Lingo v. Gentry

166 P. 476, 101 Kan. 279, 1917 Kan. LEXIS 74

• Court: Supreme Court of Kansas
• Decided: July 7, 1917
• Docket: No. 20,789
• Status: Published

Opinion

The opinion of the court was delivered by

•Burch, J.:

The action was one to require the owner of real estate to perform a contract of sale made by his agent. Relief was denied, and the plaintiff appeals.

On February 1, 1915, the owner, Gentry, gave the firm of Coons & Jacobs an exclusive agency for the sale of the land for 120 days. In April, Gentry authorized another agent, Edwards, to sell the land after May 1, forgetting that the exclusive agency of Coons & Jacobs extended to June 1. In April Edwards arranged for a sale to the plaintiff after May 1, and on May 3 ,gave the plaintiff the contract which is the basis of the suit. On May 8 Coons & Jacobs sold the land, and the defendant executed a deed and deposited it with an abstract of title in a bank, for delivery on payment of the price. Coons & Jacobs examined the abstract, approved the title, and when ready to take up the deed discovered that suit had been commenced on May 20. They then waited until the suit was decided to pay for the land. While the evidence discloses many details, the foregoing are the essential facts.

The plaintiff’s action ignores the disability which Gentry imposed on himself to empower an agent to make a contract of sale in contravention of the rights of Coons <fe Jacobs. Specific performance is a matter of equity, and not a matter of right. Other things being equal, the prior equity prevails. Coons & Jacobs were as innocent as Edwards and the plaintiff, and because Coons & Jacobs acquired the first and the only authority to sell the land before June 1, the consequences of Gentry’s mistake can not be visited on them.

It appears that Coons <fe Jacobs took, the conveyance themselves. That was a matter between principal and agent. No breach of good faith is suggested, and the plaintiff is not concerned.

The judgment of the district court is affirmed.