Waddell v. Waddell

127 P. 273, 41 Utah 569, 1912 Utah LEXIS 90
Utah Supreme Court·Decided September 30, 1912·No. No. 2382·Published

Opinion

STRAUP, J.

In the complaint it is alleged that the plaintiff, Leonora W. Waddell, in July, 1904, was the owner of certain described real estate in Salt Lake City, that she then by deed conveyed it to the defendant, William M. Waddell, and that he thereafter without consideration conveyed it to his wife, Florence Waddell. It is further alleged that the deed from plaintiff to William was obtained without consideration, and was procured by fraud, false representations, and fraudulent promises, in this: In 1899 William was the owner of a tract of land in Idaho, and by deed conveyed it to Isaac M. Waddell, his' father, the then husband of plaintiff, but that the deed was not recorded'. Isaac M. Waddell died in December, 1902, leaving a last will and testament, by which he [571] bad devised all bis real and other property to plaintiff. Sbe was appointed executrix of bis estate. After tbe death of tbe deceased, William wrongfully and fraudulently took tbe deed of tbe Idaho property from among tbe papers of tbe deceased and destroyed it. Tbe plaintiff, not knowing of tbe destruction of tbe deed, requested William; to return it to her, which be refused to do. To avoid litigation to quiet title in herself, tbe plaintiff conveyed tbe Salt Lake City property to William, upon the agreement that be would return to her tbe deed of tbe Idaho property; but at that time William bad1 already destroyed tbe deed of tbe Idaho property, and bad no intention of returning it to the plaintiff, or otherwise to transfer or convey the Idaho property to her, but falsely and fraudulently made representations and promises so to do, to deceive and defraud her and to obtain tbe conveyance from her to him. Thereafter William sold tbe Idaho property, the record title of which was in bis name, for tbe sum of $2250, and converted tbe proceeds to bis own use, and failed to account to plaintiff therefor. William and bis wife took possession of tbe Salt Lake property, and improved it by building a dwelling upon it of tbe approximate value of $2500; but such improvements were miade with tbe knowledge of both defendants of tbe fraud and misrepresentations of William. Tbe relief asked was that tbe deed from tbe plaintiff to William be canceled, and that sbe be adjudged tbe owner of tbe Salt Lake property, or that, in tbe event of adjudged equities of the defendants, sbe be given a lien on it to tbe extent of its value, apart from tbe improvements.

To this complaint the defendants answered, admitting the conveyance from tbe plaintiff to William- and from him to bis wife; that William in 1899 was tbe owner of tbe Idaho property, and that be executed and delivered a deed conveying it to bis father, but that such deed was miade only for tbe purpose to enable bis father “to take and use tbe bay which said land produced,” and that bis father “never intended by receiving tbe deed to accept title to tbe land; and that prior to bis death his father redelivered tbe deed to” William “with tbe specific intent and for tbe purpose of - investing” William [572] “with tbe title, if in law be bad been divested of it.” Tbe defendants further alleged that William destroyed tbe deed so returned to bim by bis father, but that be did so in good faith and with tbe firm belief that be bad the legal and moral right so to do, and that be destroyed it prior to bis father's death. After tbe conveyance by plaintiff to William of tbe Salt Lake property, be sold tbe Idaho property for the sum of $2250, and paid no part thereof to plaintiff, except $435, which be averred was expended indirectly in improving tbe Salt Lake property. They further alleged that tbe defendant located tbe Idaho property as a homestead, and1 at bis father’s request and direction lived upon it, and for seven years or more improved it and other lands owned by bis father, “all of which property tbe said Isaac M. Waddell devised to tbe said plaintiff in bis last will and testament, and that she was made tbe sole devisee and' executrix, and that she, on tbe 2d day of July, 1904, of her own free will and choice, and without any promise or agreement on tbe part of William, and in consideration of a long-continued and valuable services which be bad rendered her and bis father, and of bis having materially assisted in tbe accumulation of tbe Idaho property, and in consideration of tbe relationship which existed between tbe plaintiff and William, and of love and affection, and in recognition of what she deemed her moral duty and obligation towards bim, and in recognition of what she considered this defendant was entitled to as a portion of tbe estate, tbe plaintiff, on the 2d day of July, 1904, executed and delivered to William a warranty deed to tbe Salt Lake property,” and that thereafter for a good and valuable consideration be conveyed it to bis wife, and that improvements of tbe value of $2700 were placed upon it by them.

Tbe ease was tried to tbe court, and resulted in findings of facts as alleged in the complaint, and not as alleged in tbe answer. A judgment was entered, giving tbe plaintiff “a specific lien for tbe sum of $560” on tbe Salt Lake property,. evidently tbe value of tbe lot .apart from the improvements. [573] From that judgment the defendants have prosecuted this appeal.

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Waddell v. Waddell, 127 P. 273, 41 Utah 569, 1912 Utah LEXIS 90 (Utah 1912).

127 P. 273 (Waddell v. Waddell) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.