Bumpass v. Webb

4 Port. 65

• Court: Supreme Court of Alabama
• Decided: June 15, 1836
• Status: Published

Opinion

COLLIER, J.

— The defendant in error, (who was plaintiff below,) became jointly interested with the plaintiff, (in error,) Gabriel Bumpass, in certain lands purchased of the general government, under the credit system. In ’22, before full yayment had been made, they agreed to submit to the arbitrament and decision of certain persons, chosen by them, the partition of these lands — Bumpass entering into bond to stand to and abide the decision of the arbitrators. The arbitrators accordingly made their report, — particularly designating the respective parcels of land allotted to the parties. Bumpass, disregarding their decision, transferred to John Till, his son-in-law, the certificate of purchase, for an half section of the land, at the same time informing him that the award was so unequal and unjust, that it never would be car» ried into effect. The certificate of purchase for another parcel of the land, by agreement, between Pumpass and the defendant in error, was transfer-ed to Tyree Rhodes, John McCracken, M. H. Bu-channan, Thomas Meredith, and Gabriel Bumpass, as trustees, to lay off and sell lots for a town. The remaining parcel of land was purchased of the defendant in error, for the joint benefit of himself and Bumpass : and he is now ready, as he states, to .convey' to Bumpass, his interest under the award. ■The title to these several parcels of land have passed from the United States. To the first, it vests a title in Till; to the "second, in the trustees we have mentioned; and to the third, in the defendant in error. It further appears, that at the time Till became •the assignee of the certificate from Bumpass, that the defendant in error was in possession of the land .allotted him by the award.

On this state of facts, the defendant in error exhibited his bill; — the object of which is to give effect to the partition made by the arbitrators. Tyree Rhodes and Thomas Meredith are alleged to be dead. The other trustees, with John Till, are made parties; but nothing said as to heirs, &c., of Rhodes and Meredith, or whether, they have left any.

Many depositions appear to- have been taken by ■the plaintiff in error; all of which, merely prove, that the lands allotted to Webb, by the partition, are of greater value, than those assigned to Bum-pass.

No proof was taken by the defendant in error.

It does not appear that subpoena was served on defendants below, Buchanan and Meredith, or that publication was ever made — though there was an order for that purpose. Bumpass and Till alone have answered. The decree of the Court gives effect to the partition made by the arbitrators, not only ás against Bumpass and Till, but also against all the Trustees named, as well those who are'dead, as those who are living, at the cost of Bumpass and Till. .

From this decree, Bumpass alone prosecutes a writ of error to this Court.

Where parties constitute a tribunal of their own choice, by the selection of individuals, (as they have here'done,) for the adjustment of a matter of difference between them, neither party can impugn the decision that may be made, for extrinsic causes', unless it is shewn that the arbitrators have been guilty of corruption, partiality, or gross misbehavior.

*— This may be proved by evidence direct, or by such a gtate of facts as lead the mind to the conclusion, that their award was influenced by dishonest motives. It is not enough, to show an error of judgment, or that the matter of difference was unwisely (tptpprnined ueuiimmeu.†

Now it may be true, that the parcels of land assigned to the defendant in error, may' be far more valuable, in the opinions of most men, and yet not follow, that the arbitrators acted otherwise than vvith the strictest integrity of purpose.

If, however, the disproportion in value, in the respective allotments of land, was so great as to strike the common sense of every man, that there was positive corruption in the arbitrators, or- an utter recklessness of the achievement of justice between the parties, certainly a Court of Equity should liesr-. tate long before it would give effect to a partition thus made.

If the award discovered on its face, some palpable' mistake of law or fact, which, operated greatly to the prejudice of one of the parties, the party aggrieved might successively impeach it — (See cases cited' above.) — But it is incompetent to show by proof, a a mere mistake of lam or fact — Pleasants, et al vs. ROSS* ..

Equity has often refused its aid to compel the specific performance of hard and unconscionable contracts for the conveyance of lands. And if an obli-geej in a bond for the conveyance of title, where the contract is of that character, were to attempt to coerce a performance, Equity, in general, would leave him to his legal remedy upon the penalty.

It is not pretended, that the contract between BuhF pass arid the defendant in error, is obnoxious to any legal or equitable objection, but only that the award made to effectuate that contract, inflicts upon Bum-pass severe injustice.

The conclusiveness of the award, (except for the' causes we have mentioned,) precludes the enquiry, whether a performance would be hard or unconscionable, unless it were first successfully attacked by some cause distinctive to its validity. So far, then, as the merits of this cause are concerned, we can discover no error. The decree is, however, erroneous, for not bringing in, either by personál service of subpoena, or by publication and judgment pro confesso, the defendants, Buchanan and McCracken. It is also erroneous for not making the heirs of Rhodes and Meredith parties to the bill ‘ or else shewing that they had none. These were all material parties : they have the legal title to a part of the land in controversy : and to divest it, it is indispensable that they should be brought in. Bat, in as much as Bum-pass is alone complaining, and as to him and Till, the decree is regular — Till becoming a transferree, of a part of the land, with full notice of the claim of the defendant in error, — occupies, in all respects, the situation, that Bumpass would have occupied, had he retained the legal title.

In this view of the case, the decree is affirmed'..

297;?jeohnl i Wasic^ ii;iib.i56

t?Henn,& Munf.408.

1 Wash/