Parker v. Parmele

20 Johns. 130 | N.Y. Sup. Ct. | 1822

Spencer, Ch. J.

delivered the opinion of the Court.

1. Is it competent to the defendant to draw in question the plaintiff’s title to the lot ? and what is the true and just construction of the plaintiff’s covenant as to title ?

In Gazely v. Price, (16 Johns. Rep. 268.) I delivered the opinion of the Court, and supposed I had not only expressed the opinion of my brethren, but had, also, given effect to the spirit of all the antecedent cases upon the subject, 'i endeavour to show that that case was rightly determined, and that it governs this case, in the point now under consideration. The words of the agreement there, were, “ that the plaintiff covenanted to give the defendant a good, and sufficient deed for the premises,” on a particular day. One of the defendant’s pleas was, that on the day when the deed was to be given, the plaintiff was not lawfully and rightfully seised of a good, sure, and indefeasible estate of inheritance in the premises, and had not good right, and lawful power and authority, to grant and convey the same.

I considered the covenant, in that case, as relating merely to the validity and sufficiency of the conveyance, in point of law, to pass whatever right the plaintiff had in the lands, to the defendant; and the case of Van Eps v. The Corporation of Schenectady, (12 Johns. Rep. 442.) was referred to, as substantially deciding the question. I held, that the additional words, “ good and sufficient,” directed only the species of deed to be given, and had no reference to the title to be conveyed.

Here, the plaintiff’s covenant is, to execute a good warrantee deed of conveyance of the lot; and if the case of Gazely v. Price was correctly decided, it puts an end to the question; for no human ingenuity is capable of discriminating the two cases. The case supposed to hold a different doctrine, is that of Clute v. Robinson, in the Court of Errors; (2 Johns. Rep. 595.) and it is true, that the then Ch. J. Kent, did say, that a covenant to execute and deliver-a good and sufficient deed of a piece of land, did not mean merely a conveyance, good in point of form, but an operative conveyance; one that carried with it a good and sufficient title to the lands to be conveyed; and he proceeds to say, that the appellant confesséd, in his answer, that this was the understanding of the parties, as his title was not then complete. In the particular case-, the opinion expressed was perfectly correct; but we must remember, that this case was on an appeal from the Court of Chancery; and I fully concur in the proposition, that where a party seeks the aid of a Court of equity, to enforce a specific execution of ap agreement, for the acceptance of a conveyance of a piece of land, under a covenant to execute a good and stiff;dent deed, and to compel the payment of the money sfipulated to fee paid, as the consideration for the conveyance, it would be a good defence, that the party had no title. Whether the same rule prevails at law, is the question. The next ease relied on, and it is a case in this Court, is that of Judson v. Wass. (11 Johns. Rep. 535.) That was an action of «gmmpsit, to recover damages for the breach of an agreement for the purchase of land. The lands were sold at auction, and the defendant became the purchaser of some of the lots 5 and, refusing to perfect the contract, the suit was brought. One of the conditions of sale was, that after payment, or a note given, by the purchaser, for the consideration money, the plaintiff and his wife should execute and acknowledge a deed, with warranty of title, except as to quit rents. It appeared, on the trial, that the lands sold were under a mortgage to Doma Fonda, executed prior to the sale, for nine thousand dollars. It was decided, that in every sale like that, there is a condition that the purchaser shall not be bound to part with Ms money, unless the seller is able to give him a title, according to the terms of the sale | that the conditions of sale meant net only that the plaintiff would execute a deed, containing a covenant of warranty, but that lie had the power to give a deed which would carry an indefeasible title to the lots 5 that the conditions of sale specified the quit rents as the only incumbrance, which excluded the idea there were any other.

Now, the material difference between the case of Judsonmid, Wass, and this case, is, that the former was assumpsit, to recover the consideration money, and this is an action upon a covenant under the hands and seals of the parties. It is perfectly competent to the defendant, in assumpsit, to set up a failure of consideration, as a complete defence. In that case, the lots sold were heavily incumbered; that incumbrance had not been made known to the purchaser 5 and one of the conditions of the sale was, th^fi the lands should be subject only to a quit-rent. There was, then, a failure of consideration ; and, in fact, a fraud on the purchaser, in the representation of his title to the land. The defence was perfect, and conformable to all the decisions on the subject, But can the defendant set up, in this action, a failure of consideration, on the ground that the plaintiff had not ss good title to the land contracted to be conveyed ? That is t^le only question presented by the first plea.

