Bratt v. Peterson
Bratt v. Peterson
Opinion of the Court
Three issues are presented on this appeal:
1. Is the June 21st extension void under the statute of frauds ?
3. Is the option so vague and uncertain as to be unenforceable?
Since the case comes to us on demurrer we must assume that all facts pleaded in the amended answer are true.
Statute of Frauds.
Consideration must first be given to determining whether, in terms of general contract law, there was a binding agreement between the Schnells and Peterson. An option to purchase is a continuing promise or offer given by the landowner to sell real estate to another at a specified price within a specified period of time.
There is no question that as a matter of contract law, if the facts in the instant case are proven as pleaded, there was an option agreement both initially and as extended that obligated the seller to perform on its terms if the option were exercised within the prescribed period.
Appellant contends, however, that the extension of the option is fatally defective because it does not meet the requirements of the statute of frauds, sec. 240.08, Stats., which requires a written contract for the sale of “any interest in lands” to express the consideration. It is settled that if a contract that must comply with the statute of frauds does not comply, it is void,
Appellant argues that the June 21st extension is based on new consideration which is not recited. The answer
It has been suggested that inasmuch as no new consideration is even required in Wisconsin to modify a written executory contract,
This would be true if the same consideration were contemplated for the extension as for the original option. But the extension was grounded on new consideration and to meet the requirements of the statute of frauds that new consideration should be recited in the new agreement.
As pleaded, the instant case does not involve, as respondent contends, a continuing offer to sell, founded on consideration which offer is extended and is finally accepted thus becoming a binding contract as to both parties and barring a third party claiming on the basis of a later contract with the seller. The distinction is that here there is an agreement that bound the seller to convey the property to Peterson if Peterson exercised his option and there is an agreement for an extension of the option. Insofar as the statute of frauds is concerned this agreement is based on consideration and is an option agreement which involves an interest in land and must meet the requirements of the statute.
Nevertheless, Bratt is estopped from invoking the statute of frauds.
Where a purchaser (Bratt) has knowledge of facts which would give rise to an estoppel against his grantor (Schnell), estoppel may likewise be asserted against him.
*454 “ ‘A man will be bound by that which would have bound those under whom he claims, quoad the subject matter of the claim; for qui sentit.commodum sentire debet et onus; and no man can, except in certain cases which are regulated by the statute law and the law merchant, transfer to another a better right than he himself possesses; the grantee shall not be in a better position than he who made the grant; and therefore privies in
Appellant argues, however, that respondent cannot invoke the estoppel defense because there is no specific allegation in the answer that Bratt was aware of these attendant details. But the failure to allege knowledge is not fatal for the reason that under the circumstances it is merely one element which must be proved to establish estoppel which was expressly pleaded. Knowledge has thus been indirectly alleged.
Vagueness.
Appellant also contends that the option is void because it is too vague and indefinite. Assuming without deciding that there may well be certain ambiguities in the option, a reading of the document discloses detail sufficient to withstand an assault by demurrer. The trial court is in a much better position to resolve this problem.
By the Court. — Order affirmed.
Bolick v. Gallagher (1955), 268 Wis. 421, 67 N. W. (2d) 860; Mitchell v. Horicon (1953), 264 Wis. 350, 59 N. W. (2d) 469.
Sizer v. Clark (1903), 116 Wis. 534, 540, 93 N. W. 539. See also 55 Am. Jur., Vendor and Purchaser, p. 496, sec. 28.
Mueller v. Nortmann (1903), 116 Wis. 468, 470, 93 N. W. 538; Peterson v. Chase (1902), 115 Wis. 239, 241, 91 N. W. 687; 55 Am. Jur., Vendor and Purchaser, p. 501, sec. 31.
Nelson v. Stephens (1900), 107 Wis. 136, 82 N. W. 163; 55 Am. Jur., Vendor and Purchaser, p. 502, sec. 31; 17 Am. Jur. (2d), Contracts, p. 371, sec. 32. See Dunham v. Fisher (1927), 191 Wis. 624, 211 N. W. 757, and Helmholz v. Greene (1921), 173 Wis. 306, 181 N. W. 221, which stated the rule as such in connection with ordinary offers to sell.
Megal v. Kohlhardt (1960), 11 Wis. (2d) 70, 81, 103 N. W. (2d) 892; Mueller v. Nortmann, supra, footnote 3; 55 Am. Jur., Vendor and Purchaser, p. 496, sec. 28; p. 503, sec. 32; p. 506, see. 38.
