Ferrero v. Siel

1964 OK 248, 397 P.2d 501, 1964 Okla. LEXIS 470
CourtSupreme Court of Oklahoma
DecidedNovember 24, 1964
Docket40391
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 1964 OK 248 (Ferrero v. Siel) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Ferrero v. Siel, 1964 OK 248, 397 P.2d 501, 1964 Okla. LEXIS 470 (Okla. 1964).

Opinion

IRWIN, Justice.

Plaintiff in error, Christina Ferrero, hereinafter referred to as plaintiff, commenced proceedings against Chestney M. Siel, W. M. Haag and The First National Bank of Coalgate, Oklahoma, to cancel certain deeds executed by plaintiff to defendant Siel and to cancel an assignment of bank stock in The First National Bank of Coalgate, which was assigned by plaintiff to defendant Siel. The First National Bank is merely a stakeholder of the bank stock and its rights are not material to the issues involved.

The trial court found that title to the real estate and bank stock should be quieted in the name of defendant Siel, and that plaintiff should be forever enjoined from claiming or asserting any right, title or interest in said real estate and stock. Plaintiff perfected this appeal from the order overruling her motion for a new trial.

•The record discloses that plaintiff was. approximately 74 years old in 1956, when she assigned the bank stock to defendant Siel and conveyed by warranty deed defendant Siel some vacant lots, a resi *503 •dential property and a mineral interest. It appears from the evidence that the hank •stock had a hook value of approximately $13,000.00; the vacant lots had a value of .approximately $1,200.00; the residential property had a value of approximately :$3,500.00; and no value as to the mineral interest is in evidence.

Defendant Haag is plaintiff’s brother, .and plaintiff sought cancellation of the deeds and assignment of the stock on the grounds that Haag and Siel represented -to her that if she would transfer the property and assign the bank stock that she -would qualify for a pension with the Welfare Department; that the real property and bank stock would be held in trust for 'her and would be conveyed or assigned back to her at any time she desired; that she relied on the promises and representations; that she demanded that defendant 'Siel convey the property and assign the 'bank stock back to her and she refuses to •do so; that the promises and representations of Haag and Siel were false and that by reason of the breach of trust and fratid • of defendants Haag and Siel, she is entitled to have cancelled the deeds to the -real estate and the assignment of the bank ■stock.

In defendant Siel’s answer, she alleged that the real property and bank stock were -transferred and assigned to her by plain'tiff; that she had cared for plaintiff and plaintiff advised her that she desired to have someone to care for her the rest • of her life and that she wanted to give 'her the property as she was a good friend and she knew she would care for her the 'balance of her days. She further alleged that she began repairing the residential property, which was plaintiff’s home, and making it suitable for plaintiff to live in; -that it is her intention to complete the -repairs and when it is completed, plaintiff •can live there the rest of her life without .-any charge or rent and that she will pay -the taxes thereon. Defendant Siel further alleged “that she is willing and able ;to carry out the agreement that she had with the plaintiff herein, and will do so if given the opportunity”.

The record discloses that plaintiff moved in with Siel and Siel did take care of plaintiff and that the Welfare Department was contacted but plaintiff was unable to qualify for a pension; that plaintiff was very fond of Siel, and relied on her judgment and had confidence in her. It also discloses that Siel cared for and had taken a greater interest in the welfare of plaintiff than had plaintiff’s brother or sister and that plaintiff seemed to be satisfied. with the arrangements until difficulties arose between plaintiff and Siel. However, prior to the time this action was filed, difficulties had arisen between plaintiff and Siel, and plaintiff moved out of Siel’s home and moved in with her sister.

The evidence discloses that .plaintiff had discussed the transfer of the real property and assignment of the bank stock on several occasions with an attorney; and that the residential property at the time of the conveyance was in such a run-down condition that it was hardly suitable for living purposes.

The evidence is in conflict as to what representations were made to plaintiff when the conveyance of the real property and assignment of the bank stock were made; the extent of the repairs to the residential property made by Siel so that plaintiff could have a suitable place to live; and the general living conditions and support that Siel provided for plaintiff;

Plaintiff contends that where the consideration for a transfer of property is the transferee’s promise to support the transferor for life, and the transferee fails substantially to perform the promise, there is a failure of consideration, and the property so transferred should be restored to the transferor; and where there is' a gross inadequacy or a total want of consideration, slight evidence of fraud or undue influence will justify cancellation of a deed.

Plaintiff apparently admits that she transferred the real property and assigned the *504 bank • stock to Siel in consideration of Siel’s promise to support and care for plaintiff the remainder of her life. Siel alleges in her answer and admits in her-testimony that this was the agreement and that she is willing to continue to perform her promises and obligations to plaintiff.

Plaintiff relies on the general rule that where a conveyance of property is made in consideration of an agreement to support, maintain, and care for the grantor during grantor’s lifetime, and the grantee repudiates, or substantially fails to perform his agreement, a cancellation of the conveyance, and a rescission may properly be decreed. See 112 A.L.R. 676; and 9 Am.Jur., Cancellation of Instruments, Sec. 31, page 376. Plaintiff also cites Moffatt v. Moffatt, 195 Okl. 498, 159 P.2d 531, wherein we held:

“Where a person has parted with his property in consideration for support for life and discord thereafter arises between the parties so that it becomes impossible to perform the conditions and agreements made in consideration of the execution of the deed, courts are disposed to restore to the grantor the property if it can be done without manifest injustice to the grantee.”

Plaintiff also cites Morton v. Roberts, 88 Okl. 263, 213 P. 297, where we held:

“Ordinarily mere ipgdequacy of consideration is not sufficient ground, in.-., itself to justify a court in cancelling a deed, yet when the inadequacy is so • gross as to amount to fraud, or, in the absence of other circumstances, to shock the conscience and furnish satisfactory and decisive evidence of fraud, it will be sufficient ground for can-celling a conveyance.”

And the case of Noblin v. Wilson, 187 Okl. 173, 101 P.2d 805, wherd we held that where there is a gross inadequacy or a, total want of consideration, slight evidence of fraud or undue influence will justify the cancellation of a deed.

In considering the rules of law that plaintiff contends are controlling and applicable in the instant case, we should be mindful that this is an action of equitable cognizance and this Court will weigh the evidence, and if the judgment of the trial court is not clearly against the weight thereof, the judgment will be affirmed.

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Bluebook (online)
1964 OK 248, 397 P.2d 501, 1964 Okla. LEXIS 470, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/ferrero-v-siel-okla-1964.