Kolsbun v. Ausen

165 Wis. 54 | Wis. | 1917

Siebecker, J.

The plaintiff by the'contract of agency undertook to sell the defendant’s farm “at and for the price and sum of three thousand ($3,000) 'dollars, to be paid upon the following terms: one half cash, balance on time at six per cent. Upon payment of said sum as above provided,” defendant agreed to convey title “clear of all incumbrances, except a mortgage of seven hundred dollars now on said land,” and furnish an abstract showing a clear and marketable title.

These provisions of the agreement clearly indicate that it is an entire one for the sale of defendant’s whole farm. This the plaintiff has not done. Plaintiff’s contract with Sherman is to sell Sherman eighty acres of the 120 acres constituting the farm. Under such sale to Sherman the unpaid balance of $1,600 of the purchase price of the eighty acres could become a claim secured by vendor’s lien only subject to the existing $100 mortgage. Obviously, if this mortgage is first enforced against this eighty acres, then the equity in this eighty would be wholly inadequate to secure the payment of the $1,600 unpaid purchase money. Under all the circumstances the inquiry arises whether or not it was agreed that the plaintiff should secure for defendant the sum of $3,000 for the farm over and above the $100 existing mortgage against it. The language of the contract that plaintiff was “to sell” defendant’s farm of 120 acres “at and for the price and sum of three thousand ($3,000) dollars, to be paid upon the following terms: one half cash, balance on time at six per cent, interest,” carries a strong implication that this amount was to be paid to the defendant regardless of any lien on the land. The clause immediately following the above language, “Upon payment of 'said sum as above provided,” then defendant “agrees to execute and deliver” a deed of the premises to the purchaser “clear of all incum-brances, except a mortgage of seven hundred dollars now on the said land, ...” conveys the idea quite clearly that the sum of $3,000, specified as the sale price in the contract, was to be paid defendant over and above the $700 secured by mortgage on the land. We are convinced that the parties intended and that the agency contract requires of plaintiff to secure the $3,000 for the sale of the farm over and above the existing mortgage of $700. In the light of this condition of the contract the complaint fails to state a cause of action, because the facts alleged do not show that plaintiff has contract with a purchaser for the farm who is ready and willing to pay the price of $3,000 for the farm and also assume to pay $700 secured by mortgage on the land. The court erred in overruling the demurrer to the complaint.

By the Court. — The order appealed from is reversed, and the cause remanded with direction to enter an order sustaining the demurrer, and for further proceedings according to law.