55 Am. Jur., Vendor and Purchaser, p. 503, sec. 32. See 17 Am. Jur. (2d), Contracts, p. 434, sec. 91, where it is said: “The consideration necessary to support an option need not be recited in the option agreement, apart from any requirement of the statute of frauds.”
“240.08 Contract for lease or sale to be in writing. Every contract . . . for the sale of any lands or any interest in lands shall be void unless the contract or some note or memorandum thereof, expressing the consideration, be in writing . . . .”
Henrikson v. Henrikson (1910), 143 Wis. 314, 321, 127 N. W. 962; Rowell v. Barber (1910), 142 Wis. 304, 308, 125 N. W. 937; Brandeis v. Neustadtl (1860), 13 Wis. 158, 166 (*142, *149).
Wall v. Minneapolis, St. P. & S. S. M. R. Co. (1893), 86 Wis. 48, 57, 56 N. W. 367. See also Wyman v. Utech (1949), 256 Wis. 234, 241b, 40 N. W. (2d) 378, 42 N. W. (2d) 603; Telford v. Frost (1890), 76 Wis. 172, 174, 44 N. W. 835, which announced the same rule in regard to the companion sec. 240.06; and F. Rosenberg Elevator Co. v. Goll (1963), 18 Wis. (2d) 355, 364, 118 N. W. (2d) 858; Owens v. Hughes (1925), 188 Wis. 215, 216, 205 N. W. 812; Kreutzer v. Lynch (1904), 122 Wis. 474, 478, 100 N. W. 887; Sizer v. Clark, supra, footnote 2, at page 540, which stated the rule to be such in general.
Black Eagle Oil Co. v. Globe Oil & Refining Co. (1958), 3 Wis. (2d) 340, 88 N. W. (2d) 684; Miller v. Stanich (1930), 202 Wis. 539, 230 N. W. 47, 233 N. W. 753.
Pick Foundry, Inc., v. General Door Mfg. Co. (1952), 262 Wis. 311, 319, 55 N. W. (2d) 407; Beranek v. Gohr (1951), 260 Wis. 282, 287, 50 N. W. (2d) 459; Knauf & Tesch Co. v. Elkhart Lake Sand & Gravel Co. (1913), 153 Wis. 306, 316, 141 N. W. 701.
Estate of Helgert (1966), 29 Wis. (2d) 452, 460, 139 N. W. (2d) 81; City of Milwaukee v. Milwaukee County (1965), 27 Wis. (2d) 53, 66, 133 N. W. (2d) 393.
Moran v. Burmeister (1933), 211 Wis. 669, 677, 247 N. W. 873. To the same effect see 19 Am. Jur., Estoppel, p. 815, sec. 158.
Pfeifer v. Sheboygan & Fond du Lac R. Co. (1864), 18 Wis. 164, 167 (*155, *158).
See Boek v. Wagner (1967), 1 Wis. (2d) 337, 83 N. W. (2d) 916.
Concurring Opinion
(concurring). There would be no statute of frauds problem here if Schnell had continued as owner and had not sold to Bratt after the date on which the option extension was entered into. Except for this it would have been immaterial whether the option extension was sufficient under the statute of frauds to create an interest in land. Even without any consideration it
Bratt took title with notice of the original option and the option extension. However, as such a purchaser with notice, absent estoppel, he would not be bound by an outstanding written offer of Schnell to sell to Peterson unless such offer had status as an option so as to create an interest in the land. Notice by the purchaser of an instrument or claim which does not create at least an equitable interest in the land does not prevent him from being a bona fide purchaser.
1 am authorized to state that Mr. Justice Beilfuss joins in this concurring opinion.
Kovarik v. Vesely (1958), 3 Wis. (2d) 573, 580, 89 N. W. (2d) 279; Kelly v. Sullivan (1947), 252 Wis. 52, 57, 30 N. W. (2d) 209; Restatement, 1 Contracts, p. 283, sec. 208; 2 Williston, Contracts (rev. ed.), p. 1669, sec. 580; and 2 Corbin, Contracts, p. 744, sec. 512.
Browne v. King (1921), 111 Tex. 330, 235 S. W. 522; 92 C. J. S., Vendor & Purchaser, p. 292, sec. 353.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Bratt, Appellant, v. Peterson, Respondent
- Cited By
- 34 cases
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- Published