Svanda v. Svanda

125 N.W. 585, 86 Neb. 203, 1910 Neb. LEXIS 85
CourtNebraska Supreme Court
DecidedMarch 10, 1910
DocketNo. 15,937
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 125 N.W. 585 (Svanda v. Svanda) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Nebraska Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Svanda v. Svanda, 125 N.W. 585, 86 Neb. 203, 1910 Neb. LEXIS 85 (Neb. 1910).

Opinion

Reese, C. J.

This action was commenced in the district court for Richardson county for the specific performance of a contract for the conveyance of real estate described in the petition as the east half of the northeast quarter of section 20 and the west half of the northwest quarter of section 21, all in township 2 north, of range 13 east of the sixth P. M., in Richardson county. It is averred in the petition, in substance, that on the 3d day óf March, 1907, she was an unmarried woman of the age of 17 years, and was in the employ of defendants, Frank Svanda, Sr., and Aloisia Svanda, his wife, and that their unmarried son, Frank Svanda, Jr., was living with his parents as a member of [205]*205the family; that the parents of Frank, Jr., on divers times suggested to plaintiff that she become the wife of the young man, and proposed to her, as an inducement to such marriage, that they would convey to the young couple jointly a certain tract of land consisting of 160 acres, the conveyance to be executed as soon after the marriage as it could be conveniently done; that under this arrangement the plaintiff and the said Frank Svanda, Jr., who is made defendant herein, were married, said marriage and the conveyance of the land having been previously agreed to by the parents of both parties; that soon after their marriage the defendants, Frank Svanda, Sr., Frank Svanda, Jr., and plaintiff, went to the city of Humboldt, and a deed of conveyance was executed by Frank Svanda, Sr., to plaintiff and her husband, but which was not accepted by them as not in accordance with the agreement; that at a later date the same parties went to the city of Humboldt, and another deed was prepared and executed by the said Frank Svanda, Sr., and delivered to plaintiff and her husband; that said deed did not comply with the former agreement, but that plaintiff was ignorant of the legal effect of some of its provisions and the deed was accepted by them, and was by the said Frank Svanda, Sr., delivered to the notary by whom it was written, and before whom it was acknowledged, to be by him sent to the register of deeds of Eichardson county for record; that upon their return to the home of the defendants the said Frank Svanda, Sr., becoming angry at plaintiff because she declined to submit to his advances, telephoned to some one in Humboldt to see the notary and direct him not to send the deed to Falls City for record, but to return the same to him. It is alleged that the execution of the two deeds was such a recognition of the contract to convey, and, with the marrige, such part performance thereof, as fo remove all defense or excuse for the failure of performance; that soon after the. execution and delivery of said deed her husband, under the influence of his parents, abandoned her, and has refused to make provision for [206]*206her, and the defendants, Frank Svanda, Sr., and his wife, Aloisia Svanda, have refused to make said conveyance as agreed, and that from the beginning their aim and design Avas to practice a fraud upon her, and that they never intended to comply with their said contract, but that they desired said marriage in order to secure the services of plaintiff as a “common drudge to do the work of their household.” It is alleged that she has fully performed her part of the said contract, and insists that defendants comply with theirs. The prayer is for specific performance of the contract conveying to plaintiff an undivided half of the land in question, or if the court is of the opinion, by reason of subsequent conveyances having been made by defendants of said property, that specific performance cannot be decreed, that an accounting be had of the value of the land, and that a decree be entered in her favor for a sum of money equal to one-lialf the value of the land promised and agreed to be conveyed, and for general relief. A copy of the deed last executed, and Avhich it is alleged was delivered to her and her husband, is attached to the petition as an exhibit. The petition is of unusual length, but it is believed the foregoing contains the essential averments sufficient to an understanding of the questions presented.

The defendants filed their joint answer, admitting their relationship to each other; that Frank Svanda, Sr., is the owner of the real estate in question, and deny all other averments in the petition. They specifically deny the promise or agreement to convey the land described in the petition, or any portion thereof, to plaintiff and her husband; allege that they had no knowledge of the contemplated marriage.until after it had been consummated, and that “there Avas no contract of any sort entered into or considered and discussed betAveen Frank Svanda, Sr., and Aloisia Svanda and this plaintiff and Frank Svanda, Jr., by which said Frank SA'anda, Sr., and Aloisia Svanda were to convey said lands, or any portion thereof, to plaintiff and Frank Svanda, Jr., until about two weeks after [207]*207said marriage had been consummated between plaintiff and Frank Svanda, Jr.” It is alleged that the lands mentioned in plaintiff’s petition are and were at the time the alleged contract was made the home and homestead of said Frank Svanda, Sr., and Aloisia Svanda, the same being occupied as such by them; that while they never agreed to convey any of said land to plaintiff and Frank Svanda, Jr., in contemplation of said marriage, or to induce them to intermarry, still Frank Svanda, Sr., in order to comply with the urgent request of plaintiff, offered to convey to her and Frank Svanda, Jr., a portion of the lands, subject to a life tenancy therein of himself and wife, but that his wife, Aloisia- Svanda, refused to join in said conveyance; and deny that the offer to make such conveyance was in the attempted consummation of any antenuptial agreement. No reply was filed. The trial resulted in a finding and decree dismissing plaintiff’s petition. Plaintiff appeals.

From reading the petition, answer and bill of exceptions, we receive the impression that the cause was tried upon the contention of plaintiff that an antenuptial contract was made whereby the defendants Frank Svanda, Sr., and wife agreed to convey to their son and his wife the 160 acres of land designated, in consideration of their marriage, and that when the marriage was consummated they became dissatisfied with the contract, and exerted an influence over the son and induced him to abandon his wife and join them in defeating her rights, and, by his aid, avoiding the contract. As alleged in the petition' and shown by the evidence, the defendants, after the marriage of plaintiff to their son, transferred their real estate, including the land in question, to the different members of the family, and which it was alleged was for the purpose of defrauding plaintiff. But, upon the suggestion of counsel in the argument, that this part of the case would require no attention here, that part of the pleadings has been omitted from our statement of the issues. Much of the attention of the trial court, as well as of counsel, was [208]*208devoted to the question of whether the marriage, even if plaintiff’s contention that an antenuptial contract was made, Avas such a part performance as to take the contract out of the statute of frauds. HqAvever, Ave are persuaded that that question is not involved in the case, and it will not he considered.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Novak v. Reeson
193 N.W. 348 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1923)
Dunlap v. Marnell
145 N.W. 1017 (Nebraska Supreme Court, 1914)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
125 N.W. 585, 86 Neb. 203, 1910 Neb. LEXIS 85, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/svanda-v-svanda-neb-1910.