Smith v. Smith

225 N.C. 189

Opinion

Winborne, J.

The questions involved on this appeal relate to the action of the court below (1) in overruling plaintiff’s demurrer to the further answers and defenses and counterclaim of defendant, and (2) in denying plaintiff’s motion for judgment pro confesso on the pleadings. As to these, we are of opinion that the challenge of plaintiff is well founded.

' The plaintiff may in all cases demur to answer containing new matter, where, upon its face, it does not constitute a defense or counterclaim. Such demurrer shall be heard and determined as provided for demurrers to the complaint. G. S., 1-141.

“The office of demurrer is to test the sufficiency of a pleading, admitting, for the purpose, the truth of the allegations of the facts contained ■therein, and ordinarily relevant inferences of fact, necessarily deducible therefrom are also admitted, but the principle does not extend to the admissions of conclusions or inferences of law.” Stacy, C. J., in Ballinger v. Thomas, 195 N. C., 517, 142 S. E., 761; Toler v. French, 213 N. C., 360, 196 S. E., 312; Vincent v. Powell, 215 N. C., 336, 1 S. E. (2d), 826; Merrell v. Stuart, 220 N. C., 326, 17 S. E. (2d), 458.

It must be noted at the outset that separation agreements between husband and wife have not always been recognized as valid in this State. For instance, in the case of Collins v. Collins, 62 N. C., 153, decided in 1867, in an opinion.by Beade, J., the Court unequivocally held that “Articles of Separation between husband and wife, voluntarily entered into by them in contemplation of or after marriage, are against law and public policy, and will not be enforced in this State.” This view, however, has been modified from time to time. See Sparks v. Sparks (1883), 94 N. C., 527; Smith v. King (1890), 107 N. C., 273, 12 S. E., 57; Cram v. Cram (1894), 116 N. C., 288, 21 S. E., 197; Archbell v. Archbell (1912), 158 N. C., 408, 74 S. E., 327, Ann. Cas., 1913 D, 261.

In the Archbell case, supra, while deciding, in opinion by Hoke, J., that the deed of separation there in question was void because of an invalid certificate of the examining officer, as required by statute, Revisal, 2107, later C. S., 2515, and now G. S., 52-12, the Court said: “Since that decision was rendered in 1867, our statutes upon ‘Marriage and Marriage Settlements and Contracts of Married "Women’ as entitled in the Code of 1883 and contained with amendments in Eevisal, 1905, chapter 51, have made such distinct recognition of deeds of this character, more especially in Revisal, secs. 2116, 2108, 2107, etc., that we are constrained to hold that public policy with us is no longer peremptory on this question, and that under certain conditions, these deeds are not void as a matter of law.”

But we find in the decisions of this Court no collection of these “certain conditions.” However, as stated in the Archbell case, supra, the authorities generally agree upon the requisites for a valid deed of separation. These are: (1) A separation must have already taken place, or is to immediately follow the execution of the deed. (2) The separation agreement must be made for an adequate reason, not for mere mutual volition or caprice, and under circumstances of such character as to render it reasonably necessary to the health or happiness of the parties. (3) The agreement of separation must be reasonable, just, and fair to the wife — having due regard to the condition and circumstances of the parties at the time it was made. And (4) in this State the separation agreement must conform to statutory requirements, where property rights are involved. G. S., 52-12.

Tbe pertinent statute, G. S., 52-12, formerly C. S., 2515, Revisal, 2107, provides that no contract between a busband and wife made during coverture shall be valid to affect or change any part of the real estate, or to impair or change the body or capital of the personal estate of the wife, or the accruing income thereof, for a longer period than three years next ensuing the making of such contract, unless such contract is in writing, and is duly proved as is required for conveyances of land, and, upon privy examination of wife as in cases of execution of deeds, it shall appear to the satisfaction of the officer taking the examination that the wife freely executed such contract, and freely consented thereto at the time of her separate examination, and that the same is not unreasonable or injurious to her, and the certificate of the officer shall state his conclusions and shall be conclusive of the facts therein stated. But the same may be impeached for fraud as other judgments may be.