In Vrooman v. Phelps, (2 Johns. Rep. 177.) it was expressly decided, that a specialty could not be invalidated for any other cause than the illegality of the consideration. And it is there stated to have been repeatedly decided, that the breach of a written warranty, as to the quantity of the goods sold, made antecedently, though false and fraudulent, and though it may have induced the defendant to make the purchase, cannot be pleaded in discharge of a bond given for the consideration. Subjoined, in a note to this case, is the case of Dorlan v. Sammis, upon a writ of error to the common pleas of Queens, in which this Court said, there is no case in which a bond can be set aside, but where the consideration is void in law, or where there is fraud, A mere failure of consideration is no defence at law. That this doctrine is well founded, the case of Collins v. Blantern, (2 Wils. 347.) and 1 Fonb. 112. in the notes, fully show. Powell (on Contracts, vol. 1. p. 333.) is very full on this point. He says, the cause or consideration is not inquirable into, but the party ought only to answer the deed. It is not for me to question the wisdom of the common law, in denying to a party who has entered into an agreement, under his hand and seal, a right to impeach it, on the ground of a want of consideration. It is sufficient that the law is so, The plea in avoidance of a payment of the money stipulated to be paid, in effect, says, that the defendant ought not to pay it, because the plaintiff did not own the land on the day he agreed to convey it, nor has he since owned it. • This is showing that there existed no consideration, as regarded the defendant, for if he paid, he would get no equivalent for his money. In all the books of precedents, I do not believe there is such a plea to be found. One word more, as to the plaintiff’s covenant to execute a good warrantee deed of conveyance of the lot to the defendant. It appears to me, that it is impossible to torture the expression, to mean, that he will give a good title. It is to be a good, warrantee deed of conveyance. The word “good” refers only to the instrument of conveyance; ii does not mean that he will give a good warranted title. I am far from supposing, that if the fact set up in the plea be true, that the defendant is remediless. On the contrary, no doubt, he would be entitled to the aid of the Court of Chancery, to protect him from paying Ms money for a piece of land, which, though the plaintiff should warrant it to be Ms, yet lie did not own. All I contend for is, that a Court of law should not innovate upon ancient and uniformly settled principles, from the notion, that there is a particular hardship or injustice in the case. We must leave parties to their remedies, according to known principles. The case of Van Eps v. The Corporation of Schenectady, ivas an action for money had and received, and the plaintiff was allowed to recover back that part of the consideration money, as to three lots, that were held adversely to the title of the defendants. In that action, the Court adopted the principle, which prevails in equity, that the vendee was entitled to a good title § and, as he had paid his money upon a defective one, he was entitled to have it back. That doctrine is entirely inappEcable to a case where the agreement is by deedf and where the extent of the covenant, and its import only, are in question.

3. The second plea Is, that the plaintiff did not, on the I si of January, 1818, tender, or offer to execute, to the defendant, a good warrantee deed of conveyance of the lot, nor has lie since offered and tendered, &c. The case of Gazely v. Price shows, that the covenants in this case are dependent. The whole consideration money was to be paid on that day ; and, on the payment, the deed was to be given °, the acts were to be concurrent. This was fully and clearly settled, in the case of Green v. Reynolds, (2 Johns. Rep. 307.) and in Jones v. Gardner, (10 Johns. Rep. 266.) The same principle was, also, adopted in Porter v. Rose, (12 Johns. Rep. 212.)

Then the question arises, whether the plaintiff, the vendor, can maintain this action, without an actual tender, or offer to convey. The averment in the declaration is, only, that he was ready and willing to convey. In Green v. Reynolds, the Court say, that on such a covenant, the fair latent and good sense of the contract is, that the money is not to be paid until the deed is ready to be delivered; and that, the declaration was defective, in not averring a tender of the deed by the plaintiff. So, in Jones v. Gardner, the same principle is repeated. In West v. Emmons, (5 Johns. Rep. 181.) Van Ness, J. puts the decision on the order or precedency in which the acts are to be done. There, the defendant was to give a deed, and the plaintiff was to execute a bond and mortgage; and he held, that an averment of a readiness to execute the bond and mortgage was enough, because the mortgage would be inefficacious until after the deed was given. Sugden (Law of Vendors, 162, 163.) lays down the law thus: that a vendor cannot bring an action for the purchase money, without having executed the conveyance, or offered to do so, unless the purchaser has discharged him from so doing; and that, on the other hand, a purchaser cannot maintain an action for a breach of contract, without having tendered a conveyance, and the purchase money. In the case of Philips v. Fielding, (2 H. Bl. 123.) which was a case very similar in its facts, it was decided, that an actual conveyance, or a tender and refusal, was essentially necessary. Here, however, the defect in the averment, instead of being taken advantage of by demurrer, has been pleaded; and, certainly, the facts pleaded are sufficient to bar the plaintiff’s action, if well founded. There must be judgment for the defendant, with leave to the plaintiff to reply.

Judgment for the defendant, accordingly.^(a)

(a) Vide Robb v. Montgomery, ante, p. 15. and Hudson v. Swift, ante, p. 24.