Bushman v. Faltis

150 N.W. 848, 184 Mich. 172, 1915 Mich. LEXIS 863
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedJanuary 29, 1915
DocketDocket No. 17
StatusPublished
Cited by9 cases

This text of 150 N.W. 848 (Bushman v. Faltis) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bushman v. Faltis, 150 N.W. 848, 184 Mich. 172, 1915 Mich. LEXIS 863 (Mich. 1915).

Opinion

Kuhn, J.

The complainant’s bill is for the specific performance of an agreement by the defendant to make a 99-year lease of certain land in Detroit. A demurrer was filed by the defendant; the grounds thereof being stated as follows:

[174]*174“(1) Because the alleged agreement set up in the second paragraph of said bill, and upon which said suit is based, lacks mutuality and is unconscionable in its terms.

“(2) Because said alleged agreement is too indefinite and uncertain to be susceptible of specific performance.

. “(3) Because said alleged agreement was never signed or accepted in writing by the complainant.”

Defendant appeals from an order overruling this demurrer.

The agreement is as follows:

“Received of Franklin ■ E. Bushman the sum of •"$250, which is hereby acknowledged, to apply upon the first six months’ rental of the property known as lots 37, 38, 39,_ and 40 of block 85 of Governor and Judges’ Plan, situated in the city of Detroit, county of Wayne and State of Michigan, consisting of 160 feet on the south side of Columbia street west, between Woodward and Park street.

“The balance, $1,250, to be paid on or before sixty days from the date hereof, abstract to be brought down showing good, merchantable title.

“It is understood that the said John J. Faltis is to execute a lease on the above-described premises to Frank E. Bushman, or any corporation to be incorporated for a period of ninety-nine years, from and after the first day of August, 1913, the rental for the period of said term to be as follows: $3,000 per year net, for three years, free of all taxes and assessments that may be levied against the above property. For the balance, ninety-six years, the rental shall be $4,000 per year net, free of all taxes and assessments.

“It is understood and agreed upon that the said John J. Faltis agrees to sell to the said lessees, on or before ten years from the execution of the above lease, the property described herein, for the sum of $100,000.

“It is understood and agreed upon that there shall be no restrictions as to the kind or class of buildings that the said lessee may desire to erect and that he may have the privilege, of subletting the above premises.

[175]*175, “We hereby set our hand and seal this twenty-fourth day of July, 1913.

“John J. Faltis.”

The failure of the lessee to sign this instrument, it is now conceded, is not material, and no point is made of it by the appellant. Smith v. Mathis, 174 Mich. 262 (140 N. W. 548); Mull v. Smith, 132 Mich. 618 (94 N. W. 183).

Defendant having demurred to the bill, every allegation therein, for the purposes of this discussion, must be taken as true, and, in order to show what is claimed, the following paragraphs of the bill are set forth:

“Third. And your orator further shows that, on the signing of the agreement set forth in the last preceding paragraph, the. possession of said premises was turned over to your orator, and that your orator proceeded to make certain repairs, thereon and alterations therein, and did expend and has expended a large sum of money thereon, and has collected certain rents from tenants in possession of said premises, and that your orator has retained possession of said premises from the said 24th day of July, 1913, to the present time.

“Fourth. That subsequently the said John J. Faltis had prepared and submitted to your orator abstracts of said property, which abstracts were duly examined by your orator’s attorney and certain defects found therein, which defects, at the direction of the said John J. Faltis, were referred to _ Stellwagen & Mac-Kay, attorneys for the said Faltis, who agreed that certain of the defects would be adjusted as soon as possible, and certain other defects they refused to adjust, which last defects your orator agreed to waive.

“Fifth. And your orator further shows that subsequently, and before sixty days from the date of said agreement, he prepared a lease according to the terms of said agreement hereinabove set forth, and submitted the same to the said John J. Faltis, a copy of which lease is hereto attached, marked ‘Exhibit B,’ and made a part hereof, together with an offer to [176]*176pay said twelve hundred and fifty dollars. ($1,250); that the said Faltis refused to accept said lease and wished to have one prepared by his attorneys; that such agreement was thereupon prepared by Stellwagen & MacKay, and submitted to your orator’s attorney, who objected to certain clauses therein, a copy of which lease so prepared by Stellwagen & MacKay is hereto attached, marked ‘Exhibit C,’ and made a part hereof, and on the twentieth day of September, 1913, and before the said sixty days had expired, the said John J. Faltis. directed his said attorneys, in writing, to make certain changes in said lease, a copy of which said written instructions are hereto attached, marked ‘Exhibit D,’ and made a part hereof, which directions were duly submitted to the attorneys for the said John J. Faltis, who agreed to have a lease prepared in accordance with said directions, as your orator agreed to accept said lease prepared by Stellwagen & MacKay with the changes, therein directed to be made by the said Faltis, and that a copy of said lease, as prepared by Stellwagen & MacKay, and embodying the changes as directed by said Faltis in Exhibit D, is hereto attached, marked ‘Exhibit E,’ and made a part hereof.

“Sixth. And your orator further shows that subsequently, on the 22d day of September, and before the said sixty days had expired, the said John J. Faltis, in consideration of the delay in preparing said lease, indorsed upon said agreement (Exhibit A), hereinbefore set forth, the following: ‘I hereby extend inclosed option until lease pertaining to same is perfected. * * * John J. Faltis, Detroit, September 22, 1913.’

“Seventh. And your orator further shows that he has continually endeavored to obtain said lease, and that he has tendered the said John J. Faltis said sum of twelve hundred and fifty dollars ($1,250) in legal tender, stating that he would make the payment on said agreement hereinbefore set forth required, and that the lease would be afterward prepared according to the directions of said John J. Faltis. to his attorney, but that the said John J. Faltis refused to accept said money, and still refuses so to do, or to execute any lease to your orator.

“Eighth. And your orator further shows that he [177]*177has been at all times ready and willing and able, and still is ready, willing, and able, to carry out the terms of said agreement hereinabove set forth, and he hereby tenders into court said sum of twelve hundred and fifty dollars ($1,250), in said contract provided to be paid.

“Ninth. And your orator further shows that said lease is of great value to your orator — far in excess of one hundred dollars — and of peculiar value for the reason that your orator has made certain plans and arrangements which required the use of the property hereinabove described, and that your orator will suffer irreparable injury, unless said defendant is required to carry out said agreement.”

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
150 N.W. 848, 184 Mich. 172, 1915 Mich. LEXIS 863, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bushman-v-faltis-mich-1915.