King v. Morford

| New York Court of Chancery | Apr 15, 1831

The Chancellor.

The defence set up by Pintard and McClain, that they are bona fide purchasers, without notice, is not sustained by the evidence. Independently of the inference to be drawn from the fact that the complainant was in possession of a part of the property, there is sufficient evidence to show that both Pintard and McClain had that kind of information on the subject, which would amount to notice in this court. Ebenczer Allen testifies, that at the time when Pintard cast off King’s boat from the landing, which was shortly after the contract between King and Morford was entered into, Morford told Pintard he was sorry he had cast off the vessel; that he had sold the lot and one quarter of the dock to King. Richard Borden also states, that he was present at a conversation between King and Pintard, shortly after the vessel was cast from the wharf; and King then told Pintard that he had an article from Morford that held part of the wharf, but said nothing about the house and lot being in the article, Pintard answered, that he cared nothing for King or Morford ; that he had a lease from Eseck White to hold the dock, and had nothing to do with them. David Taylor states, in his evidence, that he had a conversation about this property with McClain, when King first took possession of the house, in which conversation he told McClain that King had purchased the property.

It follows, then, that Pintard and McClain do not stand in the situation in which they are represented by the answer. They are not bona fide purchasers without notice, and as such entitled to special favour in this court. They purchased the title of Morford, having notice of at least some claim on the part of King, and thus purchasing, they stand in no better situation than Morford himself. They must stand or fall by the merits of the case as it exists between the original parties.

The original article of agreement is admitted by both parties. The contract appears to have been a valid one. The consideration was bona fide ; and there is nothing like fraud, mistake, or surprise, that can be alleged against it. King, the complainant, went into possession under it, and is still in possession of the house and lot. The evidence shows, that if he ever had possession of any part of the wharf, he was very soon ousted by Pintard, who claimed it under a lease from Eseck White.

What, then, are the objections to a specific performance of this contract? On the part of Morford they are various.

The first is, that the claim is a stale one ; that the contract wras entered into in 1822, and no step taken to complete it on the part of King until 1829, after Morford sold to Pintard and McClain. It must be understood, however, that King was in possession of at least part of the premises; that he had been ousted from the residue; and that Morford, the vendor, was prosecuting an action against those who had disturbed King in the enjoyment of his rights. Under these circumstances, it would bo too strict to say that King had forfeited the privilege of coming into this court by mere lapse of time. Delay, amounting to even apparent negligence, may be explained; and under special circumstances, as where there is a difficulty about the title, it presents no bar to relief in this court: Sug. on Vendors, 280, 282. The facts in relation to this part of the case, are very different from those presented by the bill and answer at the time the motion was made to dissolve the injunction. And although I think it very clear that the complainant has not strictly pursued his rights, yet if the case stood on this point alone, I should be inclined to give him relief.

The next ground of defence is, that it was agreed at the time of the original contract, or very soon after, that if the purchase money was not paid in one year, the thirty-five dollars paid by King should be considered as one year’s rent of the premises ; that King himself agreed that the money thus paid should go as vent; that it was endorsed on the article as so much rent received by Morford; and that, after that time, King occupied as a tenant, and not as a purchaser.

There has certainly been a good deal of looseness about this transaction, and it is difficult to reconcile all the testimony. If the thirty-five dollars was received and paid as rent, it operated as an abandonment of the contract, and there can be no pretence for a specific performance. But that it was so paid and received, is at least a matter of doubt. The testimony of Timothy White, relative to the repairs to the house, and the conversation he had with King about the payment of rent, would lead to the belief that King was there at that time as a tenant. Other circumstances, and the testimony of other witnesses, would lead to a different conclusion. There is reason to believe that both parties acted in this matter with great carelessness ; and the complainant, in coming here for extraordinary relief, has not presented himself under the most favourable aspect for the consideration of the court.

Without, however, going so far as to say that this objection, standing by itself, would be available in the mouth of the defendant, I am satisfied, that when taken in connection with the next ground of the defendants’ defence, it must prevail.

This ground is, that the complainant waived and abandoned the contract in express terms, before the sale of the property to Pintard and McClain. That a waiver may be by parol, is now well settled, notwithstanding the old rule, “ unum quodque dis-solvi eo ligamine quo ligatum est." Sugd. 109; Stevens v. Cooper, 1 Johns. C. R. 429. The inquiry is, therefore, as to the fact.

Tt is in evidence, by the testimony of James Appleby, jun., that in the fall of 1828, he was desirous of purchasing this property, and called on Morford to know if he would sell it. Mor-ford said he would sell, but must see King, as he was under obligations to him, some way or other, to give him the refusal. Morford told witness he would let him know in a few days, and in the mean while would see King concerning it. He afterwards saw7 King, and then King, Morford and witness had a conversation about it, in which King said he was willing that witness and his brother should have the property. He also said “ he did not want the properly, and that he would as lief, or a little rather, that witness should have it as any other jtersons.” Soon after, Morford sold the properly to Pintard and McClain, and after all this the alleged tender of the purchase money was made by King. It may be true, as urged by the complainant’s counsel, that the complainant was willing that Morford should sell to Ap-pleby, inasmuch as he expected to receive the privilege of running his boat to the wharf. This may have been his motive; but if the language of the witness is in any degree correct, the inference to be drawn from it is a much more extended one. After telling Morford he did not want the properly; that Appleby might take it; that he would quite as soon, and perhaps rather, he should have it than any other person ;—I do not see how he can call for a specific performance, although the sale was not to Appleby, but to some other person. Suppose the negociation with Appleby had failed, can it be that it would have been necessary to consult Mr. King again, as to any other disposition of the property ? I think not. The privilege appears to me to be complete ; and having been acted on, and a sale having taken place in consequence of it, I feel constrained to consider the contract as expressly abandoned by the complainant: at least, he has placed himself in a situation, which does not call for the interference of this court, to aid him in carrying the contract into execution.

Whether or not a contract shall be ordered to be specifically performed by this court, is always a matter resting in sound discretion. “ The jurisdiction,” says Ld. Eldon, in 12 Ves. 331, “is not compulsory upon the court, but the subject of discretion. The question is not, what the court must do, but what it may do under the circumstances.” If the claim for a deed is not just and reasonable; if a party has been grossly negligent of his rights, or has abandoned his contract, equity will not afford him extraordinary relief. The strict rule is this, that the party who comes into equity for a specific performance, must come with perfect propriety of conduct, otherwise he will be left to his remedy at law. This rule may be considered too strict. But I do think, with Ld. Redesdale, 2 Sch. and Lef. 554, that conside-rabie caution should be used in decreeing the specific performance of agreements, and that the court is bound to see that it really does the complete justice which it aims at, and which is the ground of its jurisdiction.

After a very careful examination of this case, I cannot satisfy myself that the complainant stands in such a situation as to warrant a decree in his favour at the hands of the court.

As to retaining the bill for compensation, as was suggested by one of the complainant’s counsel, it is only necessary to remark, that there is nothing in this case which would render such a course proper. It has not been shown that King lias made any permanent improvements on the property. What has been done has been at the expense of Morford, and not of King. If King has sustained damage by being kept out of possession of the wharf or landing, his proper remedy is at law.

The bill is ordered to be dismissed, but without costs.