Yarosh v. Sanders

187 N.W. 713, 45 S.D. 377, 1922 S.D. LEXIS 67

• Court: South Dakota Supreme Court
• Decided: April 10, 1922
• Docket: File No. 5041
• Status: Published

Opinion

GATES, P. J.

On July 25, 1919, defendant entered into a contract in writing to convey to plaintiff 80 acres of land, partly within the townsite of Kimball, for the price of $15,600. Of this sum $3,900 was paid in cash, and $11,700 was to be paid 'March X, 1920, upon delivery of deed. The contract also provided that abstract of title should be furnished, showing a good and merchantable title. Defendant did not have title to the land, but had a contract for its purchase. On March 1, 1920, plaintiff tendered to defendant the sum of $11,700 and demanded deed and abstract of title and made this further demand in writing:

' “If you are unable to convey said premises forthwith as required' by said contract and to furnish said abstract, showing good and merchantable title forthwith, I hereby demand that you return to me the sum of three thousand nine. hundred dollars ($3,900.00), which I paid under the terms of said contract on the 25th of July, 1919, together with legal interest thereon.”

This action was begun April 2, 1921, to recover the $3,900. From a judgment for plaintiff and an order denying new trial, defendant appeals.

The trial court found that defendant had not, at the time of its decision, June 25, 1921, acquired title, and that more than a reasonable length of time had elapsed within which he should ' have acquired it, and that, between March 1, 1920, and the time of beginning the action, the value of the land had declined' and at such later time was only $135 per acre.

It is defendant’s contention that the title was perfected shortly after the beginning of this action and that, inasmuch as time was not the essence of the contract, defendant has not been in. default, but that, if he was in default, it was waived by plaintiff. Upon the latter question there was a dispute in the evidence. We think it unnecessary to determine the effect of the absence of a “time essence of contract” clause in the contract. There was evidence to sustain .the finding of the court that more than a reasonable time had elapsed within which the defendant should have acquired title, and the consequent detriment to plaintiff.

Upon that ground, the judgment and order appealed from are affirmed.