Bekins Moving & Storage Co v. Maryland Cas. Co.

244 P.2d 1100, 72 Idaho 493, 1952 Ida. LEXIS 196
CourtIdaho Supreme Court
DecidedMay 23, 1952
Docket7848
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 244 P.2d 1100 (Bekins Moving & Storage Co v. Maryland Cas. Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Idaho Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bekins Moving & Storage Co v. Maryland Cas. Co., 244 P.2d 1100, 72 Idaho 493, 1952 Ida. LEXIS 196 (Idaho 1952).

Opinion

GIVENS, Chief Justice.

Appellant sued respondent, surety for Endicott on his building contract with appellant, for damages because the cost of construction exceeded the contract price.

*495 On demurrer, the learned trial court held the complaint did not state a cause of action, expressly did not pass on the grounds of special demurrer, and dismissed the action. The appeal is from such order of dismissal.

Respondent contends appellant’s assignor had not assigned the claim against respondent, but only agreed to so assign in the future, and therefore, the cause of action on the bond is not in appellant.

The assignment is a paragraph in a contract for the sale of the land and building between the seller and assignor, an Oregon corporation, and appellant, an Idaho corporation, both otherwise of the same name, as follows:

“1. Simultaneously with the execution of this agreement Seller will assign to Purchaser Seller’s claim in the amount of $4,368.33 against H. E. Endicott of Boise, Idaho, the contractor who constructed the improvements on the ■ real property sold hereunder, and Maryland Casualty Company, the surety on Endicott’s bond.”

Paragraphs 5 and 6 of the agreement are pertinent and thus provide:

“5. Upon payment of the full purchase price Seller agrees by full warranty deed to convey said real pr-perty herein described to Purchaser, its successors or assigns, free and clear of all assessments, liens or encumbrances thereon, including lien for 1950 real property taxes, but excepting all other liens or encumbrances of record, if any, and any assessments, liens or encumbrances thereon accruing by or through the acts or negligence of the Purchaser, its successors or assigns.
“6. It is understood and agreed that time and exact performance are the essence of this contract. In the event Purchaser shall fail, neglect or refuse to perform any of the obligations on its part herein contained or 'to make in time and manner as herein provided any of the payments Seller shall forthwith be entitled to foreclose this contract, and in such event all the right and interest of Purchaser hereby created by this contract shall utterly cease and determine and the premises aforesaid shall revert to Seller without any declaration of forfeiture or act of reentry and without any right in Purchaser of compensation for money paid or for improvements made, as absolutely as if this agreement had never been made.”

This contract and assignment was dated April 21, 1950. (Ex.A.) The total purchase price was $52,725.56, payable $5,000 “simultaneously with the execution of this agreement, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged by Seller; * * (Emphasis ours.) The balance to be paid in monthly installments of not less than $500, with 2% interest, first payment to be made on or before May 1, 1950.

*496 Paragraph I of the amended Complaint, dated July 24, 1951, alleges:

“That plaintiff is a corporation organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Idaho and authorized to do business in the State of Idaho; that plaintiff is the assignee of the cause of action herein set forth by virtue of a written assignment by plaintiff’s assignor and a copy of said assignment is attached hereto and made a part hereof by reference as Exhibit “A”; that plaintiff’s assign- or is the Bekins Moving and Storage Co., an Oregon corporation, which is organized and existing under the laws of the State of Oregon.”

The complaint herein, to be good as against the general demurrer, must allege sufficient facts which if proved will sustain a judgment in favor of plaintiff, Stone v. Bradshaw, 64 Idaho 152, at page 157, 128 P.2d 844; Paulsen v. Krumsick, 68 Idaho 341, at page 346, 195 P.2d 363.

A general demurrer admits all reasonable inferences which can be drawn from the attacked pleading; Boise Payette Lumber Co. v. Idaho Gold Dredging Corp., 56 Idaho 660, at page 677, 58 P.2d 786; all legitimate or necessary inferences -therefrom, Whiffin v. Union Pac. R. Co., 60 Idaho 141, at page 149, 89 P.2d 540; all intendments and inferences -that may reasonably be drawn therefrom (complaint) and the factual allegations will be construed in the light most favorable to the pleader. American Home Benefit Ass’n v. United American Benefit Ass’n, 63 Idaho 754, at page 759, 125 P.2d 1010; Paulsen v. Krumsick, supra.

The recitals in the contract and Paragraph I of the amended Complaint construed together justify the conclusion that the contract may be considered as-divisible. Shaw Supply Co., Inc., v. Morgan, 48 Idaho 412, 282 P. 492; Schlieff v. Bistline, 52 Idaho 353, 15 P.2d 726.

The phraseology in Paragraphs 1, 5, and 6 of the contract, analyzed in testing the sufficiency of the complaint as stating a cause of action, justifies the inference that the assignment of the cause of action was immediate and conclusive, and that the forfeiture provisions in Paragraph 6 apply only to the real estate and buildings thereon. Consequently, as against the general demurrer, the complaint with Exhibit A as an integral part thereof alleges appellant now owns the cause of action on the bond' with no reserved rights in the assignor affecting the situation between the assignee and respondent.

Since we are thus justified in -considering the complaint alleges an absolute assignment, we are not called upon to and do not decide the rights of the assignor, assignee or debtor of a -conditional or incomplete-assignment.

Appellant having alleged an absolute assignment, it must, perforce, prove it. *497 Christmas v. Russell’s Ex’rs, 14 Wall 69, 81 U.S. 69, 20 L.Ed. 762; Sneesby v. Livington, 182 Wash. 229, 46 P.2d 733; 6 C.J.S., Assignments, § 58, page 1102; Milford State Bank v. Parrish, 88 Utah 235, 53 P. 2d 72; American Inv. Co. v. Baker, 104 Okl. 95, 230 P. 724.

The bond (copy of which is attached to the amended complaint as part thereof) was conditioned that the surety was bound for the full performance by Endicott of all his undertakings, covenants, terms and conditions and agreements of the contract for the construction of the building by him for appellant’s assignor, said contract being specifically referred to, which in turn referred to and incorporated therein by reference the proposal, plans, specifications, and schedule of rates and prices set forth therein.

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Bluebook (online)
244 P.2d 1100, 72 Idaho 493, 1952 Ida. LEXIS 196, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bekins-moving-storage-co-v-maryland-cas-co-idaho-1952.