Darrar v. Joseph

419 P.2d 211, 91 Idaho 210, 1966 Ida. LEXIS 262
CourtIdaho Supreme Court
DecidedSeptember 21, 1966
DocketNo. 9742
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 419 P.2d 211 (Darrar v. Joseph) 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
Darrar v. Joseph, 419 P.2d 211, 91 Idaho 210, 1966 Ida. LEXIS 262 (Idaho 1966).

Opinions

TAYLOR, Justice.

On or about October 15, 1962, plaintiff (appellant) entered into an option contract with the defendants (respondents) for the [211]*211sale by plaintiff to defendants of certain real property (the Meadowhurst tract) for the sum of $13,000, of which $11,000 was to he paid in cash, and $2,000 was to he paid hy the hauling of rock to the Star Lumber Company millsite at Plummer, Idaho, at $1.50 per yard. Defendants were required to pay plaintiff $500 per month on the purchase price until the transaction was consummated and the title free and clear of encumbrances was given hy plaintiff. Thereafter, plaintiff agreed to sell and defendants agreed to buy an additional tract of land lying between the St. Joe river and a dyke adjoining the south edge of the property described in the first agreement. The purchase of this second tract, referred to as the “adverse property,” was conditioned upon plaintiff’s ability to establish title thereto hy adverse possession. The consideration for the sale of the “adverse property” was $7,000, payable $2,000 per year for two years, and $3,000 the third year, with interest thereon at 5% per an-num.

Defendants entered into possession of the property and during the period from October 15, 1962, through March 10, 1963, paid on the purchase price thereof $1,875 cash and $2,000 by the hauling of rock to the Star Lumber Company millsite. Defendants defaulted in the making of the $500 monthly payments and plaintiff brought this action for cancellation of the contract and for possession of the property.

In their answer, defendants alleged that their obligation to pay the purchase price did not mature until plaintiff had cleared his title to the property of numerous encumbrances existing thereon, as plaintiff had agreed; that they discontinued the making of payments because plaintiff was making no effort to clear his title, and that they doubted whether plaintiff could clear his title as agreed. Defendants prayed that the court require plaintiff to tender a policy of title insurance or abstract of title, showing merchantable title in him, and that defendants be allowed thirty days to pay the balance found due by the court, and that upon such payment, plaintiff be required to convey the property to defendants free and clear of all encumbrances.

After trial of the issues, the court found that the plaintiff was, and still is, unable to perform his contract because his title was not free and clear of encumbrances; that defendants were in default for failure to make payments provided for in the agreement; and that the parties’ respective obligations were concurrent and reciprocal and neither had a cause of action to forfeit or rescind the contract, against the other, until ready, willing and able to perform;

“That specifically, Darrar, plaintiff and seller had not been in position to demand payment from Joseph, defendant and buyer, because of his failure to clear his title and furnish a correct description of the property included in the so called ‘adverse property.’ ”

The court then decreed:

“That the seller, plaintiff, has a reasonable time to tender performance according to the terms of the option, including the furnishing of title free and clear of encumbrances preferably by abstract of title or title insurance except for taxes after the year 1962, * * *
“That on tender of performance, the buyer, defendant, must be able to perform according to the terms of the option within a reasonable time, if he (the buyer) is unable to perform, the option may be rescinded and the seller put in possession, that if seller is unable to make title conform to the option agreement within a reasonable time, buyer may elect to rescind or take the title available. In the event of a rescission by buyer, he shall be required to pay $66.67 a month for use and occupancy of the premises and the buyer is not entitled to repayment of expenditures for improvements.
“That the seller does not have to provide a survey or an abstract or title [212]*212policy but the seller must show the buyer the lines of the property and to tender performance according [to] the terms of the option by furnishing of title free and clear of encumbrances preferably by abstract of title or title insurance. * *
“That said Court may enter further orders to carry out the terms of this judgment and decree.”

The decree was dated July 24th and filed July 28, 1964, and no appeal was taken therefrom.

In November, 1964, plaintiff caused to be issued a “writ of possession with execution for money judgment.” By this instrument plaintiff asserted that he had deposited in the clerk’s office, September 18, 1964, an abstract showing title to the property in him, arid, that defendants had failed to perform and had refused to take the title available. In response, defendants filed a motion for déed; and an affidavit in which they allege that plaintiff had not tendered title free and clear of encumbrances; that they had theretofore notified plaintiff of their election to take the title available, as authorized by the decree; that there were recorded liens and encumbrances upon the property totaling approximately $10,500, and that they were presently able to pay the plaintiff the full purchase price, less the existing encumbrances; and prayed that plaintiff be required to deliver a warranty deed, as required by the option agreement and the judgment of the court.

March 8, 1965, a hearing was had upon these conflicting demands of the parties. At that time the court gave defendants until noon, June 8, 1965, to tender performance in accordance with the terms of the original option agreement, and required plaintiff, upon such tender, to perform the agreement on his part.

June 8, 1965, the parties met at a bank in the county seat. There, defendants tendered payment of what they claimed was the full balance due on the contract, which offer included the satisfaction of a judgment lien upon the land. The offer was rejected by plaintiff on the ground that it was insufficient.

A further hearing was had on June 17, 1965, when the court determined that defendants’ tender of June 8th was sufficient to satisfy the contract and the court’s decree. The court then determined the amount due from defendants to plaintiff and ordered:

“That defendants shall deposit with the undersigned District Judge, at his chambers in Moscow, Idaho, on or before 12:00 o’clock noon, Tuesday, June 22, 1965, a certified check or money order in the amount of $11,102.49, notes in the principal amount of $5,125, and mortgage, all as more fully set forth in Conclusions of Law above.
“ * * * that plaintiff shall deposit with the undersigned District Judge, at his chambers in Moscow, Idaho, on or before 12:00 noon, on Tuesday, June 22, 1965, his warranty deed conveying the property described in the foregoing Conclusions of Law, free and clear of all lien and encumbrances except taxes for the year 1963 and subsequent years.”

This order was dated July 26th and filed July 27, 1965.

Defendants complied with the order of July 26th by depositing with the court the $11,102.49, and three notes aggregating the principal amount of $5,125, payable over a period of three years, with interest at 5% per annum, and a mortgage on the so-called adverse property, as security for the payment of the notes.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
419 P.2d 211, 91 Idaho 210, 1966 Ida. LEXIS 262, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/darrar-v-joseph-idaho-1966.