Richardson v. Richardson

114 Minn. 12 | Minn. | 1911

[Jaggard, J.]¹

Plaintiff brought this action, ejectment, to regain the possession of certain property which he alleged was wrongfully witheld from him, to his damage, and to recover such damages. It appears from the pleadings that the defendants, a husband and wife, in their old age, entered into an agreement with plaintiff, their nephew, that if plaintiff would get married, and if he and his wife would live with the defendants and render certain services, which are somewhat indefinitely described as being of a “peculiarly personal” character, they would convey the land to him. These services are more specifically stated thus:

“That the services so rendered by plaintiff and wife as aforesaid cannot be enumerated specifically, but consist of housework of every kind and character, in obedience to the requests and directions of the deceased and defendant, all work in and about and around the house and otherwise, of every name and nature, required in housekeeping and in running and maintaining a home, of sewing, washing, ironing, care, comfort, assistance, company, love, affection, intimate relationship, of nursing in sickness of defendant and deceased, and much other and different kind of work, service, and attention of a peculiarly personal domestic nature, describable only by the common relationship of parents and children, and of such character both inside and outside.”

The services are further described in this manner: “Further complaining, plaintiff alleges that prior to the fall of 1904, for some considerable time, the defendant and her late husband had lived alone in their said home, and were lonesome, and longed for the presence and membership of. [in] their life and environment of some one or relative in whom they might have confidence, and in whose presence, cohabitation, and personal and domestic relation with them they might take comfort and better enjoy life in their old age, and so continued until deceased’s death; that such lonesonieness and longing was more intense and pronounced in the winter months of the year than at other seasons thereof; that they and each of them were also during all of said time more or less sick, disabled, and infirm, and confined to bed on that account, principally during the winter seasons, and on that account, also, desired some one’s residence in their home with them for personal and domestic comfort, care, nursing, company, protection, and aid, who, on account of close relationship, would be more agreeable, and closer to them, and concerned about their welfare, and attentive to their peculiarly personal and domestic wants, than the ordinary person under service or attention.” It is alleged that plaintiff did marry, and did live with the defendants, and rendered the services described. The agreement was that if plaintiff would, marry, and would live with them, with his. wife, and render the services of the character mentioned, then the defendants would leave and give him all their property. Relying on this promise, plaintiff did marry and render the services mentioned — “served them as a son would his father and mother, and in the same personal domestic relation.”

The husband, R. R. Richardson, died ilay 5, 1909. There were-no children as a result of the marriage. Decedent had owned certain described real estate and certain personal estate, consisting mainly of the sum of $2,500 loaned out at interest. A warranty deed was executed to plaintiff and his wife to certain property therein described. This deed plaintiff caused to be recorded. Thereupon defendant brought an action against plaintiff and his wife to. have the alleged transfer of the property set aside, on the ground of fraud practiced on defendant. It appears by the answer, however, that this action was dismissed by the court, on motion for-judgment on the pleadings. It appears, however, that plaintiff' and his wife reconveyed the property to the defendant. Plaintiff accordingly cannot claim under the warranty deed. What claim, there is must be under the contract. The action is practically for the specific performance of the contract, and a demand that defendant be restrained from disposing of the property which plaintiff claims under that contract.

Plaintiff refers ns to Svanburg v. Fosseen, 75 Minn. 350, 78 N. W. 4, 43 L.R.A. 427, 74 Am. St. 490. In that case five opinions were written. Tbe result and the law which determines this case was stated in Stellmacher v. Bruder, 89 Minn. 507, 95 N. W. 324, 99 Am. St. 609. The rule in that case, which we think is correct, is:

“A party may obligate himself to make his will in a particular way, or to give specific property to a particular person, so as to bind his estate. But the courts will be strict in looking into the circumstances of such agreements, and require full and satisfactory proof of the fairness and justness of the transaction. Newton v. Newton, 46 Minn. 33, 38, 48 N. W. 450; Svanburg v. Fosseen, 75 Minn. 350, 78 N. W. 4. [43 L.R.A. 427, 74 Am. St. 490], The remedy for the breach of such a c-untraet depends upon the facts of each particular case. If the contract be an oral one to devise land, and is reasonably certain as to its subject-matter and its stipulations, equity will decree specific performance, if there has been a part performance of such a character as will take a parol agreement to convey land out of the statute of frauds, upon principles which courts of equity recognize and act upon. If the consideration for the contract be labor and services, which may be estimated, and their value liquidated in money, so as reasonably to make the promisee whole, specific performance will not be decreed. But where the consideration of the contract is that the promisee shall assume a peculiar and domestic relation to the promisor, and render to him services of such a peculiar character that it is practically impossible to estimate their value by any pecuniary standard, specific performance will be decreed. Svanburg v. Fosseen, supra; Johnson v. Hubbell [10 N. J. Eq. 332] 66 Am. Dec. 773, notes.” In that case an order sustaining the demurrer to the complaint was affirmed.

This case, we think, is governed by that rule. The labor and services rendered in this case are susceptible of fair estimate, which will fully compensate the plaintiff and “reasonably make him whole.” The contract itself was quite indefinite. The services that were to be rendered under it, to say the least, require interpretation and explanation, especially the provision as to cohabitation. The contract did not distinctly require the defendant to abstain from tbe use of the property, or from its disposal, or from tbe use of its proceeds. The matter came before tbe trial court upon a motion of defendant for judgment upon tbe pleadings. . The court ordered that judgment be entered dismissing tbe action.

Pee Curiam.

For tbe reasons given in tbe foregoing opinion, prepared by tbe late Justice Jaggard, in harmony with tbe views of tbe court, tbe order appealed from is affirmed.

1 See per curiam order on page 16.