Dearborn v. Cross

7 Cow. 47

• Court: New York Supreme Court
• Decided: February 15, 1827
• Status: Published

Opinion

* Curia, per Sutherland, J.

I think the judge erred. The consideration for the notes, was the agreement on the part of the plaintiff, to convey the premises mentioned in the bond. The evidence given, and that which was offered to be given, show, not merely an executory agreement to rescind the contract, but an agreement executed and carried into effect, by a surrender of the possession, and a subsequent sale of the premises.

The defendants offered to prove, that immediately upon Cross’ entering into the contract, he took possession of the premises pursuant to an understanding of the parties; and continued in possession until the making of the agreement to give up, and rescind the contract of purchase; and that then he surrendered the possession to the plaintiff, who immediately entered into possession, and soon after rented the house, and had since sold the premises, (both house and distillery.)

Independently of the agreement, a rescinding of the contract might, and, in a court of equity, undoubtedly would be presumed, from the fact of a surrender of the possession by Cross, and an acceptance of it, and a subsequent sale by the plaintiff, against either party who should attempt to enforce it. In Ballard v. Walker, (3 John. Cas. 60,) the court presumed that a contract for the sale of land had been rescinded, simply from the circumstance that the vendee had given no notice to the vendor, that he should insist upon the agreement, until four years after it was made; the vendor having, previous to that time, and within one year after the contract was made, sold the land to another person. The court say, under such circumstances, a court of equity would presume, and we think a court of law ought equally to presume, that the contract had been rescinded by the consent of the parties, or discharged by some composition between them. 2 P. Wms. 82; 9 Mod. 2.

[1] The defendant, Cross, therefore, could not enforce this contract against the plaintiff; and there seems to be no necessity for sending him to a court of equity, in order to restrain the plaintiff from collecting the notes which were the consideration for the contract.

*The time for the performance of the condition of a sealed, as well as a simple contract, may be enlarged by parol. Ratcliff v. Pemberton, 1 Esp. N. P. C. 35. Fleming V. Gilbert, 3 John. 528. Keating v. Price, 1 John. Cas. 22; 1 Cowen, 250. In Fleming v. Gilbert, it was also held, that the strict performance of the condition of a bond might be waived by parol. Indeed, the enlargement of the time, is nothing more than a waiver of strict performance.

In Lattimore and others v. Harsen, (14 John. 330,) the plaintiffs had entered into a covenant with Jacob and Cornelius Harsen, to' open a certain street in the" city of Hew-York, for the Consideration of $900; and bound them-Selves to a performance in' the penalty of $25(>. Some time a;fter tkey |la j commenced the work, they became dissatisfied with their contract, and determined to abandon it; when the defendant, -by parol, released them from, their covenant, and promised them, if they Would go on- árid complete the work, he would pay them for it- by the day, without reference to the contract. The action was'brought for work, labor, &e., under the subsequent arrangement, and was sustained by the-court.

The parol release of the performance" of the covenant must have been considered validand as- having entirely disposed of it; else the plaintiffs- could not have recovered. The action was' not brought-to recover the difference between the contract price, and actual value-of. the labor performed ; but for the value Of the materials' and labor, without any reference to the contract. The action was, therefore, founded on the assumption that the original contract was at an end; and it must have been so considered by the court. If not, there-would have-been two' contracts in force at the same time, for the performance- of the same work, at entirely different- rates of compensation. This could not be. The parol release of the covenant must have been held valid.

But in the case' at bar,- it is not necessary to decide that a parol agreement to rescind á Sealed contract is binding as an executory agreement. For here it was carried- into *effect by the parties. Every thing was' done except- the actual destruction of the writing itself. The possession was changed, and the' plaintiff resold the- land. It is not material that Cross, the defendant, had not-a strict legal' right to the possession under'the contract. He was put" into possession by the plaintiff at the- time of the' contract. His right was' never' questioned;, and he surrendered it- under the new agreement; and not because h'e was not-entitled t'o it under the first contract. His right tó the possession, therefore, was admitted by the plaintiff. I repeat, therefore, that the" new agreement-was- substantially .executed. The evidence ought toda ve been: received, and a new trial must be granted .

New trial.granted.- >

It seems that in France, though the mere lapse of time within which a contract or condition is to be performed is sufficient, on principles of natural justice, to dissolve an engagement; yet the party must be summoned before a magistrate, who, in default of his appearance, or performance, will declare the agreement void; and such a summons and order of a judge seems necessary, according to the same usage, even where no time is limited, before there can' be an extinguishment or rescission of the contract. But though no such sentence or order is obtained, yet if a considerable time has elapsed, a presumption will arise that the contract has been extinguished or rescinded by the tacit consent of the parties. Pothier, Trait, des Oblig. No. 636; Trait du Contrat de Tente, No. 480.