Deulen v. Wilkinson

473 S.W.2d 357
CourtSupreme Court of Missouri
DecidedDecember 13, 1971
DocketNo. 55509
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 473 S.W.2d 357 (Deulen v. Wilkinson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Missouri primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Deulen v. Wilkinson, 473 S.W.2d 357 (Mo. 1971).

Opinion

HIGGINS, Commissioner.

Action for reformation and for specific performance, as reformed, of contract for sale of real estate.

Plaintiffs by Count I alleged: That defendants Wilkinson are the record owners of “All of the East Half (½) of the Northeast Quarter (NE ¼) of Section Twenty-two (22) Township Twenty-eight (28), Range Twenty-three (23) in Greene County, Missouri, together with all improvements thereon”; that defendants Swan are beneficiaries, and defendant Lowther is trustee in a deed of trust on said real estate; that on or about January 2, 1969, plaintiffs and the Wilkinsons entered into a written contract whereby the Wilkinsons, in consideration of an agreed purchase price, promised and agreed to sell said land; that the contract description was not complete but that the parties mutually intended it to be the same as above stated; that to reflect the parties’ intention, the contract should be amended and reformed to read as above stated; that the incomplete description was occasioned by mutual mistake of the parties and by mistake of the scrivener. Plaintiffs accordingly prayed reformation of the contract.

By Count II, plaintiffs adopted the foregoing allegations and alleged further: That on or about February IS, 1969, they were informed in writing and orally that the Wilkinsons would not honor their agreement and contract; that notwithstanding such anticipatory breach by the Wilkinsons, plaintiffs stood ready, willing, and able to perform. Plaintiffs accordingly prayed specific performance of the contract if and as reformed pursuant to the prayer of Count I.

Wilkinsons’ answer to Count I was a general denial with further allegations that any offer, discussion and acceptance of sale between the parties was on condition the real estate agent involved find another place for Wilkinsons; that the purported contract contravened the statute of frauds. Wilkinsons accordingly prayed denial of plaintiffs’ Count I and, in the alternative, that if reformation be decreed, such reformation include also the alleged condition.

The answer to Count II was also a general denial with further allegations that the purported contract was not susceptible of specific performance due to its contravention of the statute of frauds; that if reformed to include the condition as well as plaintiffs’ allegations of correction, they stood ready, willing, and able to perform. Wilkinsons accordingly prayed for denial of specific performance unless the court [359]*359reformed the contract to include their condition and, as thus reformed, to decree specific performance.

The court found all issues for plaintiffs, and decreed reformation and correction of the contract as prayed by plaintiffs and, as reformed, decreed specific performance of the contract as prayed by plaintiffs.

The evidence warrants the following statement of fact.

Kenneth R. Funkhouser, commonly known as Casey Funkhouser, was a real estate salesman with the Lawson-Weaver Real Estate firm in Springfield, Greene County, Missouri. He had known plaintiffs and the Wilkinsons for some time prior to March, 1968. About the 19th or 20th of March, 1968, Bill Wilkinson called him at his office and told him he would like to sell his farm. He was familiar with the farm, which consisted of 80 acres. The initial listing was of one 40 acres and improvements. He went to the farm just west of Springfield the next day, taking with him Jim Akridge, Fred Scarborough, Ken Butrick, and Hugh Ware, also real estate salesmen with Lawson-Weaver. While at the farm they took measurements of the house, as well as to note other identifying features of the property and to drive around the entire property. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson were present. The Wilkinsons wanted $42,500 for the 40 acres and improvements. The listing gave an exclusive right to sell for six months to Lawson-Weaver of the 40 acres owned by Wilkinsons. At a later date, and after several calls inquiring about the entire 80 acres, Mr. Funkhouser spoke to Mr. Wilkinson and obtained a price of $65,000 for the entire 80-acre farm, which included “milkers.” The six-months’ exclusive sale right expired in due time, but Mr. Funk-houser continued to receive calls and continued attempts to sell the farm in part or in whole. He showed the farm several times, some when one or both of the Wilkinsons were present.

Around December 20, 1968, Mr. Funk-houser took Mr. Deulen and Mr. and Mrs. Toben out to the farm. Both Wilkinsons were present. They inspected the farm and house, and inquired about hay crops and dairy facilities. After leaving plaintiffs authorized Mr. Funkhouser to offer $60,000 for the 80 acres and equipment. The offer was relayed to the Wilkinsons and they refused it. On the following day plaintiffs offered through Mr. Funkhouser to “split the difference” between $60,000 and Wilkinsons’ $65,000 asking price. This offer, too, was rejected, but the Wilkinsons were agreeable to a $60,000 offer for the 80 acres without equipment. Mr. Funk-houser, acting as go-between, relayed the offers, rejections, and counteroffers between the parties; and, on January 2, 1969, plaintiffs, the Wilkinsons, and Mr. Funkhouser assembled in the barn on the 80 acres to discuss the various propositions. During the negotiations Mr. Funk-houser accompanied the Wilkinsons to their kitchen to discuss the sale and, in the course of such discussion, Mr. Funkhouser agreed to cut his commission so that the Wilkinsons would net $57,000 in the event they agreed to sell for $60,000. They went back to the barn and an agreement was reached whereby Wilkinsons would sell their farm, including attached improvements, for $60,000 with possession to be given March 31, 1969. In the course of reducing the agreement to writing, Mr. Funkhouser stated he did not have the legal description. Everyone was cold and in a hurry and agreed to his supplying the legal description in lieu of “80 acres more or less & all attached improvements thereon.” This was satisfactory to all parties and the following contract was then executed by all parties:

“CONTRACT FOR THE SALE OF REAL ESTATE

“THIS CONTRACT, made and entered into this 2nd day of January, 1969, by and between William J. Wilkinson & Wilma J. Wilkinson of Republic, Mo. hereinafter . known as ‘Seller’, and Walter William To-[360]*360ben & Leo F. Deulen of Spfg hereinafter known as ‘Buyer’, WITNESSETH:

“The Seller agrees to sell and the Buyer agrees to buy, upon the terms and conditions herein set out, the following described property: 80 acres more or less & all attached improvements there-on

“Together with the following personal property now on said premises: The following items will be left in Dairy farm— Hot water heater & three Stantions [sic].

“The price to be paid by the Buyer' therefor is $60,000, payable as follows: $5000.00 in cash upon the signing of this contract to Lawson Weaver and Associates, agents for the Seller, to be held in escrow by said Lawson Weaver and Associates until this transaction is finally closed, the balance to be paid as follows: $10,000 more in cash at closing & balance to be financed. Cash to seller at closing.

“ * * * Closing shall transpire March 31, 1969, at the offices of Lawson Weaver Co. unless additional time is necessary to cure defects in title. Time shall be of the essence of this contract. * * *

“Absolute and unqualified possession of the above property shall be delivered to the Buyer on closing, together with the keys to the premises * *

Mr.

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473 S.W.2d 357, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/deulen-v-wilkinson-mo-1971.