Beerbower v. Garman

75 N.E.2d 556, 117 Ind. App. 667, 1947 Ind. App. LEXIS 210
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedNovember 20, 1947
DocketNo. 17,642.
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 75 N.E.2d 556 (Beerbower v. Garman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Beerbower v. Garman, 75 N.E.2d 556, 117 Ind. App. 667, 1947 Ind. App. LEXIS 210 (Ind. Ct. App. 1947).

Opinion

Hamilton, J.

This is an appeal in an action instituted by appellees, husband and wife, against the appellant, Albert W. Beerbower, to enforce the specific performance of a written contract entered into- and executed by said parties on July 30, 1945, by the terms of which contract said named appellant sold and agreed to convey to the appellees a farm owned by said appellant and situated in DeKalb County, Indiana, for and in the consideration of the sum of $9,000, payable $1,000 cash at' the time of the execution of the contract, and the balance of $8,000 payable within four months from the date of the contract, upon approval of the abstract of title by appellees. On October 26, 1945, and within four *669 months after the date of the contract, appellees made a tender of $8,000 in U. S. currency to the appellant, Albert W. Beerbower, as the balance of the purchase price of the real estate described in the contract and demanded conveyance of said real estate. Said appellant Albert W. Beerbower was further notified on said date that the abstract of title was satisfactory and had been accepted. Appellant Albert W. Beerbower refused to accept the tender of $8,000 and failed and refused to execute a deed as provided in the contract of July 30, 1945.

Thereafter, on November 24, 1945, appellees filed their complaint in a single paragraph demanding specific performance of the written contract.

The issues were formed by the complaint and an answer in general denial filed by the appellant, Walter Beerbower, guardian of Albert W. Beerbower, who was made a party defendant by order of court entered December 3, 1946, upon suggestion that appellant Albert W. Beerbower, the defendant, had been adjudged a person of unsound mind and a guardian had been appointed for him.

No answer of any kind was ever filed by the defendant, Albert W. Beerbower, and the execution of the written contract of July 30, 1945, was never denied under oath or put in issue by any pleading. No issue was ever joined as to the mental condition of Albert W. Beerbower on July 30, 1945, or on October 26, 1945. On January 10, 1947, plaintiffs filed a pleading of tender showing the tender and payment of the sum of $8,000 to the clerk of the court for the use and benefit of appellant, Albert W. Beerbower.

The cause was submitted for trial to the court without a jury. Upon request the court found the facts specially and rendered conclusions of law favorable to *670 appellees. Judgment was duly rendered upon the conclusions of law decreeing specific performance and appointing a commissioner to execute a deed conveying the real estate described in the written contract to appellees.

Appellants’ motion for a new trial assigning as reasons therefor (1) that the decision of the court is not sustained by sufficient evidence, (2) that the decision is contrary to law, (3) that special findings of fact Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are not sustained by sufficient evidence was overruled and this appeal perfected.

The errors assigned for reversal are: 1. That the court erred in overruling appellants’ motion for a new trial; 2. that the court erred in each of its conclusions of law 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, respectively.

The facts, as found by the court, are as follows:

“I
“That the plaintiffs are husband and wife.
“II
“That on the 30th day of July, 1945, the defendant Albert W. Beerbower was an unmarried man more than twenty-one years of age, and was the owner and in possession of the following described real estate:
“a. The east fractional one-half (i/2) of the southwest quarter of section thirty-two (32) in township thirty-three (33) north, range fourteen (14) east, in DeKalb County, State of Indiana, excepting therefrom about one and one-half (1%) acres of land theretofore sold and conveyed and being used, for a cemetery, containing 70.10 acres of land:
“Also, part of the west one-half (Y2) of the southwest quarter of section thirty-two (32), township thirty-three- (33) north, range fourteen (14) east in said . DeKalb-County, containing 1.75 acres of land.
*671 “b. Also that part of the east one-half (%) of the northwest quarter of section five (5), township thirty-two (32) north, range fourteen (14) east in Allen County, Indiana, lying north of the St. Joseph River and containing 10.79 acres of land, more or less.
“III
“That on the 30th day of July, 1945 the defendant by a contract in writing entered into on said date between the plaintiffs and the said defendant sold and agreed to convey to the plaintiffs upon the terms in said contract set out the real estate described in said contract, which said contract in writing was in the following words and figures, to-wit:
“REAL ESTATE CONTRACT.
“THIS AGREEMENT Made between Albert H. Beerbower, single and over the age of twenty-one years party of the first part, and Roscoe C. Garman and Eve M. Garman, party of the second part.
“Witnesseth, That the said party of the first part, in consideration of the money to be paid, and the covenants, as herewith expressed to be performed and fulfilled by the party of the second part (the payment of said money, and the prompt performance of said covenants, being a condition precedent, and time being of the essence of said condition) hereby agree upon such payments and performance of covenants to sell to the said party of the second part the Real Estate hereinafter described situated in DeKalb County, in the State of Indiana, and described as follows: to-wit:
“Part of E l/2 of SW% Sec 32, Township 33 N. Range 14 East. 70.10 acres; Also part of of SW14 Section 32, Township 33 N. of Range 14 E. 1.74 Acres; Also 10 acres N. of S. 37Ch. W % 32-14 Section 5 in Allen County, Indiana.
“And the said party of the second part, in consideration thereof, hereby agrees to pay to. the said party of the first part at Spencerville, Indiana *672 the sum of Nine Thousand ($9,000.00) and no/100 Dollars at the time and in the manner following to-wit: One Thousand and no/100 Dollars when this contract is signed, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged; the balance of purchase price of $8,000.00 to be paid in four months from date of this contract or sooner. Or at such time that Abstract of Title and deed can be furnished by party of the first part.
“Taxes due and payable in the year 1945 to be paid by party of the first part.
“Party of the first part is to give possession of the above described Real Estate on or before Jan. 15, 1946, without any relief whatever from valuation or appraisement laws, with interest from the date hereof at the rate of - per cent, per annum payable semi-annually until paid, and all costs and attorneys fees, for collection.

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Bluebook (online)
75 N.E.2d 556, 117 Ind. App. 667, 1947 Ind. App. LEXIS 210, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/beerbower-v-garman-indctapp-1947.