Winston v. Williams & McKeithan Lumber Co.

DeviN, J. Tbe plaintiff alleged that after be bad entered into a contract with W. P. Stallings and wife for tbe purchase of tbe timber on described lands, tbe defendants wrongfully, unlawfully and maliciously persuaded Stallings and wife to breach their contract and to sell tbe timber to tbe defendants. Tbe defendants first demurred to tbe complaint, but their demurrer was overruled, and on appeal we affirmed. Winston v. Lumber Co., 227 N. C., 339, 42 S. E. (2d), 218. Tbe defendants then answered and denied tbe material allegations of the complaint. Further answering, tbe defendants alleged that tbe plaintiff’s contract, dated 22 March, 1944, was unenforceable for tbe reason that tbe land was subject to a deed of trust to tbe United States to secure tbe purchase price, and that by tbe terms of tbe deed of trust Stallings bad no right to convey tbe timber without tbe consent and approval of the Government, and that Stallings’ contract with plaintiff was conditioned upon securing a release of tbe timber. It was further alleged that plaintiff was notified that tbe Government would not release the timber and that no deed therefor could be delivered to him; that further bids were called for by tbe Government through tbe agency of Stallings and wife, and *787 that thereafter defendants became the last and highest bidder for the timber and purchased it 5 February, 1945, with the consent and approval of the Government. Under authority so granted the defendants have cut and removed the timber. On plaintiff’s motion these allegations were ordered stricken from the answer, and the defendants excepted and appealed. The plaintiff’s position is that notwithstanding the provision in the contract which might have afforded ground for noncompliance as between the contracting parties, this would not protect a malicious inter-meddler who with knowledge of the contract wrongfully induced a breach, nor constitute a defense to an action on that ground, citing Haskins v. Royster, 70 N. C., 601. For distinction between invalidity and unenforceability of the contract where recovery is sought for wrongful interference, see Annotation in 84 A. L. R., 48. See also Ringler v. Ruby, 244 Pac., 509; 46 A. L. R., 245. However, we think the defendants here were entitled to plead the facts set up in their further answer in reply to plaintiff’s allegation that they had wrongfully, unlawfully and maliciously induced breach of the contract, and for the purpose of showing that the defendants, in bidding upon and purchasing the timber under the circumstances, were acting in the legitimate exercise of their own rights, and with no design to injure the plaintiff or to gain an improper advantage at his expense. Coleman v. Whisnant, 225 N. C., 494 (506), 35 S. E. (2d), 647; Bruton v. Smith, 225 N. C., 584, 36 S. E. (2d), 9; Winston v. Lumber Co., supra. The’ averments complained of, if established, would seem to be relevant and material. Williams v. Thompson, 227 N. C., 166, 41 S. E. (2d), 359. There was error in striking these allegations, and the order to that effect is Reversed.