Callwood v. Callwood

129 F. Supp. 582, 3 V.I. 154, 1955 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3554
CourtDistrict Court, Virgin Islands
DecidedMarch 28, 1955
DocketCivil No. 37-1954
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 129 F. Supp. 582 (Callwood v. Callwood) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, Virgin Islands primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Callwood v. Callwood, 129 F. Supp. 582, 3 V.I. 154, 1955 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3554 (vid 1955).

Opinion

MOORE, Judge

This is an action for specific performance of an agreement to divide certain real estate between mother and son. [156]*156The action is brought by the son, Clifford W. L. Callwood, who was represented by John L. Phillips, Esquire, associated with Francisco Corneiro, Esquire, as trial lawyer. The defendant Else E. Callwood was represented in this action by Dudley, Hoffman and McGowan, George H. T. Dudley, Esquire, of counsel.

The cause of action being equitable in nature, the Court has equitable jurisdiction of the matter. Plaintiff, however, requested a jury of six to sit with the Court. Since at equity a jury trial is not a matter of right, the submission of issues of fact to a jury is purely discretionary with the court and a jury’s verdict or special finding is advisory only. In equity the jury renders a verdict on such specific questions as are put to it by the court, and the equity court in its discretion may then adopt the verdict in toto or partially. 19 Am. Jur. 274, 277. A jury was granted by the Court in this case to make advisory findings of fact pursuant to plaintiff’s request.

The plaintiff, C. W. L. Callwood, represented to the Court that the plaintiff and the defendant, Else E. Callwood, executed a deed of partition pursuant to a partition agreement; that the said partition deed was executed on August 31, 1953, in the presence of two witnesses who subscribed their names as such; that the defendant thereafter refused to acknowledge her signature on the deed before a competent officer; and that the deed cannot be recorded without the acknowledgment of the defendant or proof of the conveyance. Plaintiff, therefore, prays the Court to take proof of the execution of the conveyance and to place the deed in recordable form.

Defendant alleges that the instruments pleaded were signed on Sunday, August 30th, and not on August 31st as claimed by plaintiff, and sets up as a special defense that the signing of the instruments dated August 31, 1953, and [157]*157relinquishing certain property rights of defendant, was procured through the “artifice and trickery” of John L. Phillips, Esquire, attorney for plaintiff; that defendant never intended to transfer her interest in said properties in the proportions appearing in said instruments; and that upon discovery of the true import of the same, defendant refused to conclude their execution or to procure the approval of Carl A. Anduze, the substituted testamentary guardian of the properties; and that by reason of the trickery employed, said instruments do not represent the will, deed or understanding of defendant in the premises; and that, therefore, they are void. Defendant accordingly requests the Court to order surrender of the instruments by the plaintiff for cancellation.

Pursuant to Court order defendant submitted the following bill of particulars specifying the alleged “artifice and trickery” employed by John L. Phillips, attorney for plaintiff;

“1. Friday, August 28, 1958:
“a. Plaintiff’s attorney, John L. Phillips, Jr. Esq., hereinafter designated as Phillips, telephoned defendant saying: ‘Although I am your son’s lawyer, may I come to see you about the partition of the properties? to which inquiry defendant replied: ‘Yes’
“b. That thereafter Phillips came to defendant’s home at Brittania House at about 10:00 a.m. and remained until noon; then returned at about 2:30 and remained until about 4:00 p.m., then returned at about 5:30 p.m. and remained until 6:30; then returned at about 8:00 p.m. and remained until about midnight.
“c. That during said interviews Phillips told defendant that plaintiff was about to sell his interest in the properties involved herein to one Katzin and that the only way to prevent being associated with a stranger in the ownership of said properties was to execute a partition deed with plaintiff. That said representation was false.
“d. That during said interviews defendant told Phillips that Carlos A. Torres, Esq., and his father were her attorneys and [158]*158that they had cautioned defendant not to sign any papers without their prior approval. That Phillips told defendant to call Torres and he, Phillips, would speak to him.
“e. That during ’ said interviews defendant showed Phillips a memorandum dated December 18, 1952 prepared by George H. T. Dudley, Esq., in collaboration with E. V. Dench, Esq., the then attorney for plaintiff, and said to him that this division of the property as drawn by Mr. Dudley was equitable except for the provision concerning Brittania House, and that if Phillips could devise some means of resolving this Brittania House problem in accord with said memorandum defendant might agree to a division.
“2. Saturday, August 29, 1953:
“a. Phillips came to the home of defendant at about 10:00 a.m. and remained until about 11:30.
“b. That during said interview defendant told Phillips that defendant had spoken to her attorneys in Puerto Rico and that they would come to St. Thomas the following week and arrive here not later than Thursday, September 3rd.
“e. That during said interview Phillips said to defendant that he had persuaded plaintiff to agree that if Brittania House were sold by the mutual consent of defendant and life tenant and the plaintiff that the proceeds would be divided between plaintiff and defendant equally.
“d. That defendant indicated to Phillips her desire to discuss this proposed division with C. A. Anduze, substituted testamentary guardian of the properties herein, and Phillips agreed to come for defendant at 4:00 p.m. so that they might both go to see the said Carl A. Anduze concerning said matter.
“e. That Phillips failed to come to the home of defendant at 4:00 p.m. as agreed but rather came at 6:00 p.m. and informed defendant that he had already seen Mr. Carl A. Anduze. That Phillips remained at the home of defendant until 8:00 p.m. Phillips returned at about 8:30 and remained until about 11:30 p.m.
“f. That during said interviews Phillips took notes for a new proposed division and said to defendant that he would complete the draft at his home.
“3. Sunday, August 30, 1953:
“a. At 9:30 a.m. defendant called plaintiff and requested an interview with plaintiff at noon at her home, to which plaintiff agreed. Plaintiff did not keep this appointment.
[159]*159“b. Phillips came to the home of defendant at about 4:30 p.m. with drafts of the agreement and deed in issue, and representing that plaintiff was then about to consummate the sale of his interest to the said Katzin at the offices of Croxton Williams, Esq., urged defendant to hurry and get dressed to go to the office of Croxton Williams in order to intercept said deal — which representation was false.
“c. Phillips showed defendant that section of the partition agreement making the provision for the joint sale of Brittania House by mutual consent of plaintiff and defendant heretofore mentioned. Defendant impressed with the idea that the instrument provided for a 50-50 division of the properties, indicated her assent, signing the document.

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Bluebook (online)
129 F. Supp. 582, 3 V.I. 154, 1955 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 3554, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/callwood-v-callwood-vid-1955.