189 Wis. 420 | Wis. | 1926
There is no controversy over the question that there were material misrepresentations as to the dimensions of the land. But appellant insists that those acting for the defendant company had no right to rely on such representations, because the officers of the company had passed by the property and seen it nearly every day for a considerable period of time prior to the purchase, and further because they had looked at it a number of times and had always been of the opinion that it was not quite large enough for a filling station. The officers of the defendant
The boundary line of the right of way of the Northwestern Railway which was adjacent to the property was not fixed by any fence or other structure. It was impossible to ascertain the exact size of the parcel of land without an accurate survey. Under the circumstances of this case, neither the- authorities nor common usage required the defendant company to make a survey before purchasing in reliance upon the representations made. Lee v. Bielefeld, 176 Wis. 225, 228, 186 N. W. 587. The defendant company was “under no obligation to investigate and verify statements to the truth of which ■ the other party to the ■contract, with full means-;of knowledge, has deliberately pledged-his faith.” Wilgrube v. Nast, 178 Wis. 535, 544, 190 N. W. 451. The mere fact that officers of the”defendant company had held the opinion or had the suspicion that the lot was not large enough for a filling station did not place them in a position where they had no right to- rely upon the definite representations made to them as to the size of this piece of ground. Knerzer v. Worthing, 183 Wis. 39, 43, 197 N. W. 199. See, also, Kaiser v. Nummerdor, 120 Wis. 234, 240, 97 N. W. 932.
Defendant’s rig'ht to rescind is not barred by laches. As soon as a survey disclosed the fact that the lot was not as large as represented, notice, was given to the plaintiff and at his request another survey was made, which disclosed the same shortage. The defendant then promptly rescinded the contract.
Prior to the time that the defendant company ascertained that the property did not contain the amount of land represented, the company had torn down a building located on the property here in question which the testimony shows
Here the defendant company was led - to ■ purchase the property and to proceed with its plans to build a filling station because of misrepresentations made by plaintiff ás to the size of the property sold. In the course of its preparation to build, it tore down the building on the property while still relying upon the representations made by the plaintiff. The record does not show that the defendant company has profited by the removal of tíre building. Doubtless it was. actually put to expense in securing the removal of the building. The value of plaintiff’s property has been lessened by the defendant company while it relied upon the representations made by the plaintiff. The wrongdoer, and not the company that acted in reliance upon representations made by the wrongdoer, .must suffer the loss sustained through the removal of the building. , .
By the Court. — Judgment affirmed.