McGowan v. Willamette Valley Irr. Land Co.

155 P. 705, 79 Or. 454, 1916 Ore. LEXIS 200

Opinion

Mr. Justice Burnett

delivered the opinion of the court.

1. This being a suit to rescind on the ground that the plaintiffs did not obtain that for which they contracted, the relative values of the two kinds of orchards are of no moment. If the plaintiffs had chosen to bring an action for damages instead of rescinding the agreement, and it could have been shown that an orchard of Spitzenbergs was worth as much or more than one of Rome Beauties, the defendant would necessarily prevail. It is a platitude of law to say that when a person contracts to purchase a certain thing, he is entitled to that specified article. In a suit to rescind, therefore, it does not lie in the mouth of the defendant to say to the plaintiffs:

“True enough, you did not obtain that for which you sought, yet we have given you something just as good and you have no right to rescind”: Pennington v. Roberge, 122 Minn. 295 (142 N. W. 710); Mather v. Barnes (C. C.), 146 Fed. 1000.

2, 3. The pivotal question in this case, therefore, is one of fact requiring an analysis of the testimony. It seems that the husband was a merchant at Springfield and wished to buy a prune orchard. Accordingly, having seen the advertisement of the defendant offering one for sale, he went to West Stayton to buy it. After inspecting it he went with the local agent to the principal office of the company in Portland and found it had been sold that very day. Some of the attaches of the office then directed his attention to other land at West Stayton which had been set to apple trees. Thus far all agree. He says that Mr. Hartog, the principal manager of the defendant, told him at Portland and afterward at Springfield, where he went to adjust some details of the transaction, that the tract was set to Borne Beauties, and that nothing whatever was said about Spitzenbergs. The plaintiffs went into possession of the land after the agreement had been executed, and some time in May, 1914, discovered that it was not planted to Borne Beauties as they desired, of which fact they immediately complained to the defendant. Under date of May 26, 1914, Mr. Hartog wrote to the plaintiff a letter reading thus:

“Answering your letter of May 25th, we can only say that we are surprised at your allegation that the orchard was not planted as represented. We went to considerable expense in handling this deal, and it was with the greatest of care. Every 5 acres was set with 60 per cent Borne Beauties, 20 per cent King of Thompkins Co., and 20 per cent Gano, as told you at the time. This was done carefully and in good faith, no matter what experts might say now, so there is nothing to adjust except the payment, and as written you, they are forcing me to foreclose. It will be to your interest to see me at once. Ton have been notified by the bank; twice and since then by me twice, and unless you give this matter your immediate attention you will have yourself to blame if the people from whom you bought the place force foreclosure proceedings.”

About this communication it is proper to say that after Hartog had examined the records of the defendant he discovered that he was mistaken, and so wrote to the plaintiffs, claiming that he had written hastily and without proper examination of the office files. On the other hand, it will be noted that the letter asserts that the land was set with Rome Beauties, Ganos and Thompkins Kings, “as told you at the time.” This quoted phrase did not depend upon the records of the company. It is a direct admission of the former oral declaration which the plaintiffs impute to the defendant. Its sole foundation was the actual conversation of the parties and tends strongly to corroborate the statement of the plaintiff. The latter testifies that after this letter had been written he went with his attorney to interview the manager, who even then still maintained that the land was planted to Rome Beauties. Hartog practically admits this by saying that he told the plaintiff at that time that he thought they were planted to Rome Beauties. The resident agent at "West Stay ton, who showed the land to the plaintiff, was a man named Hammer. The witnesses Dunlap and Korf, the latter, however, a son-in-law of the plaintiff, declare on oath that on May 5, 1912, when the plaintiff returned from Portland to examine the apple orchard, Hammer told him several times during the day they were going over the land that it was planted to Rome Beauties. On this subject Hammer says that before he went to Portland with McGowan he told him that the land was planted to Rome Beauties, but not afterward. He claims that he always thought they were thus planted until he went to Portland, where he says he learned from Mr. Camp, then a salesman for the defendant, that the trees were Spitzenbergs. Camp testifies, in substance, that when McGowan came to Portland to buy the prune orchard and found that it had been sold, he (Camp) began to talk to him about apple orchards, and, taking him to the large map hanging on the wall of the company’s office, representing its real estate, showed him the tract he afterward bought, and explained to him that it was planted to Spitzenbergs to meet the desires of a party to whom it had formerly been bargained, but who had given up the contract. Hammer says he heard this conversation and for the first time learned the truth about the trees on that parcel. He further says that when they returned and examined it, if he-said anything at all, he told McGowan they were Spitzenbergs and Jonathans. Other witnesses testified that after the plaintiffs had gone into possession of the land Hammer stated on different occasions that he always thought the trees were Rome Beauties, and one witness attributed to him the positive statement as late as April or May, 1914, that they were of that variety. McGowan flatly contradicts Camp. Hartog says that the variety of tree was not discussed at Springfield, and disputes the witness Korf on that point. As before stated, he explains the letter quoted above by saying in substance that his mind was engrossed with many other transactions in the company’s business, and that he wrote it hastily without examining his records. In our judgment the preponderance of the evidence is in favor of the contention of the plaintiffs on the feature of the representation concerning the varieties of apples set on the land. It is true that the plaintiffs were in default in their payments when they first disclosed to the defendant that the trees were not of the sort desired. While this ought to be considered as coloring their testimony, indicating equivocally, at least, a desire to get out of a bad bargain, yet if it were a fact that tbe species of trees were misrepresented to them, they have a right to rescind the contract, having acted promptly on the discovery of the truth in that matter. Whatever may be their ulterior motive in escaping from what had probably proved an unprofitable venture, it cannot affect their equitable right to rescind on the ground of the misrepresentation. All parties connected with the affair, except Camp, evidently thought the trees planted were as claimed by the plaintiff. Camp is directly contradicted by McGowan. The weight of Hammer’s testimony is considerably lessened by the apparent attitude he occupied, according to his own statement, while they were examining the land. It has a semblance at least of keeping silent and letting McGowan believe the impression he derived from Hammer’s former statement.

Thus far the result is that the plaintiffs are entitled to rescind the contract and to a return of the money they have paid.

4. The parties should be restored as nearly as may be to their former situation. The plaintiffs have had the use of the land, and this should offset any demand of theirs for interest on the payments they have made. They should be credited with anything they have done for permanent improvement of the tract for the purpose to which it has been devoted. In this instance it would include only the reasonable expenses of pruning the orchard, together with leveling the land and digging irrigation ditches. The plaintiffs are entitled to the annual crops upon the land during the time they occupied it, as such emblements go with the use of the realty. In this way they have received the benefit of the cultivation they gave the land. They are entitled to a cancellation of the contract, and should have a lien upon the land for the money they have paid, as thus stated:

First payment of..........................$3,000.00

Payment of interest........................ 84.00

Pruning trees............................. 15.00

Leveling land............................. 10.00

Ditching ................................. 10.00

$3,119.00

Upon repayment to the plaintiffs of the money so allowed to them, they should he required to quitclaim to the defendant all interest they have in the land and to vacate the same, or, in default of making such reconveyance, the decree should stand instead thereof.

5. Under the circumstances of this case, while it is shown that there is legal fraud in the matter because of the misrepresentations about the varieties of trees, yet it is wanting in the actual deceit of one purposely intending to overreach another; consequently neither party will be allowed to recover costs or disbursements from the other. The decree of the Circuit Court is reversed and one here entered according to the principles thus laid down. Reversed.

Mr. Chief Justice Moore, Mr. Justice McBride and Mr. Justice Benson concur.