Lyons v. Lyons

56 A. 680, 25 R.I. 494, 1903 R.I. LEXIS 103

• Court: Supreme Court of Rhode Island
• Decided: December 16, 1903
• Status: Published

Opinion

Per Curiam.

Property having been sold, under a mortgage given by the complainant and her husband, now deceased, to the husband, when she supposed the deed would be to herself and her husband jointly, she brings this bill to reform the deed. The respondents demur to the bill.

In Fehlberg v. Cosine, 16 R. I. 162, the court held that, to entitle a part}^ to a decree to reform a written instrument, it must appear that there has been a mutual, mistake in its execution.

(1) The bill does not show that there was a mutual mistake. It recites facts from which it might appear that the deed should have been made to both, but nothing to show that it was so intended, either by the mortgagee or the grantee. On the contrary, it expressly charges that the husband willfully caused said deed to be made to himself. It is therefore clear that there was no mutual mistake'so far as he was concerned.

Whatever equitable remedy the complainant may have, it cannot be to reform the deed.

Doran & Flanagan, for complainant. Cooke & Angelí, John W. Hogan and Philip S. Knauer, for respondents.

The demurrer is sustained to so much of the bill as seeks to reform the deed.

The bill, however, sets out facts which appear to charge the husband, a cotenant and purchaser at a sale caused by his own default, as a trustee under the deed, and to this extent the demurrer is overruled.