Gilbert v. Ross
Gilbert v. Ross
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the Court.
The report refers to the depositions for a more detailed statement of the evidence, which not having been produced by either party to the Court, it is presumed cannot vary the case. Ross having purchased at sheriff’s sale a lease for seven years of a tract of land, five years after the lease had expired, covenanted to make titles for the same to the plaintiff. In the covenant, the land is described as that purchased at sheriff’s sale; and there is no proof that the defendant had any other title, or that he was in possession of the land when he contracted to
Another objection is, that the plaintiff having entered under the defendant, is estopped from denying his title. The objection would be good, if there was any proof that the plaintiff did so enter. The covenant to make titles gave the plaintiff no right of entry; so that his possession cannot be derived from the defendant by force of the deed. It does not appear that the defendant, when he executed the covenant, had any possession which was or could have been transferred to the plaintiff; nor in fact that the plaintiff did enter until after he had purchased from Elmore. If the defendant had neither title which might give a constructive possession, nor an actual possession, it cannot be said that the plaintiff entered under him. Whether the plaintiff had any title, was the only fact involved in the issue. The verdict finds he had no title.
The remaining objection is, that the plaintiff should have sued on the covenant. This would be necessary, if he relied on the contract and sought damages for the breach of it. But, in this action, the plaintiff waives the contract, and all claim for damages on account of its non-performance, and sues only to recover back the money paid in consideration of it, on the ground that the defendant’s claim of title was a false pretence, and the covenant an imposition. Indebitatus assumpsit is the most comprehensive form of action at law, being co-extensive with fraud and injustice, by whatever means they may be effected. Frauds avoid all contracts; and it is at the option of the injured party, either to affirm the agreement, by bringing an action for the non-performance, or to disaffirm it, ab initio,
The motion is refused.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.