Davenport v. Sparkman

208 S.W. 658, 1919 Tex. App. LEXIS 131
CourtTexas Commission of Appeals
DecidedFebruary 12, 1919
DocketNo. 30-2671
StatusPublished
Cited by18 cases

This text of 208 S.W. 658 (Davenport v. Sparkman) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Texas Commission of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Davenport v. Sparkman, 208 S.W. 658, 1919 Tex. App. LEXIS 131 (Tex. Super. Ct. 1919).

Opinion

S ONFIELD, P. J.

On the 12th day of August, 1911, B. H. Davenport and W. G. Sparkman entered into a contract wherein Davenport, as independent executor of the estate of M. W. Davenport deceased, agreed to sell and convey to W. G. 'Sparkman, sections numbered 49 and 50 in block No. 10, H. & G. N. R. Co. survey, Collingsworth county for the agreed consideration of §519,200, $4,000 cash payable on the 1st day of January, 1912, the balance of the purchase money to be evidenced by eight vendor’s lien notes, each in the sum of $1,900, due and payable as provided in the contract. The parts of the contract material herein read as follows:

“This contract is conditioned that the party of the first part will procure and deliver to party of the second part deeds and abstracts of title to the above-described property within ten days from date, and party of the second part will then have ten days to have said abstract examined by his attorney; if the title as shown by the abstract is good and valid, then first party will make deeds to said land to each tract of land; if title as disclosed by said abstract is not good, then the second party shall procure and submit to party of the first part a statement in writing containing the objections to said abstract within ten days from the date of receiving said abstract. If said objections are of such a character that they can be cured and removed within the period of time not to exceed January 1, 1912, then said first party shall be obligated to so cure and remove said objections at his own expense, and it is hereby agreed and understood that the said party of the first part shall have sufficient time to cure the objections and resubmit to party of the second part for his approval.
“But, if the title to said property as shown by said abstract is not good, and objections thereto are not cured and removed by said first party within the time hereinbefore stated, then the said second party shall have the right to declare this contract at an end and no longer binding on him, and same shall become null and void and the said second party shall be entitled to return of all property paid by him by reason of this contract.
“As an evidence of good faith and in earnest of this contract, the said party of the second part has this day made and executed a note for the sum of $3,000 in favor of B. H. Davenport, and due January 1, 1912, secured by chattel mortgage on certain mules in Jack county, Texas, with the understanding that, if the said first party does make and tender to the party of the second part a good and perfect deed to said land conveying to the said second party, for the price and on the terms hereinbefore stated, and does in fact deliver a complete abstract of title to said property, and the abstract shows good title to said land within the time herein-before stated, and said second party fails or refuses to keep and perform the obligations herein imposed upon him by this agreement and make the cash payment of $4,000, on January 1, 1912, as provided in said deed for cash, then and in that event he shall forfeit to said first party the aforesaid sum of $3,000 as evidenced by the said promissory note, as liquidated damages.”

In. compliance with the contract, the note in the sum of $3,000 was duly executed by Sparkman, together with the chattel mortgage and five vendor’s lien notes, executed by R. T. Hughes, payable to Sparkman, were delivered as collateral security under a provision of the contract not hereinabove set out.

B. H. Davenport, plaintiff, brought suit against W. G. Sparkman and R. T. Hughes, defendants, to recover on the said note and for foreclosure of the chattel mortgage and the lien evidenced by the five vendor’s lien notes executed by defendant R. T. Hughes.

Defendant Sparkman defended on the ground that the note sued on was executed in accordance with the contract, and was pay[659]*659able only in the event of compliance with tlie contract by plaintiff and default by defendant ; that the contract was breached by plaintiff because the abstract furnished was not a complete abstract as contemplated by the contract, it did not show good title in plaintiff, and the deeds tendered were insufficient to invest defendant with title to the land. Defendant Hughes adopted the answer of defendant Sparkman.

The cause was tried before the court and judgment rendered in favor of plaintiff against the defendant Sparkman for the principal and interest of said note, together with 10 per cent, attorney’s fees, foreclosing the chattel mortgage and the lien evidenced by the vendor’s lien notes executed by defendant Hughes. On appeal by defendant Sparkman alone, the Court of Civil Appeals reversed the judgment of the district court and rendered judgment in favor of defendant. 160 S. W. 410.

[1] The contract must be construed as a whole. It cannot be paragraphed and the paragraphs construed in severalty without reference to each other, it being apparent that they are corelated and interdependent. Thus construed, the contract is unambiguous. The intent of the parties deduced from the language is evident. The obligation was upon plaintiff to furnish a complete abstract within ten days from the date of the contract. Ten days after such delivery was given defendant to cause the abstract to be examined by his attorney. If defects were disclosed through such examination, the same should be stated in writing and submitted to plaintiff. If the defects were such as could be remedied by the 1st day of January, 1912, plaintiff was obligated to remedy same within said time. Failing in this, defendant could declare the contract at an end, and was entitled to receive back any property paid thereunder. “As an evidence of good faith and in earnest of this contract” defendant should execute a note in the sum of $3,000, duly secured as therein provided. In the event plaintiff complied with his obligations under the contract, delivering a complete abstract of title to the property, showing good title to the land, within the time specified, and make and tender to defendant a good and 'perfect deed to the land, conveying the same to defendant for the price and on the terms as provided, and defendant makes default and fails or refuses to make the cash payment of $4,000 on the 1st day of January, 1912, he shall forfeit to plaintiff “the sum of $3,000 as evidenced by the said promissory note as liquidated damages.”

The undisputed evidence establishes that within the time stipulated an abstract was delivered by plaintiff to the attorney designated by defendant, who examined the abstract, and within ten days of its delivery prepared and delivered to defendant an opinion thereon, pointing out several objections. These were immediately corrected, and the attorney of defendant duly approved the title. Proper deeds were prepared and tendered defendant prior to the 1st day of January, 1912, which he refused to accept.

On the 11th day of October, 1911, after the expiration of the time stipulated in the contract another attorney employed by defendant rendered an opinion on the title which, together with the abstract, was delivered to an agent of plaintiff. Objections were pointed out in this opinion which were not mentioned in the opinion of defendant’s first attorney. These alleged defects were remedied and the abstract returned to defendant’s said attorney, who on the 21st day of November, 1911, acknowledged receipt of same, stating new objections and on the 21st day of December, 1911, the same attorney wrote again to plaintiff’s agent raising other objections to the title.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
208 S.W. 658, 1919 Tex. App. LEXIS 131, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/davenport-v-sparkman-texcommnapp-1919.