Flynn v. Flynn

104 P. 1030, 17 Idaho 147, 1909 Ida. LEXIS 92
CourtIdaho Supreme Court
DecidedNovember 2, 1909
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 104 P. 1030 (Flynn v. Flynn) 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
Flynn v. Flynn, 104 P. 1030, 17 Idaho 147, 1909 Ida. LEXIS 92 (Idaho 1909).

Opinions

SULLIVAN, C. J.

— This is an action brought by Terrence Flynn and others against Thomas Flynn and others, for the purpose of having a certain deed, executed by Charles Flynn in favor of Thomas and William P. Flynn, dated August 24, 1901, conveying to said grantees an undivided interest in seven mining claims situated in Lalande mining district, Shoshone county, Idaho, declared void.

This action was begun by the plaintiffs, who are respondents here, on May 31, 1906, alleging that the grantor was weakened in body and mind to such an extent as to unfit him for the transaction of business at the date of making said deed, and that on account of the weakened condition, the grantor was incompetent to transact any business and was absolutely under the influence and control of the grantee Thomas Flynn, and that the grantees in said deed had fraudulently conspired and planned to procure from the deceased, Charles Flynn, all of his property without paying a fair or adequate consideration therefor, and by divers fraudulent practices had procured from said deceased all of his property except that described in said deed. The value of the property conveyed by said deed is alleged to be $80,000. It is also alleged that the defendant Brady had entered into a contract for the purchase from said grantees of all of the interests conveyed to them by said deed.

The prayer of the complaint is to the effect that said deed be declared null and void and be canceled, and that said grantees be required to convey to the plaintiffs such interests in said mining claims as they may be entitled to receive, and that the grantees be directed to account to the plaintiffs for the rents and profits of said mining claims since August 26, 1901, and that an injunction issue to restrain the defendants from in any manner transferring or encumbering the title to said claims during the pendency of this action.

To this complaint were filed two answers, one by Thomas and William Flynn and one by Patrick Brady, each of which answers put in issue all of the material allegations of the complaint. Thereafter, on February 19, 1907, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint setting up some additional facts [151]*151but still basing tbe ground for relief on the mental weakness and incompeteney of the grantor and the fraudulent practices of the grantees.

The defendants answered said amended complaint, denying both the incompeteney of the grantor and the alleged fraudulent practices of the grantees. Thereafter on April 13, 1908, a second amended complaint was filed, alleging the incompeteney of the grantor and the fraudulent practices of the grantees, and also the further fact that said deed had never been delivered to the grantees. To this second amended complaint the defendants filed their answers denying the alleged incompeteney of the grantor and also denying that he executed said deed under duress or through any fraudulent practices of the grantees.

Upon this second amended complaint the cause was tried by the court. The court found that the grantor was of sound mind and capable of conducting business, and knew the force and effect of his act, and that he “signed and executed said deed of his own accord and volition,” and that at the time said Charles Flynn signed and executed the said deed, he was not acting under duress or compulsion of the defendant Thomas Flynn or William P. Flynn or of any other person, and further found that said deed, at the date of the grantor’s death, was in the custody of one Edwin L. Norris, Esq., and had never been delivered by the said Charles Flynn, grantor, to the defendants Thomas Flynn or William P. Flynn, the grantees, nor to either of them nor to anyone in their behalf.

Judgment was entered upon those findings in favor of the plaintiffs, adjudging and decreeing said deed of conveyance to be null and void and of no effect, and that the plaintiffs and the defendant Thomas Flynn are decreed and adjudged to be the true and lawful owners of the mining claims described in said deed, in equal proportions of one-fifth each.

A motion for a new trial was made and denied by the court and this appeal is from the judgment and the order denying a new trial.

The only question presented by the appeal is whether or not there was a delivery of said deed by the grantor. It is [152]*152contended by counsel for the appellant that there was a delivery of the deed to the grantees, and that the court erred in finding that there was no delivery thereof. All of the evidence bearing upon the question of the delivery of the deed is contained in the record. The deed was prepared by Edwin L. Norris, Esq., who is one of the attorneys for the respondents. He also testified as a witness on behalf of the plaintiffs. He testified that he lived at Dillon, Montana, and was engaged in the practice of law in that town; that he knew Charles Flynn in his lifetime; that he prepared a deed for him — the deed in question. The first evidence introduced on the question of the delivery of said deed was the deposition of said Norris. The testimony in said deposition .shows that the witness had a very indistinct recollection in regard to the transaction. As to the execution and delivery of the deed, he testified as follows:

“I will simply state that some of the circumstances I remember distinctly. Some of the circumstances are not so distinct, I am not so positive of them; some few of the circumstances have been called to my mind by conversation of Tom Flynn had a few days ago.I started to hand the deed to either Charley or Tom, and Tom made some remark to the effect that Charley might want to change it and it had better be left here with Mr. Norris, and that he (Tom) should come back a few days later and get it from me, and to the best of my recollection, refreshened by a conversation had with Tom Flynn a few days ago, I rather think Tom is correct, though I cannot state it to be a positive fact.”
He also testified that on the afternoon of the day previous to the execution of the deed, Thomas Flynn informed him that the grantor, Charles Flynn, would be in town the next morning to do some business; that he was not positive that Tom .Flynn talked to him about the matter; however, the next morning, August 24, 1901, he remembered that Tom Flynn drove up in front of witness ’ office with Charles Flynn and assisted him out of the buggy; that said Charles was not strong physically and he (witness) went out and helped him into the office; that he thereafter prepared the deed in ques[153]*153tion and that Charles Flynn signed and acknowledged it in bis presence; that when Thomas Flynn brought Charles to the office, he went away and came back later for Charles; that he does not remember whether Tom was in the office when the deed was signed; that he does remember that Mr. Melton came in and that there may have been others there; that he could not remember whether Mr. Cunard was in the office, but that Tom Flynn had told him that Cunard was in the office and that Tom was likely correct in regard to the matter. As to the data from which he prepared the deed, he did not know whether he got it from Tom or Charley Flynn, and testified that “Very likely I got it from Charley, but I am not positive. As to the conversation I had with Charles, he merely told.me whom he desired to make the grantees and I rather think he gave me the data from which to prepare the deed, but I do not think he gave me any reason for making the deed. At least, if he gave me any I cannot recall them.Charles was quite weak.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
104 P. 1030, 17 Idaho 147, 1909 Ida. LEXIS 92, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/flynn-v-flynn-idaho-1909.