Alexander v. Abernathy

ANDERSON,- C. J. The contract in question provided: “Title to be good and merchantable or contract void and earnest money to be refunded. Sale to be complete within thirty days from date, or as soon as merchantable title can be effected.” . v This, strictly speaking, was not a 30-day contract unless a merchantable title could be shown within that period, and, if not, a reasonable time was given for the effectuation of same. An abstract of title was furnished which disclosed two 'defects, one of which was promptly waived by the purchaser, but she declined to consummate the trade unless the building restriction of the Milner Company, a former owner, was removed, and both parties by themselves and agents undertook to get this obstacle removed and spent considerable time in doing so, as the matter dragged along for months and seems to have not been finally abandoned by the appellee until the receipt of a letter April 18, 1923, from the Milner Company declining to remove said restriction. In the meantime and while this was going on the appellant decided to accept the lot, regardless of the building restriction, and, through her attorneys, notified the appellee’s sales agent, who in turn notified the appellee. See letter from Yeatman Company to appellee dated October 18, 1922. There is no question but when this was done *42 both parties considered the matter as alive, and were negotiating for a perfection of the title, and, had the title been perfecte.d at this time, there can be no doubt but what the appellee could have compelled the appellant to taire the lot, and, as the clause with reference to a merchantable title was inserted for the benefit of the purchaser and not the seller, the former could waive same and the latter could not complain, and when the purchaser waived the defect and agreed to take the property it became the duty of the seller to consummate the sale. It also appears that appellee made no effort whatever to restore or have restored the earnest money until he finally determined to call the trade oft by his letter of April 23, 1923, and wherein he attempted to justify himself because the Mil-ner Company had just informed him that the building restriction on the lot could not be removed. The contract was not declared forfeited or abandoned prior to October 18, 1922, when appellant offered to waive the building restriction and accept the property, as efforts were being made by both sides up to that time to get the title cleared of this restriction. It is suggested that the proof shows an enhancement in the value of the property, and we think that this fact, together with a subsequent discovery by the appellant that the building restriction was not permanent but would expire in a short time, may have influenced her to waive the defect in the title. It might'liso be suggested that the enhancement of the value of the property may have had some influence upon the appellee in his efforts to avoid a compliance with his contract. “It is not essential to the maintenance of a bill for specific performance that the complainant vendee offer to perform, or tender a deed before filing the bill. A failure to do so affects only the question of costs.” The bill here offers to do equity and to pay whatever is due on the purchase contract, and the chancery court has the power to require the doing, of same as a condition precedent to relief and to protect the respondents as to cost in case they did not resist performance. Zirkle v. Ball, 171 Ala. 568, 54 So. 1000; Ashurst v. Peck, 101 Ala. 509, 14 So. 541; Taylor v. Newton, 152 Ala. 459, 44 So. 583. The holding or expression to the contrary in the case of Mitchell v. Wright, 155 Ala. 458, 46 So. 473, is unsound, and said ease, to this extent, is expressly overruled. The decree of the circuit court is reversed, and the cause is remanded in order that a decree may be rendered in conformity with this opinion. Reversed and remanded. All the Justices concur.