Bolig v. Becker

60 Pa. D. & C.2d 361, 1972 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 85
CourtPennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Berks County
DecidedJuly 31, 1972
Docketno. 3284
StatusPublished

This text of 60 Pa. D. & C.2d 361 (Bolig v. Becker) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Berks County primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bolig v. Becker, 60 Pa. D. & C.2d 361, 1972 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 85 (Pa. Super. Ct. 1972).

Opinion

EDENHARTER, J.,

Plaintiffs, John A. Bolig and Marie A. Bolig, instituted this action in [362]*362equity for specific performance of an agreement to convey land. Defendants, Edgar Becker and Louise Becker, his wife, filed an answer including new matter and counterclaim. Plaintiffs filed a reply. The pertinent issues raised are: (1) Should specific performance be decreed? (2) are plaintiffs entitled to recover damages for the purchase price and improvements to the property? (3) are defendants entitled to recover damages for loss of personal property, interest, taxes, and rental value?

After hearings held thereon, we make the following

FINDINGS OF FACT

1. Plaintiffs are John A. Bolig, an adult individual residing at 1621 Mulberry Street, Reading, Berks County, Pa., and Marie A. Bolig, an adult individual, residing at R. D. No. 1, Oley, Berks County, Pa.

2. Defendants are Edgar Becker and Louise Becker, his wife, who reside at R. D. No. 1, Oley, Berks County, Pa.

3. On March 12, 1965, defendants executed an agreement for the sale of certain land and bungalow to plaintiffs which reads as follows:

“To whom it may concern.

“I, Edgar Becker and Louise Becker, agree to sell to John A. and Marie Bolig the adjoining property to A. M. Bolig and Marie A. Bolig the land and bungelo on the south side of said land for the sum of twelve hundred dollars (1200.00) payable at 300.00 per year— plus five — (5%) percent Interest on the unpaid balance, due and payable March 1 — for 4 years — or before also. John A. Bolig and Marie A. Bolig agree to pay ten — $10.00 per year toward tax on property to Edgar and Louise Becker.

Louise Becker

Edgar Becker”

[363]*3634. Defendants executed a receipt for the purchase price of the aforesaid premises which reads as follows:

“Received from Ambrose M. Bolig Eleven hundred and twenty five dollars on balance due for cottage— land — water rights and road right of way to property on the South side of Bolig property with a frontage of appro. 100. feet by appro. 200 ft deep, exact measurements to be made on survey, for title and settlement thru signing of final papers.

“Property paid in full Sept. 17-1965.

received by

Edgar Becker

Louise Becker”

5. The aforesaid agreement covered premises described as follows:

“ALL THAT CERTAIN lot or tract of land situate along the Westerly side of a 20' wide driveway on the property owned by Edgar Becker, in the Township of Alsace, County of Berks and State of Pennsylvania, bounded and described as follows, to wit:

“BEGINNING at a corner marked by an iron pin, said point being the most Northeasterly corner of property herein described and a common corner of property of other land of Ambrose M. Bolig, and in the Western line of aforementioned twenty foot (20.00') wide driveway; thence along the Westerly side of an existing woods road. South twenty-eight degrees thirty-nine minutes thirty-seven seconds West (S. 28° 39' 37" W.), a distance of one hundred five and sixty-nine hundredths feet (105.69') to an iron pin; thence leaving said road and along the residue property of Edgar Becker, North seventy-four degrees forty minutes thirty seconds West (N. 74° 40' 30" W.), a distance of one hundred seventy and seventy-one hundredths feet (107.71') to an iron pin in line of [364]*364property of David W. Bauer; thence along the same, North twenty-four degrees twenty-four minutes twenty seconds East (N. 24° 24' 20" E.), a distance of one hundred eight and twenty-eight hundredths feet (108.28') to an iron pin; thence along the property of aforesaid Ambrose M. Bolig, South seventy-three degrees twenty-one minutes forty seconds East (S. 73° 21' 40" E.), a distance of one hundred seventy-eight and four hundredths feet (178.04') to the place of beginning;

“CONTAINING in area eighteen thousand seven hundred ninety-two (18,792) square feet of land, more or less; . . .”

6. The improvements existing on the aforesaid real estate at the time of agreement of sale on March 12, 1965, consisted of a one-story frame bungalow.

7. At the time of the said agreement of sale, the real estate was subject to the Berks County Land Subdivision Regulations.

8. At the time of the agreement of sale, defendants did not have a plan approved for development of said real estate by the Berks County Planning Commission and were, therefore, not permitted to convey said real estate under penalty provided in said regulations.

9. Defendants were notified by the Berks County Planning Commission that a conveyance of the real estate aforesaid to plaintiffs would be in violation of the Berks County Land Subdivision Regulations.

10. Plaintiffs have made certain renovations to the said real estate, and have remained in possession thereof since March 12, 1965.

11. The said premises is known as “Lot No. 19” on a plan of lots laid out by Walter E. Spotts and Associates, Registered Professional Engineers, September, 1959, for defendant, Edgar Becker.

12. Plaintiffs made the improvements to the said [365]*365premises subsequent to the filing of the complaint on January 31, 1967, and when they had knowledge of defendants’ refusal to convey.

13. Ambrose M. Bolig participated in the making of the said improvements.

14. Ambrose M. Bolig is the father of plaintiff, John A. Bolig, and husband of plaintiff, Marie A. Bolig, and with their knowledge and consent, acted on their behalf in connection with the said real estate transaction.

15. Ambrose M. Bolig and his wife Marie A. Bolig, occupy a residence adjoining the land in question.

DISCUSSION

I.

Specific Performance

The agreement of sale was entered into on March 12,1965. The purchase price of $1,200 was paid in full on September 17, 1965. However, defendants have refused to convey. In Payne v. Clark, 409 Pa. 557 (1963), the court said at page 561: “Hence, if the terms of the agreement are violated by the vendor, the vendee may go into a court of equity seeking to enforce the contract and to compel specific performance: Borie v. Satterthwaite, 180 Pa. 542, 37 A. 102 (1897); and Agnew v. Southern Ave. Land Co., 204 Pa. 192, 53 A. 752 (1902). While the courts of equity have the power to grant specific performance, the exercise of the power is discretionary. In other words, such a decree is of grace and not of right: Mrahunec v. Fausti, 385 Pa. 64, 121 A. 2d 878 (1956). It should only be granted where the facts clearly establish the plaintiff’s right thereto; . . . where the chancellor be[366]*366lieves that justice requires it: Roth v. Hard, 365 Pa. 428, 75 A. 2d 583 (1950) and Mrahunec v. Fausti, supra.”

During the course of this litigation, defendants have in good faith engaged in prolonged but unsuc: cessful efforts to comply with the Berks County Land Subdivision Regulations. The parties are in accord that this conveyance would be in violation of these regulations, and plaintiffs no longer request specific performance. Under these circumstances, specific performance is denied.

II.

Purchase Money and Improvements

Plaintiffs seek return of the purchase money.

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Bluebook (online)
60 Pa. D. & C.2d 361, 1972 Pa. Dist. & Cnty. Dec. LEXIS 85, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bolig-v-becker-pactcomplberks-1972.