Van Nest v. Kellum

Dec 8, 1860
Reporters:
,
Per Curiam.

Suit to foreclose a mortgage. Answer: that it was given to secure the last installment- ‍‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‍of the purchase money of a lot of ground, for which a deed, with covenants of title, was executed; and that the seller had not a title in fee. A ‍‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‍demurrer was sustained to the answer. Judgment for plaintiff.

J. Bradley and B. J. Woodward, for appellant. J. B. Niles, for appellee.

In a suit for breach of covenant, it is sufficient to aver the breach ‍‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‍negatively, in the words of the covenant. Martin v. Baker, 5 Blackf. 232; Floom v. Beard, 8 id. 76. Such averment makes the pleading good, but would not necessarily involve a right to recover more than nominal damages.

But a ‍‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‍breach of covenant that would sustain an action only to the extent of nominal damages, will not constitute a defense to a suit for unpaid purchase money, beyond the amount ‍‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‍of one cent. Small v. Reeves, 14 Ind. 163.

The judgment is affirmed, with 1 per cent, damages and costs.