Bonner v. Bynum

| Miss. | Oct 15, 1894

Woods, J.,

delivered the opinion of the court.

In February, 1891, the appellee purchased from appellant a tract of land in Clarke county, Alabama, containing 760 acres, paying therefor $2,090. In December, 1892, appellee exhibited his bill for rescission of the sale, because of certain false and fraudulent misrepresentations as to the land, made by appellant or his authorized agent, on which misrepresentations the purchaser relied in making the contract.

That Carter was the authorized agent of Bonner in making the sale, is not denied; that this agent, ignorant himself of the condition of the land, and relying on and repeating the representations of his principal, did grossly misrepresent the character of the land is not denied; and that appellee purchased in reliance on these misrepresentations is overwhelmingly established. The lands were represented to him to be pine timbered lands, and all uncleared, except 30 or 40 acres. The truth was, about 200 acres of the land had been stripped of timber, and was, at the time of the sale, worn out and abandoned; and the further truth was that it was not well timbered pine land. The appellee, the appellant, Carter, appellant’s agent, and the other witnesses examined fix in the mind a thorough conviction that the purchase was made on gross misrepresentations relied upon by the purchaser.

It is contended for appellant that the appellee has lost his right to have a rescission, because of unreasonable delay in asserting that right after discovery of the falsity of the representations made which induced the purchase, and on which the purchaser relied.

The evidence shows that either in March or June, 1892, Bynum first learned from Carter of the real character and condition of the lands. Owing to causes which appear in Bynum’s deposition — ill health among others — Bynum did not at once visit the lands, but wrote to persons living near the property to ascertain the truth. Receiving replies confirming Carter’s statement as to the misrepresentations made to him at the time of the purchase, in September of that year he wrote Bonner informing him of the fraud practiced on him, and asked a cancellation of the sale. Bonner paying no attention to this letter, Bynum wrote him again in October, called his attention to his unnoticed letter of September, repeated the substantial matters in that letter, and again expressed his desire for a cancellation.

In November, 1892, Bynum went to Clarke county, Alabama, and made a personal inspection of the lands, and ascertained that the worst had not been told him. On his return from Alabama he again wrote to Bonner, on December 1, 1892, informing him of the exact state and character of the land, and distinctly declared his purchase upon the false representations made to him, which induced the purchase, and upon which he declared he relied. In this letter he once more demands a rescission of the contract of sale. Receiving no satisfactory reply to this letter, the appellee filed his bill for rescission on December 20, of the last named year.

Was there unreasonable delay by appellee after discovery of the fraud practiced upon him, and has that delay operated to appellant’s hurt? The latter half of the question can be disposed of by saying the condition of the lands • has not been at all changed, and the relative position of the parties is now what it was when the sale was made. The status quo may be readily and completely restored.

Was there any unreasonable delay ? There has never been any fixed, certain period of time within which a defrauded purchaser may not move for rescission. The books are full of cases in which the lapse of several years' after sale, and before suit for rescission was held no bar to the prosecution of an action for relief. The true inquiry is, in all cases of this character, has there been unreasonable delay on the part of one seeking rescission after having information of the fraudulent misrepresentation practiced upon him, and on which he relied ?

In the case in hand, Bynum began to make investigation as to the truth or falsity of the representations relied on by him when he purchased. When, by correspondence, he had satisfied himself that he had been grossly deceived, he wrote Bonner in September, asking rescission. After he had waited a month, having received no reply, he wrote Bonner again, requesting a rescission, and, after confirmation of the fraud perpetrated on him by a personal inspection of the lands, he wrote Bonner on December 1, demanding rescission. His bill was promptly filed nineteen days later, when Bonner, at length, refused to rescind.

There was no undue delay, and the status quo can be perfectly restored by rescission.

Affirmed.