is a hill in equity which was filed October 18, 1909. It is for the specific performance of a contract or agreement to purchase land. The answers of all the respondents were filed under date of December 4, 1909, and a trial was had 'on the issue thus raised, in open court before the chancellor, without the intervention of an examiner or master, under date of February 23, 1910. Thereafter the stenographer transcribed his notes, and counsel for the respective parties filed briefs which, together with the record, the exhibits, and the pleadings, we have just carefully gone over, and therefore are prepared to decide the cause on its merits.
The contract on which the suit is based is dated July 5, 1906, a translation of which from the Spanish is as follows:
Memorandum.
In the city of San Juan, Porto Rico, the 5th day of July, 1906, Don Rafael Gutierrez del Arroyo and Mr. Robert Graham agreed: 1st, Don Rafael Gutierrez del Arroyo compromised himself to sell to Mr. Robert Graham a parcel of his estate in Pueblo Yiejo, which both parties have already fixed the boundaries of, and which may extend up to 70 or 75 cuerdas, at the price of $40 per cuerda. 2d, he also compromised himself to sell to him another small extension of land which they also fixed the boundaries of, and which may have an extension,
(Signed) Robert Graham.
Eafael Gutierrez del Arroyo.
The third respondent, Robledo, is made a party only because he became lessee of some of the property that is in controversy, after the making of the contract, but before its fulfilment, but, as complainant contends, with full notice of the latter’s rights.
It will he seen that by this contract the first two named respondents agree to sell three parcels of land to the complainant, one of 10 or 75 cuerdas, at the price of $40 per cuerda, an
We might state here that, while it is not mentioned in the contract, the evidence clearly showed that it was intended that, when complainant did purchase this outstanding undivided interest, it would not only clear the title to the piece he was to get, but it was intended that it should also clear the title to the balance of that larger tract that would then remain in the hands of the first two mentioned respondents, they, of course, to allow to complainant, in his payment for what he bought, a proper proportion of the purchase price of the outstanding interest, that should be charged to the portion which they retained.
It appeared in the evidence that, at the time this contract was made, most of the land contracted for was under lease to one Eleuterio Landrau, and which lease had considerable time, probably more than a year, still to run, and, as to the portion such lessee was interested in at least, the contract was not to be
It was also well in evidence that on the 27th of April, 1908, complainant had a supposed opportunity (which afterwards fell through) to sell the larger tract of land for a large advance on the price he was to pay therefor under the contract, and therefore complainant of his own free will, and simply as a favor to the main respondents, as he says, on that date made an addition to the third clause of the contract, that he would divide with them any sum he should sell the same for over and above the contract price of $55 per cuerda, as agreed upon.
It is useless for us to detail the evidence which is comprised in sixty-seven pages of typewritten transcript, because we can state the substance of it much easier. For one reason and another participated in by both parties, the contract was not consummated as soon as it ought to have been perhaps, but most of the latter part of the delay was caused by the respondents refusing to deed the quantities of land which they had agreed by the contract to transfer, and by a dispute as to whether or not the larger tract contracted for was to extend northward to the American 'Railroad, which borders it on that side.
The large tract marked parcela ISTo. 4 is the one about which the dispute arises. It is bounded on the east by land belonging to a certain Mr. Cereeedo; on the south by land belonging to Mr. Wilson, but there is a tract marked parcela ISTo. 7 on the map that is in dispute, and the land agreed to be conveyed lay to the north of that, and was to be high and dry ground, and bounded on the west by the lowlands that border the Quebrada Margarita, and was to extend northward to the railroad, as complain
On page 67 of the transcript, the complainant stated in his own words to the court as follows:
I am perfectly willing to accept, at the prices named in the contract, 68 acres, as your honor and I have spoken of there, leaving Mr. Arroyo the entrance to that track; 68 out of the 70 acres. The 13-acre piece remains as outlined at the prices outlined. On the large piece I am willing to take whatever may be contained in the piece from Wilson’s line to the railroad, and the highland only, such as Mr. Arroyo speaks of. It may contain 220. I am perfectly willing, within that limit, that you may define or put into such decision as you may cause the fact that I have got to leave that roadway open for public use, and in no manner hinder the use by other people.
The court: Q. You agree to leave that road to run with the land ?
A. Yes, and they on their part agree to open the road in the same way. He has now got a rancho at the mouth of it, and ho wants to take that away; the prices as per the contract. The price is 55.
It will thus be seen that there is not very much to settle in this case, save the quantity of land to be conveyed under this agreement for two or three hundred cuerdas, and its boundary lines, and we unhesitatingly hold on the evidence that it was understood at the time between the parties that that tract was
We also hold from the evidence that the road running from the west through the northwest corner of this tract, thus to be conveyed, to the railroad, was intended to be kept open, and complainant, in his agreement above set forth, agrees that this is true, and that he will accept a deed with a condition to that effect in it, but that respondents must in like manner keep that road open, and remove certain obstructions they are said to have in it near the railroad, and this we think is proper.
The question now arises as to the third respondent, Francisco Robledo. He, as stated, is the lessee. It appears that on the 10th of January, 1909, he entered into a six-year lease to begin on July 1st following, of practically this entire large estate mentioned above, save that there was specifically excluded from it the two smaller tracts mentioned in complainant’s contract. This particular respondent denies absolutely that he had any knowledge of the outstanding contract in favor of complainant as to the larger tract of two to three hundred cuerdas, which is to be carved out of parcela Ho. 4 as aforesaid, and that therefore he is an innocent lessee for value. We have gone over the whole evidence again, and, of course, have a clear recollection of the evidence as given orally on the stand, and we are of opinion that this claim is unfounded. The lease to him was made in the office of the same lawyer who did all the business for the parties
On the whole case, therefore, we feel that complainant has proved every material allegation of his bill as against all the respondents, and we so find, and that the main respondents should be required to deed the three tracts of land for the prices specified in the contract and in quantities as per the agreement of complainant supra, because we are of opinion that, as the evidence shows that complainant did not make the sale for more than $55 of the larger tract, but turned it into a company he had organized, at the original contract price, he should not be obliged to pay any more therefor. We further hold that,
We hold that the matter of damages for actual plowing or planting, if any, between Eobledo and the main respondents is not an issue in this suit, because as to this complainant we hold that Eobledo had knowledge which binds him.
In his brief, counsel for complainant requests the court to order a survey at the joint expense of the parties and a report thereon, and we think this request is just, save that we think the costs ought to be entirely charged to complainant, because it is,, under the circumstances, entirely for his benefit, and therefore we will name a surveyor who will go to the ground, the parties to be present if they desire, and who will survey the high and dry ground northward from the line of parcela No. 4, excluding the tract that is in dispute, as per the map, with Mr. Wilson, and, using the Cereeedo line as an eastern line, measure the high and dry ground northward to the right of way of the railroad, and running the westerly line at a point that will make the area be about 220 cuerdas or so, and, if possible, have this line include a small portion of the most easterly part or bend of the Quebrada Margarita, even though that should make the whole area slightly more than 220 cuerdas. And on the incoming and approval of such plat, counsel for the complainant will prepare a decree making all the findings of fact and law as in this opinion set forth, and requiring all things to be done
The main costs of the case will, of course, go with the decree, save that as aforesaid the survey shall be at the expense of complainant. The cause will be retained for all proper purposes.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- ROBERT GRAHAM v. RAFAEL GUTIERREZ DEL ARROYO
- Status
- Published