Shotzman v. Ward

239 P.2d 935, 172 Kan. 272, 1952 Kan. LEXIS 263
CourtSupreme Court of Kansas
DecidedJanuary 26, 1952
Docket38,497
StatusPublished
Cited by17 cases

This text of 239 P.2d 935 (Shotzman v. Ward) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Kansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Shotzman v. Ward, 239 P.2d 935, 172 Kan. 272, 1952 Kan. LEXIS 263 (kan 1952).

Opinion

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Parker, J.:

The plaintiffs Mary Shotzman and Jean M. Shotzman, her son, brought this action on April 28, 1950, claiming they were entitled to repurchase 452 acres of land, formerly owned by *273 the first named plaintiff and deeded by her to the defendant, N. J. Ward, under the terms of an option contract entered into between Mrs. Shotzman and Ward on the date of the execution and delivery of the conveying instrument. Plaintiffs also sought an accounting but that question is not now involved because, by agreement of the parties, the issue submitted and tried by the trial court was whether the plaintiffs, or either of them, were entitled to additional time in which to repurchase the real estate notwithstanding the time fixed by the terms of the option agreement in which to take that action had expired. The trial court decided the issue thus tried against plaintiffs and rendered judgment against them quieting defendant’s title in and to all real estate involved in the action and holding the only right either of the plaintiffs had therein was that Mary Shotzman was tenant of defendant by sufferance of a portion thereof amounting to approximately 100 acres. The plaintiffs have appealed from such judgment.

At the outset it can be said that this is a case where detailed reference to the pleadings of the respective parties is not necessary to a proper understanding of the factual situation or required to dispose of the appellate issues involved. In their petition plaintiffs concede that on August 3, 1946, Mary Shotzman joined with N. J. Ward in executing the option contract which is appended to and made a part of this opinion. They also admit that pursuant to its terms she conveyed the land therein described and here in question to him by quitclaim deed, that thereafter he redeemed such real estate from foreclosure sale in conformity with its terms, and that they did not repurchase such land from him between February 1, 1949, and February 15, 1949, as therein required. Plaintiffs then, without expressly stating they were ever ready, willing, or able to exercise the option granted Mrs. Shotzman under the terms of the agreement or had done so, allege in such pleading in substance that defendant was acting as Mrs. Shotzman’s attorney at the time of the execution of the contract; that she was induced to sign it by reason of that relationship; that its terms were unjust and unfair and that after she had signed it Ward, although repeatedly requested by both of the plaintiffs to do so, refused to advise them of the amount necessary and required to redeem the land. Finally the petition alleges that because defendant had refused and neglected to.comply with the terms of the contract by furnishing a statement of his expenditures in the amount due him under the contract plaintiffs have been unable to pay or tender him the *274 amount owing him under its terms, thus depriving them of their right to redeem or repurchase. It then asks for an accounting to determine the amount due and the right to repurchase the property for that amount.

The answer filed by defendant admits he is a duly licensed attorney but denies, under oath, allegations of the petition to the effect he was acting in that capacity at the time of the transactions in question. In addition it denies generally all averments of the petition not expressly admitted. It alleges execution of the contract, receipt of the quitclaim deed from Mrs. Shotzman, redemption of the property from foreclosure sale and possession and ownership of such property since August 3, 1946. It also avers the contract was fairly entered into and denies that prior to February 14, 1949, Mrs. Shotzman or any one on her behalf or any one else having the right to do so under the terms of the contract ever asked for the amount necessary to repurchase the premises. Finally it asserts that Jean Shotzman never had any rights in the property and that from and after August 3, 1946, Mary Shotzman had no rights therein except under the contract and that the only right she now has to any part thereof is occupancy of the portion leased to her under its terms.

Plaintiffs’ reply denies generally all allegations of the answer inconsistent with the theory on which they base their right to relief.

With issues joined as just related the cause was tried by the court on the agreed limited issue whether plaintiffs, or either of them, were entitled to additional time in which to purchase the land. At tíre close of the trial on this issue the trial court made tentative findings to the effect the contract as executed was between attorney and client and therefore Mrs. Shotzman as a matter of equity was entitled to have the amount necessary for the repurchase of the real estate determined and an opportunity to repurchase the same. Following divers objections to the tentative findings the court reconsidered the cause at the same term at which it was tried and announced it had become convinced the tentative findings as made were erroneous and that it was its duty to make what it believed to be correct conclusions and enter judgment for the defendant. Thereupon it made new findings of fact. From those facts it then made conclusions of law and rendered judgment, as it had indicated it should do, denying plaintiffs any relief whatsoever, quieting the defendant’s title to the real estate, and directing that plaintiffs pay the costs of the action.

*275 The findings of fact and conclusions of law on which the trial court based its judgment are so extensive and in such form that they can be used to serve the dual purpose of giving a bird’s-eye view of a somewhat complicated factual picture as well as its version of the essential facts established by the evidence and for that reason should be quoted at length. They read:

“CONCLUSIONS OR FINDINGS OF FACT
“1. On the 1st day of August, 1934, the plaintiff, Mary Shotzman, was the owner of the approximate 580 acres described in the plaintiff’s petition. She then had a husband, John W. Shotzman, who had no interest other than his marital rights, and he died on May 28, 1945.
“2. Being possessed of said land, the plaintiff and her husband gave a first mortgage to the Federal Land Bank of Wichita of $13,500.00, and a second mortgage of $2,700.00 to the Federal Farm Mortgage Corporation.
“3. The plaintiff made no payments on either of said mortgages until March, 1936, when, as a result of condemnation proceedings instituted by the State Highway Commission, a river channel right-of-way four hundred feet in width and comprising 47.92 acres was taken out of said land and for which said plaintiffs were allowed the sum of $2,116.80. By the same condemnation proceeding she was allowed other damages to her land, including the about 70 acres forming an island on the west of such right-of-way entirely cut off from her other land and for which she was allowed $3,190.60. She was thus allowed $5,307.40, and that sum was paid to the Federal Land Bank to apply upon its mortgage and interest, and being thus applied, resulted in reducing the original principal of said loan by $4,455.00, and defaulted interest was paid in the amount of $852.40.
“4.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
239 P.2d 935, 172 Kan. 272, 1952 Kan. LEXIS 263, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/shotzman-v-ward-kan-1952.