Moreover, it is provided by statute, G. S., 52-13, formerly Revisal, 2108, C. S., 2516, that . . . “Subject to G. S., 52-12, any married person may release and quitclaim dower, tenancy by the curtesy, and all other rights which they might respectively acquire or may have acquired by marriage in the property of each other; and such releases may be pleaded in bar of any action or proceeding for the recovery of the rights and estates so released.”

Construing and applying these two sections in the Archbell case, supra, then Revisal, 2107 and 2108, the Court said: “Section 2108 in express terms subjects to requirements of 2107 contracts between husband and wife which purport to release or quitclaim dower, curtesy, and ‘all other rights which they might respectively acquire or may have acquired in the property of each other.’ ” Continuing, it is there said: “While we have held that an allowance by way of alimony may be predicated in some instances on the capacity of the husband to labor, Muse v. Muse, 84 N. C., 35, this right of a married woman to support and maintenance is primarily a property right, or may be and very usually is made very largely dependent on the amount of property owned by the husband. Taylor v. Taylor, 93 N. C., 418; Nelson on Divorce, sections 908-909. Our decisions are to the effect that the identity of person between husband and wife in reference to their right to contract with each other is not further relaxed or affected than is specified and required by the Constitution and statutes (Armstrong v. Best, 112 N. C., 59; Sims v. Ray, 96 N. C., 87), and this section 2108 by correct interpretation clearly contemplates that a deed of the kind presented here, ‘surrendering dower and all personal and property rights which she may have acquired against the person and property of her husband,’ shall only be upheld when it complies with the forms established and required in section 2107. On this ground, therefore, the ruling of the lower court holding that the instrument is void and of no effect on the rights of the parties is affirmed.” •

In the light of these principles, we have this factual situation in the case in hand: 1. A written separation agreement, affecting the wife’s right of dower and all other rights acquired by her by marriage in the property of her husband, including the property right of support (Archbell v. Archbell, supra), executed in compliance with the forms established and required by G. S., 52-12, formerly Revisal, 2107, C. S., 2515.

2. Defendant admitting the separation agreement as written, and seeking in first further defense to reform it on ground of omission by mutual mistake of parties and error of draftsman, without averring that the matter omitted was taken into consideration by the officer, who took the examination, in finding that the contract is “not unreasonable or injurious” to the wife.

3. Defendant admitting the separation agreement as written, and seeking in the second further defense to set up a supplemental agreement modifying the original separation agreement and affecting the wife’s property right of support, while the relationship of husband and wife still existed between him and plaintiff, without averring that the supplemental agreement is in writing and executed in compliance with requirements of G. S., 52-12, formerly Revisal, 2107, C. S., 2515.

Therefore, applying the principle applied in the Archbell case, supra, if by mutual mistake of parties and error of draftsman material matter were omitted from the separation agreement as written and not considered by the examining officer in finding that the original agreement is “not. unreasonable or injurious” to the wife, the agreement of the wife as reformed would be in contravention of the provisions of the statute, G. S., 52-12. Likewise, if the original separation agreement were modified by supplemental agreement affecting the wife’s property right of support, the agreement as modified would be subject to the forms and requirements of G. S., 52-12. Hence, in the absence of averments as above indicated both the first and second further defenses and answers are fatally deficient.

Regarding the third further answer and defense and counterclaim: Plaintiff sues to recover monetary consideration under written contract, a separation agreement. The alleged counterclaim of defendant sounds in tort based on alleged defamatory language, for which plaintiff, if liable at all, would be liable by operation of law, and not by reason of the deed of separation on which she sues. In such case the tort action for slander is not “a cause of action arising out of the contract or transaction set forth in the complaint as the foundation of the plaintiff’s claim, or connected with the subject of the action,” within the purview of the statute relating to counterclaim. G. S., 1-137. Hence, it may not be pleaded as a counterclaim in tbe present action. See Weiner v. Style Shop, 210 N. C., 705, 188 S. E., 331; Ins. Co. v. Smathers, 211 N. C., 373, 190 S. E., 484; Hoyle v. Carter, 215 N. C., 90, 1 S. E. (2d), 93; Finance Corp. v. Lane, 221 N. C., 189, 19 S. E. (2d), 849.

