Mangin v. Kellogg

124 P. 651, 22 Idaho 137, 1912 Ida. LEXIS 5
Idaho Supreme Court·Decided June 7, 1912·Published·Cited by 2 cases

Opinion

AILSHIE, J.

This action was commenced by the appellant for the purpose of securing the cancellation of a deed previously executed by him and delivered to C. E. Kellogg, the respondent. Appellant is an elderly man, some eighty years of age, and the respondent is his stepson. The appellant and respondent’s mother were married when the respondent and his three brothers, Warren, Joe and George, were small boys. The Kellogg children, of whom respondent is one, were reared by appellant and were treated by him as his own children. He lived in Jordan Valley, Or., for many years, and he and his wife there acquired considerable property. They thereafter sold their property and purchased property in Nampa, Idaho, where they resided at the time of the death of appellant’s wife, the mother of respondent. On the day of the funeral of Mrs. Mangin, and during the late afternoon of that day, which was about the 21st of July, 1909, Mangin and C. E. Kellogg, the respondent, had a discussion over the disposition of certain lots owned by appellant in the city o’f Nampa on which was situated two residences. It appears that Ed, the respondent, had done more for his stepfather and mother than had any of the other boys, and the old gentleman felt that he was under more obligations to Ed than to any one of the others, and so he agreed that if it was satisfactory with all the boys he would deed the property here in controversy to Ed and retain therein a life interest to himself, upon the condition and in consideration of Joe and wife coming to Nampa and occupying one of the houses an the premises and caring for and supporting the old man [141] during the remainder of bis life, and that the old man should have the rents from the house, which they designated the “big house” and which was the house that was not to be occupied by Joe and his wife.

It seems quite clear from the evidence, — and, indeed, is not disputed, — that the foregoing is substantially the understanding and agreement had between them. In pursuance of the terms of that agreement, during the same afternoon, the appellant Mangin went in company with Joe, Ed, Warren and George to the office of E. R. Brace, in the city of Nampa, who was a real estate broker and notary public, and stated substantially the terms of their agreement and asked Brace to draw a deed to that effect. Brace advised them that he did not feel competent to draw such a deed; that he was not sufficiently familiar with conveyancing to draw a valid deed containing these reservations and conditions, and he suggested that they go to the office of G. W. Lamson, an attorney at law. They thereafter went to Lamson’s office, and explained to him the kind of deed they wanted, and he advised them that he could not draw the kind of deed they wanted that night and that they might come back the next morning and he would make them the proper deed. It seems that they went away, and thereafter, and later in the evening, one of the Kellogg boys went to Lamson’s residence and advised him that they must have the deed executed that evening, for the reason that the boys wanted to go away as soon as possible. Lamson explained to them that he could make them a straight warranty deed that evening and that they might make the change at some future time or make a new deed providing for the life estate and containing the conditions and terms of their agreement. It was accordingly agreed that the warranty deed should be made and executed, which was accordingly done that evening. Joe, Warren and George left the same evening for Jordan Yalley and Ed left the following morning for Gooding, Idaho, where he then resided. In pursuance of the agreement and understanding, Joe and wife thereafter moved to Nampa and took up their residence in one of the houses covered by this convey-[142] anee. The old man soon thereafter became dissatisfied and demanded a reconveyance of the property. Upon refusal to reconvey, this action was commenced to cancel the deed. After trial the judge of the lower court found the facts substantially as above stated. He thereupon entered judgment denying the relief prayed for.

The Kellogg boys all testified that it was agreed and understood that Joe and wife should occupy one of the houses on this property and should support and take care of their stepfather during the remainder of his life, and that this was the chief consideration for the making of the deed of conveyance. The court finds this to be the fact. Joe Kellogg, however, was not made a party to the action, and so no judgment was entered that would be binding upon him. It is urged upon this appeal that the deed should be canceled, for the reason that it was never intended to give an unconditional warranty deed to this property, and that it was always agreed and understood that the appellant should retain a life estate therein. It is also contended that the finding as to the consideration that Joe Kellogg and wife were to take care of appellant and support him is immaterial, and has no bearing in this case, for the reason that Joe Kellogg was not a party to the action.

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Mangin v. Kellogg, 124 P. 651, 22 Idaho 137, 1912 Ida. LEXIS 5 (Idaho 1912).

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