Neal v. Neal
Neal v. Neal
Opinion of the Court
Tbe opinion of tbe Court was delivered by
Tbe action was assumpsit, brought by Christopher Neal against Alfred M. Neal, bis brother, and tbe case
Thomas reported, that “ the land was a straddle of a mountain, and not worth a dime,” which the witness said was satisfactory to the defendant, but not to the plaintiff who denied .that he had consented to receive in exchange a lot in Cobb county. On another occasion, or rather to another witness, the defendant said, that the lot selected by plaintiff was in Paulding county, which he also denied.
This is a brief and unvarnished account of the course of dealing and conduct between two brothers respecting an exchange of their lands, slightly varied in some unimportant particulars by contradictory statements ; but, after an impartial consideration of the evidence, to this complexion it will
The first count presents a case where relief may be afforded by a decree for specific performance in another forum ; but is not the foundation of an action for damages for the breach of the agreement. A recovery on the second count — indeed on all the counts — is resisted on the ground, that the plaintiff had a bond for titles to the land, which was the consideration of the two lots in Lee county, and that his remedy is on the bond. Such an objection is only plausible and deserves little favor when urged by one who is not only in possession of the bond but has sold the land, and has thus voluntarily rendered it- impossible to discharge his obligation. The sale of the land by the defendant and his promise to pay its value to the plaintiff, operated as a rescission of the contract to exchange lands, and left the defendant indebted for the value of the two lots in Lee county, conveyed by the plaintiff to him. If the contract is rescinded by the defendant’s acts, he is then responsible as a purchaser and may be liable under the second count for the value of the lots ; but he cannot escape from the count for money had and received, which embraces all that class df cases where one person, in any manner, has the money of another which excequoet bono, he should return.
In Bours & Bascombe, vs. Watson, (1 Mill, 393,) a person got by mistake of the clerk, twice as much goods as he had bought, and having converted them to his use, it was held,
Motion granted.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.