91 Neb. 564 | Neb. | 1912
In May, 1906, the defendant George A. Swallow was in possession of the real estate in question as the tenant of the plaintiff, and the parties then entered into a contract whereby the plaintiff agreed to sell to the defendant the said premises for $4,000, subject to an outstanding mortgage. The defendant paid $25 on the contract. After-wards, the defendant still being in possession of the premises, the plaintiff brought an action against bim in the district court for Boyd county to cancel the contract and obtain possession of the land. In the commencement of the original action the plaintiff tendered to the defendant and deposited with the clerk the $25 which
It appears that within 60 days after the entry of the first decree there were negotiations between the parties looking to the settlement of the matter and the abandonment of the proposed appeal. It was agreed between them that the plaintiff should allow $100 discount from the amount of the decree, and .the defendant should pay the balance in full as a final adjustment of the matter. After this had been agreed upon between the parties they went to the office of the clerk of the district court to complete the settlement. The defendant George Swallow testified that his father, James Swallow, assisted him in the settlement and was duly authorized. It appears that in making their settlement, before going into the clerk’s office, the plaintiff’s attorney had considered that the plaintiff was entitled to interest upon the decree from the date thereof, and that in offering to discount $100 the intention was to discount the $100 from the amount so computed. There is some conflict in the evidence upon this point, but it appears that the balance agreed upon as due the plaintiff, in addition to the $2,000 on deposit in the clerk’s hands, was $2,111.78, $31.32 having been added as interest. Interest is not ordinarily allowed upon such decrees if payment is made within the time limited. Cobbey v. Knapp, 28 Neb. 158. It also appears that in making their computation in the settlement it was considered that the $25 which the plaintiff had deposited with the clerk would be returned to him, and that amount was not included in the amount agreed upon to he paid by the defendant. When they stated their settlement to the clerk, he first made an entry upon his docket showing that there was $2,000 upon deposit. lie-then made an entry upon his docket showing that the
It appears that the first default in carrying out the settlement that had been agreed upon was the defendant’s refusal to correct the mutual error whereby he was allowed a credit for the $25 which belonged to the plaintiff. The plaintiff could not be required to receive cheeks in lieu of currency in the payment of his judgment, but consented to do so in tire settlement, and when the defendant refused to correct the error and complete the settlement as made the plaintiff refused to receive the checks. The evidence shows that the checks were good, and that the defendant might easily, if he had desired, substitute the currency therefor, but he refused to do so. Within 30 days after the failure of - the settlement defendant paid
Reversed.