Stevenson v. Polk

32 N.W. 340, 71 Iowa 278
CourtSupreme Court of Iowa
DecidedMarch 11, 1887
StatusPublished
Cited by38 cases

This text of 32 N.W. 340 (Stevenson v. Polk) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Iowa primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Stevenson v. Polk, 32 N.W. 340, 71 Iowa 278 (iowa 1887).

Opinion

Seevers, J.

This action was commenced in September, 1883, by Andrew Stevenson, and the petition states that lie sold to the defendant Polk, in July, 1881, certain described real estate for $7,850, of which sum $1,200 was paid, and that the'said defendant agreed to pay the residue of the purchase money on the first day of March, 1882, with eight per [281]*281cen t interest; and it was agreed that said defendant might enter into possession of the real estate, and make improvements thereon; that said agreement was reduced to writing, but no copy was attached, for the reason that it was in possession of defendants; that said Polk executed to said Stevenson his promissory note for the balance of the purchase money, payable on the first day of March, 1882, and has conveyed the said real estate to the Union Land Company, and such corporation is made a defendant; that said Polk and his grantee entered into possession of the premises under the contract, and that such possession has not been in any respect disturbed. Said Stevenson expressed a willingness to fully comply with said agreement on his part, and convey the real estate by warranty deed as he had agreed. The relief asked is that the plaintiff recover judgment against defendant Polk for the purchase money due, with interest, and that a lien on said real estate in his favor be established, and the defendants’ equity of redemption foreclosed, and the premises sold on special execution, and that a general execution issue for any balance of said judgment remaining unsatisfied-against said defendant Polk. Afterwards the death of said Stevenson was suggested, and the action revived in the name of I). B. Stevenson, administrator of the estate, as plaintiff.

The defendant Polk filed a separate answer, denying that he entered into-possession of the real estate; but he admitted that he, as trustee for the Union Land Company, had purchased such real estate under a written contract, and that said Stevenson well knew that said contract was made by him as such trustee, and not in his individual capacity. The conveyance to the Union Land Company was admitted, but Polk alleged that the same was done in order to dischai’ge and relieve him of the trust; and he asked that the action be dismissed.

The land company answered the petition, and denied all allegations not admitted, and alleged that said Polk, as its trustee and -agent, purchased of the intestate certain described [282]*282real estate, upon certain conditions, and that the contract was reduced to writing. It is sufficient to state here that said defendant pleaded that the intestate and plaintiffs had failed to comply with said contract on their part. It is admitted that said defendant entered into possession under the contract, and is still in possession; that afterwards said Polk fully executed his trust, and conveyed the real estate to his co-defendant; that defendant has been at all times ready and willing to comply with the contract, but that plaintiff's intestate, at no time prior to bringing the action, was seized of the title to said real estate in fee-simple, unincumbered, and that said intestate at all times has been unable to perform the contract on his-part, .and that plaintiff is unable to comply therewith; that on or about March 12, 1882, said intestate furnished defendant’s attorney an abstract of the title to the real estate, which showed that the title to a large part thereof was defective, and other portions incumbered, of which defects, the intestate was duly advised; and thereafter the defendant waited over two years for the intestate to perfect his title, and, failing to do so, the defendant, in September, 1882, notified the intestate that it would wait no longer for a title, and that it would insist on a rescission of the contract, and then offered and declared the same rescinded, and offered to restore the plaintiff to the possession of the real estate, and to account -for rents and profits, and demanded repayment of the money paid on said'contract, which the Intestate declined to do, but insisted that defendant should accept a deed (though none was tendered) conveying an imperfect title. The said defendant also pleaded that the chief inducement for the purchase of the land was for the purpose of laying out a town-site at a proposed station on the Des Moines & St. Louis Railroad, then in process of construction, which was well known to the intestate, and that, under a statute, no such towu could be laid off, and the plat recorded, unless there was a perfect record -title in the proprietors; and, because of its inability to lay off and record the plat of such [283]*283town, it suffered special damage. Wherefore the said defendant asked that its answer be treated as a cross-petition, and that the contract be rescihded, and the plaintiff be required to pay the defendant $1,200, with interest, and that defendant have a lien on the real estate therefor; that an accounting of the rents and profits be had, and the damages of the defendants ascertained, and that defendant have such other relief as it may be entitled to.

The administrator filed a replication, and denied that Polk purchased the land as trustee for his co-defendant, and pleaded that the title was perfect in every respect in the intestate, except a mortgage, which had been paid; and that the intestate and his grantors have had actual, open, notorious and peaceable possession of the premises for more than ten years; and all affirmative allegations in the cross-petition were denied.

There is a discrepancy in the land as described in the petition and the answer and contract. As to this, it was pleaded in the replication that a mistake had been made in describing the land in the contract, and it was asked that the same be reformed so as to conform to the intention of the parties.

The widow and heiys at law of the intestate intervened, and were made plaintiffs, and adopted the prior pleadings filed by the intestate and administrator, and asked the same relief.

The defendants, in a subsequent pleading, denied that there was any mistake in describing the laud purchased in the contract, and denied that the intervenors were the widow and heirs at law of the intestate. There were two amendments to the petition filed, which demanded the same relief as the petition. Substantially the allegations therein were denied.

The foregoing lengthy statement is deemed necessary to present, in a general way, the issues. The contention of the several parties will now be referred to in the order, or nearly so, as presented by counsel.

[284]*284I. The obligation executed by the defendant Polk is in these words:

“Des Moines, July 23, 1881.
“Know all men by these presents that I acknowledge myself indebted to Andrew Stevenson in the sum of six thousand six hundred and fifty dollars, ($6,650,) which I agree to pay the said Stevenson o'n or before March 1, 1882, oh condition that the said Stevenson and wife shall fully comply with their title bond of even date herewith, wherein they agree to convey to me certain real estate lying and being in Marion county, Iowa. This obligation to draw interest at the rate of eight per cent per annum after maturity, provided that the Said Stevenson and wife shall comply with their title bond aforesaid. In witness whereof I have hereunto ,set my hand the day and date first above written.
“J. S. Polk, Trustee.”

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Bluebook (online)
32 N.W. 340, 71 Iowa 278, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/stevenson-v-polk-iowa-1887.