Large v. Mayes

600 P.2d 126, 100 Idaho 450, 1979 Ida. LEXIS 474
CourtIdaho Supreme Court
DecidedAugust 3, 1979
Docket13024
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 600 P.2d 126 (Large v. Mayes) 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
Large v. Mayes, 600 P.2d 126, 100 Idaho 450, 1979 Ida. LEXIS 474 (Idaho 1979).

Opinions

HARGRAVES, Justice, Pro Tem.

Respondents listed certain real property for sale. Prior to August 1976, the parties here had negotiated for the purchase and sale of the property. The specifics of such prior negotiations are not particularly relevant.

On August 24, 1976, a contract was executed by respondents granting appellant an exclusive option to purchase the property upon payment by appellant of the sum of $1,000.00 which sum would be applied to the purchase price if the sale was completed.

On December 25, 1976, appellant exercised his option by delivering written notice to an agent of respondents pursuant to the agreement.

At this time and before appellant did not have the necessary $24,000.00 in his possession or account to complete the transaction. He was negotiating with others to arrange financing. By December 29,1976, appellant was still without the required funds; but, he offered respondents his personal check for this amount explaining that there were not sufficient funds in his account to cover the check. It was proposed that respondents accept the check as payment but hold it until January 5, 1977.

Following this proposal, respondents consulted with their attorney and were advised that the Internal Revenue Service had opined that if the check were accepted in 1976 and cashed by January 5, 1977, the respondents would realize substantial tax [451]*451benefits by reason of the rules pertaining to installment sales. Appellant was aware of this taxation question and knew that respondents were very concerned about the matter. On the advice of their attorney and the opinion by the I.R.S., respondent agreed to accept the check, but only on the condition that appellant would deposit sufficient money in his personal account to enable respondents to cash the check no later than January 5, 1977. The parties understood that all other provisions of the original agreement were to remain in full force and effect.

On January 5, 1977, respondents went to their attorney’s office to complete the transaction. They waited until approximately 4:45 p. m. At about that time appellant telephoned advising he had the money. It appears that at that time he had in his possession a check from Hoff Lumber Co., made payable to appellant and respondent, Orin Mayes, in the sum of $25,000.00. Appellant was informed that if he could not have the money deposited in his account in time to permit respondents to cash the check they were holding by the end of the banking hours of January 5, 1977, respondents would exercise their right to cancel the agreement. No funds were deposited by the end of banking hours on that day but some time after 6:00 p. m. (January 5), appellant went to respondents’ home to tender the Hoff check, which tender was refused. Notwithstanding the refusal, however, appellant left the check with respondents over their objections.

Appellant thereafter filed this action for specific performance or, in the alternative, for damages, alleging that the facts support a finding that appellant substantially performed his part of the contract and that the respondents are in breach.

Respondents’ motion for summary judgment was granted by the trial court, finding that:

1. Appellant had properly exercised the option by giving written notice before December 25, 1976.

2. Upon the exercise of the option there was a contract for sale of the property subject to a condition precedent, namely payment by appellant of the sum of $24,-000.00 on or before December 31, 1976.

3. The agreement was “modified” (by the parties) with relation to the payment due on or before December 31, 1976.

4. Failure of appellant to deposit $24,-000.00 by January 5, 1977, was a material breach of respondents’ conditional acceptance of the “insufficient” check and hence a material breach of the contract, giving the respondents the right to revoke acceptance of the check and terminate the contract. Respondents retained the $1,000.00 paid for the option.

After summary judgment was entered in favor of respondents, the trial court also awarded costs and attorney fees pursuant to I.C. § 12-121.

Prior to a hearing on the merits in this case, the Court denied respondents’ motion to dismiss the appeal. This Court is of the opinion, however, that at this time it is appropriate to re-examine the issue of timeliness of the appeal since the respondents’ renewed their motion and presented argument on it at the hearing on appeal. Therefore, the previously entered order denying respondents’ motion to dismiss is withdrawn.

Complaint was filed June 7, 1977. Answer and counterclaim was filed July 25, 1977. On August 31, 1977, appellant moved to strike or dismiss the counterclaim. After hearing on this motion, the same was denied September 23, 1977. Thereafter depositions were taken of the parties; and on February 23, 1978, respondents moved for summary judgment. This motion was taken under advisement; and on April 12, 1978, the trial court issued its “Memorandum Decision & Order Granting Motion for Summary Judgment.” This order directed defendants’ attorney to provide an appropriate form of judgment.

On April 19, 1978, “Summary Judgment for Defendants” was filed. The judgment recites generally that judgment is awarded in favor of defendants and against plaintiff; that the complaint is dismissed; and [452]*452that the defendants have costs and attorney fees.

On May 1, 1978, appellant moved for summary judgment in his favor and against respondents on the counterclaim. On May 17, 1978, the parties stipulated that the counterclaim be dismissed with prejudice; and on the same day the trial court heard arguments by counsel on appellant’s motion to disallow costs. At this time defendants (respondents) were ordered “to prepare and submit an amended Judgment for Court to sign.” On May 31, 1978, an instrument was filed, signed by the trial judge, entitled: “Amendment to Summary Judgment for Defendants, as to attorney’s fees only.” This instrument recites that “the Summary Judgment for defendants entered the 19th day of April, 1978, be amended as to attorney’s fees only” (our emphasis) to award reasonable attorney’s fees in the amount of $2,000.00.”

On June 23, 1978, an instrument entitled “Final Judgment” was filed which recites generally the matters heretofore referred to, and other than a reference to the “Order” of April 12, 1978, the stipulation of dismissal of the counterclaim, and the motion to disallow costs and attorney fees, is no different in substance from the judgment of April 19, 1978. The record on appeal does not disclose any intervening motion of any kind after the April 19, 1978, judgment except the motion to disallow costs.

From this state of the record we must now decide whether or not the Notice of Appeal filed June 28, 1978, was timely. The pertinent parts of Rule 14, Idaho Appellate Rules, provides that any appeal as a matter of . right from the district court may be made only by physically filing a Notice of Appeal with the clerk of the district court within forty-two (42) days from the date evidenced by the filing stamp of the clerk of the court on any judgment . of the district court appealable as a matter of right . The Rule further provides:

“The time for an appeal from such judgment, ... is terminated by the filing of a timely motion which, if granted, could affect . . . the judgment (except motions under Rule 60 of the Idaho Rules of Civil Procedure or

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Dunlap v. Cassia Memorial Hospital & Medical Center
999 P.2d 888 (Idaho Supreme Court, 2000)
Walton, Inc. v. Jensen
979 P.2d 118 (Idaho Court of Appeals, 1999)
Doe v. Doe
911 P.2d 140 (Idaho Court of Appeals, 1996)
Walker v. Shoshone County
739 P.2d 290 (Idaho Supreme Court, 1987)
First Bank & Trust v. Parker Bros., Inc.
730 P.2d 950 (Idaho Supreme Court, 1986)
Large v. Mayes
600 P.2d 126 (Idaho Supreme Court, 1979)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
600 P.2d 126, 100 Idaho 450, 1979 Ida. LEXIS 474, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/large-v-mayes-idaho-1979.