Walcrath Realty Co. v. Van Dyke

248 N.W. 634, 263 Mich. 316, 1933 Mich. LEXIS 1160

• Court: Michigan Supreme Court
• Decided: May 16, 1933
• Docket: Docket No. 70, Calendar No. 36,929.
• Status: Published

Opinion

Fead, J.

The action is at law to recover instalments due on a land contract. Defendant pleaded rescission for fraud, with cross-declaration for return of moneys paid. Plaintiff had judgment in justice’s court, but defendant recovered payments made on jury trial in circuit court. Plaintiff’s motions for directed verdict and for judgment non obstante were denied.

Defendant claims that, at the time of purchase, plaintiff represented it had title under warranty deed, and she relied on the representations. About a year before suit she heard plaintiff did not have title but was making payments for the land, so she quit paying on the contract. She made no claim of fraud to plaintiff nor did she give it notice. She claimed rescission before pleading in justice’s court. She has never tendered back her contract nor re-conveyance in writing.

No instrument of conveyance was offered to show title in plaintiff when the contract at bar was made. But there was undisputed oral testimony that plaintiff was always able to furnish title and warranty deed. While not the best evidence, defendant did not object to its admission on that ground nor take cross-appeal.- After trial in justice’s court, plaintiff obtained deed to itself and produced it in circuit court.

Defendant was not entitled to recover on the ground of rescission, because she had made no tender to plaintiff of release in writing of her contract interest before suit. Lackovic v. Campbell, 225 Mich. 1; Lightner v. Karnatz, 258 Mich. 74.

Ordinarily, a vendee is not entitled to rescind for failure of title before the vendor is bound to convey. Silfver v. Daenzer, 167 Mich. 362; Detroit Fidelity & Surety Co. v. Bushman, 260 Mich. 115.

However, misrepresentation of title is fraud if it results in injury to the vendee. 39 Cyc. p. 1264; Allen v. Talbot, 170 Mich. 664; Steele v. Banninga, 225 Mich. 547. But where no injury has resulted to the vendee, and the vendor entered into the contract in good faith, able to furnish title on demand, there was no fraud justifying rescission. Adadow v. Perry, 225 Mich. 286.

Judgment reversed, and the cause remanded for entry of judgment for plaintiff, with costs.

McDonald, C. J., and Clark, Potter, Sharpe, North, Wiest, and Butzel, JJ., concurred.