Robbins v. Clock

Carr, J. This is an action for specific performance of a contract to convey real property, or in the alternative for damages for breach of contract, if specific performance cannot be decreed. The defendant has refused to perform, principally on the ground that the contract was procured by false and fraudulent representations as to the value of the property on the part of the vendee or his privies. The contract was signed by the defendant about February 19, 1906, while she was residing in the State of Florida. The land in question is located in Nassau county, N. Y., near the village of Amityville. The defendant is a woman of seventy years of age but, as she appeared on the witness stand, of unimpaired faculties and considerable natural talents and shrewdness. At the time the contract was made she resided with her daughter and son-in-law at West Palm Beach, Fla. It was forwarded to her by mail for execution and signed, acknowledged and returned by her. It was not the result of a sudden impulse, and there was at least some time for reflection. It covered some forty-five lots of land and, in addition, a long strip of land running along a public highway, and but ten feet in width. The [291] specific consideration was the sum of $350. She claims to be entitled to be relieved from this contract because one Jeremiah Robbins, who she says was acting for the plaintiff, had represented to her that the land was of but little value, whereas, in fact, it was worth upward of $10,000. There is no proof that Jeremiah Robbins was acting for the plaintiff in any statements he made to the defendant as to the value of the property. He was a cousin of the plaintiff, it is true, but this fact is not sufficient to raise any presumption against the plaintiff. In nearly all these Long Island communities there is a great degree of interrelation between the inhabitants, and the residents" are blessed with an unusually large number of cousins of various degrees among their neighbors. Furthermore, Jeremiah Robbins was the agent for the defendant to sell the property, and became so through the express solicitation of the defendant herself and her son-in-law, who was acting on her behalf. Jeremiah Robbins did not intrude himself upon the defendant at all. She appears to have known the property well for years past. She has been anxious to sell it through other agencies at the rate of $10 a lot for the forty-five lots. Being unable to get this price for it, during her endeavors of several years, she put it in charge of Jeremiah Robbins at the same asking price. He submitted an offer of $350 for the whole property, provided the. strip along the highway was thrown in. This offer she accepted, and she entered into a formal written contract of sale. It turned out, subsequently, that the forty-five lots and the strip of land were worth considerably more than the purchase price, varying in value from the sum of $750 to an amount in the neighborhood of $10,000, according to the expert testimony on the trial. There is no proof whatever of any fraud having been practiced upon her by this plaintiff or any person with whose acts he is chargeable. So far as she seeks to avoid the contract, on the ground of fraud, she fails completely to make out a case. It is urged, however, that equity will not decree specific performance of a contract to convey land where there is so great a difference between the agreed price and the actual market value as to render the position [292] of the vendor inequitable from the point of view of the hardness of the bargain. Many authorities have been cited by the defendant to this effect. When the systems of law and equity were distinct there was such a rule, unquestionably. Whether the rale has any present force is very doubtful. When equitable relief was refused formerly it was only for the purpose of relegating the parties to their remedy a.t law. Mow, however, since the two systems have been united, the court which has acquired jurisdiction in an equitable action will retain the case and adjust the legal rights of the parties, if equitable relief be found impracticable under the- circumstances of the case. Miller v. Edison Electric Light Co., 184 M. T. 17. The difference in the respective values placed upon the land in question is astounding. Much of it is due to valuations made of the ten foot wide highway strip, which the defendant’s expert appraises at $3,700, and the plaintiff’s expert ait $37. The plaintiff, however, does not ask specific performance as to this strip, having, on the trial, expressly eliminated it from his demand, because of some uncertainty of title. It will, therefore, be omitted from consideration now. As to the remaining forty-five lots there is again a conflict between the experts. The plaintiff’s witness appraises them at $720' in bulk, while the defendant’s witness places their value at several thousand dollars. This latter valuation seems to me far-fetched in the extreme, and I cannot accept it as established. Apparently, however, the vendor sold for a price much less than the actual value, but this fact would not in itself alone constitute a defense even in equity. Losee v. Morey, 57 Barb. 561. At law it would be no defense at all," concededly, in the absence of fraud. In this action the plaintiff is entitled either to specific performance or to his damages. TTis damages would embrace those covered by the loss of his bargain. Pampelly v. Phelps, 40 M. T. 59; Sloan v, Baird, 162 id. 327; Marsh v. Johnston, 125 App. Div. 597. According to the plaintiff’s proof such damages would not be less than $370; while, according to the defendant’s proof, they would exceed several thousand dollars. In either event [293] the defendant would be similarly affected, whatever be the remedy applied. The defendant relies upon Murgrave v. Muir, 57 R. Y. 155, as indicating a different rule. That case, however, distinctly recognizes the rule now existing that, in an action for specific performance, the damages may be adjusted in the action, if specific performance be refused as impracticable. There, specific performance could not be granted for the very important reason that the vendor did not own the property in question, having only a dower interest therein. It is true that the court assigns also other .reasons; but, if these reasons did not exist, specific performance could not have been granted. It lays down, however, a different rule of damages, applicable only to the peculiar facts of that case and not constituting a general rule. Marsh v. Johnston, ut supra. I do not see how the position of the defendant can be improved in this case by a refusal of specific performance and an admeasurement of the damages recoverable. Under these circumstances specific performance should not be refused. The defendant further resists the relief sought by the plaintiff on the ground of laches. This action was not brought until fourteen months after the right of action accrued. In my opinion, this delay was not sufficient to deprive the plaintiff of, his rights. Oovarfc v. Johnston, 15 R. Y. Supp. 785; 137 R. Y. 560, is cited to the contrary. That case was decided on several grounds, and the question of laches- was intermingled with other questions which controlled the decision. Ror do I think that the objection urged by the defendant as to the fact that, in the contract between the parties, the land is described as being in Suffolk county presents any insuperable difficulty to the plaintiff’s relief. This contract was the result of considerable correspondence between the parties. The land lay in a neighborhood, generally known as Amityville, near the dividing line between Rassau and Suffolk counties. Both parties had clearly in mind the identical property, and there was no mistake between them as to what they were dealing with. Under these circumstances [294] the use of the word “ Suffolk ” instead of “ Nassau ” is too insignificant a variation to render this case subject to the authorities cited by the defendant. Judgment is, therefore, directed for the plaintiff, except as to the strip of land running along the highway. Judgment for plaintiff.