Wisconsin Supreme Court, 1914

Wisconsin Central Railway Co. v. Schug

Wisconsin Central Railway Co. v. Schug
Wisconsin Supreme Court · Decided February 3, 1914 · Winslow
155 Wis. 563; 145 N.W. 177; 1914 Wisc. LEXIS 43

Wisconsin Central Railway Co. v. Schug

Opinion of the Court

WiNslow, C. J.

In this case it is held:

1. A land contract which does not specifically describe the land to be conveyed, but refers to it. in such terms that by the aid of the facts and circumstances surrounding the parties at the time the court can with reasonable certainty determine the land which is to be conveyed, satisfies the statute of frauds in this regard and may be enforced. Messer v. Oestreich, 52 Wis. 684, 10 N. W. 6; Docter v. Hellberg, 65 Wis. 415, 27 N. W. 176; Inglis v. Fohey, 136 Wis. 28, 116 N. W. 857.

2. A contract to convey land is not breached by reason of the existence of a railroad right of way over it', if the right of way be either in actual use or so prepared for use that its existence and purpose are obvious and unmistakable. Smith v. Hughes, 50 Wis. 620, 7 N. W. 653.

By the Court. — Judgment reversed, and action remanded with directions to enter judgment for specific performance as demanded by the complaint.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.