Lastly we come to plaintiff’s exception to denial of ber motion for judgment on tbe pleadings. Tbe practice in sucb cases is very restricted and is confined to cases where a plea confesses tbe cause of action and tbe matter relied upon in avoidance is insufficient in law. MeIntosh P. & P., 680. Moye v. Petway, 76 N. C., 327; Ward v. Phillips, 89 N. C., 217; Walker v. Scott, 106 N. C., 56, 11 S. E., 364; Harrison v. Ray, 108 N. C., 215, 12 S. E., 993; Shives v. Cotton Mills, 151 N. C., 290, 66 S. E., 141; Baxter v. Irvin, 158 N. C., 277, 73 S. E., 882.

Applying tbis principle to tbe present case, tbe defendant admits tbe separation agreement, copy of wbicb is attached to tbe complaint, and defends bis failure to pay in accordance with tbe terms of tbe agreement upon tbe ground that plaintiff, by violating ber covenant against molestation of defendant, has forfeited ber right to enforce defendant’s covenant to pay for rights surrendered to him. Therefore, tbis determinative question arises: If it be true that tbe wife has violated tbe expressed covenant against molestation, as set out in tbe separation agreement, has she thereby forfeited ber right to enforce tbe covenant of ber husband to pay to ber sums of money in lieu of support owed to ber by him, as a matter of law, and for relinquishing to him ber right of dower, and all other rights in bis property acquired by ber by marriage, as described in tbe separation agreement? "While it does not appear that tbis question has been considered by tbis Court, mere statement of it suggests a negative answer. That tbe agreement of separation must be reasonable, just and fair to tbe wife — having due regard to tbe condition and circumstances of tbe parties at tbe time it was made as stated hereinabove, is a requisite condition to a valid agreement. And tbe authorities in other states wbicb have considered tbe subject generally bold that tbe breach by tbe wife of tbe covenant against molestation of husband is no defense to an action by tbe wife to enforce tbe husband to make payments for ber support and for release of dower and.rights in bis property acquired by ber by marriage to him, in accordance with tbe terms of tbe separation agreement entered into by them. Thomas v. Thomas (N. L), 146 A., 431; Sabbarese v. Sabbarese, 104 N. J. Eq., 600, 146 A., 592; Stern v. Stern (N. J.), 163 A., 149; Hughes v. Burke (Md.), 167 Md., 472, 175 A., 335; Fifth Ave. Bank of N. Y. v. Realty Co., 30 F. (2d), 993; 30 C. T., 1065; 17 C. J. S., 620, Contracts, 235 (b) ; Lindey on Separation Agreements, 81.

These authorities are to tbe effect (1) that it is not every violation of tbe terms of a separation agreement by one spouse that will exonerate tbe other from performance; (2) that in order that a breach by one spouse of his or her covenants may relieve the other from liability from the latter’s covenants, the respective covenants must he interdependent rather than independent; and (3) that the breach must be of a substantial nature, must not be caused by the fault of the complaining party, and must have been committed in bad faith. 30 C. J., 1065. H. & W., 845.

It is held by the Maryland Court in Hughes v. Burke, supra, “that the agreement not to molest him (the husband), while a part of the consideration for his covenants, was incidental and not the moving cause. All that he agreed to do in the way of support was in the performance of his common law duty.” And in the Sabbarese case, supra, the Chancery Court of New Jersey expresses this view: “The breach of the covenant against molestation is no defense to a suit to enforce payment under the agreement. The covenants are independent, and in legal contemplation the promise of pay is in substitution of the legal duty to support.” Other authorities and text writers hold to similar views. In 17 C. J. S., 620, the author states that “provisions that the parties will not molest each other ... do not invalidate the separation agreement, since they merely affirm legal rights already existing,” citing authorities.

In the case in hand, the covenant to pay is not conditioned upon the covenant against molestation. The two are of distinctive character and neither is dependent upon the other. Hence, in the light of the authorities cited, with which we agree, it is held that, on the record as it appeared in the trial court, and now appears, plaintiff was, and is entitled to have the court render judgment on the pleadings in her favor.

Reversed.