Campbell v. Durham

CLOPTON, J. Appellants seek by tbe bill tbe specific performance of a contract for the sale of a tract of land to the defendant. The contract is in writing, and, so far as appears upon its face, is plain and certain as to the subject-matter and the consideration, and is fair, just and reasonable as to its provisions concerning the rights and obligations of the parties. Notwithstanding such may be the apparent character of the contract, specific execution is not a matter of absolute right. In an application to a court of equity, the defendant may rebut the prima facie case made by the contract alone, and show, by proof of extrinsic facts, that specific performance would not be strictly equitable. Prom our own decisions, the following principles governing the discretion of the court in decreeing the enforcement of contracts, may be regarded as settled. The agreement must be free from unfairness, hardship, or mistake, going to its essence. A fraudulent representation or concealment, sufficient to avoid it at law, or for its rescission or cancellation in equity, is not essential to a denial of specific performance. If the contract is obtained by the suppression of material facts, known to the party seeking performance, and unknown to the defendant; or, if the defendant was led into making it by surprise, without fault on his part, though not misled by positive representations of the other party; or, if it is impressed with any inequitable feature, the court will refuse to enforce the contract. — Byars v. Stubbs, 85 Ala. 256; Cowan v. Sapp, 81 Ala. 525; Western R. R. Co. v. Babcock, 6 Met. 346. There is no controversy as to the terms of the contract, or the description of the land as expressed therein, or to the adequacy of the consideration. The special defense is, that the defendant was led, by the conduct of complainants, into the mistake of believing and understanding that a strip of land adjoining the southern boundary was included, when in fact it does not belong to the tract, and that such mistake is in respect to a material fact concerning the subject-matter of the contract. The complainants agreed to sell and convey to the defendant the north-east quarter of the south-east quarter of section twenty-four, township four, range five, east. The Memphis & Charleston railroad runs parallel with the southern line of the tract. All of tbe land, except a small portion, had been years previously, and was at the time of the agreement to sell, inclosed by a fence; and about eighteen acres in front of, and around the dwelling-house, [301] which, was located in the south-east corner, was inclosed separately by a division fence, running south-west and northeast in the rear of the dwelling. The fence in front of the' house extended beyond the southern line, and inclosed a strip of land, consisting of about one and one-half acres, which was a part of the right of way of the Memphis & Charleston Eailroad Company, and on which strip is a grove immediately in front of the dwelling. The only mode of ingress and egress, to and from the dwelling and the public road, which runs between the railroad and the fence, is through this right of way. Other than the fence, there was no visible mark of the lines of the tract of land. The defendant purchased the land for the purpose of making it his residence; and there can be no question, that the strip of land mentioned, not only enhanced its value, but was necessary for its convenient use and enjoyment. Any person, going to look at the land with a view to its purchase, would naturally assume that the fence, which separated it from the adjoining property, was the fixed and true boundary. The complainant, Proctor, who made the contract of sale with the defendant, admits in his evidence, that he told defendant that the front of the premises was under a plank fence, and that the whole of the tract, except a small portion next to the mountain, was under fence. He further testifies, that the defendant did not ask him where the lines were, or he would have told him, and that he made no representations as to the lines. The defendant testifies, and in this he is not contradicted, that he did not know where the lines were, and that Proctor did not inform him that a portion of the right of way of the railroad company was inclosed by the fence. We do not mean to intimate that- the failure to disclose such material fact was with the intent to deceive or mislead; this is not requisite. If the defendant fell into the mistake, made probable, or induced, by the omission of the complainant to disclose the material fact, whether such omission was intentional or unintentional, a specific execution of the contract will be prevented on settled principles of equity. — Pom. on Contr. | 244. Denny v. Hancock, L. R. 6 Ch. 1, is a case similar in its features, and involved the same principles as the present. On a sale of a small residential property, a plan was exhibited, which showed the western side as bounded by a strip of ground covered with shrubs or trees. The purchaser, with the plan before him, inspected the property, and saw on the [302] western side a belt of. shrubs, including a few large trees, bounded by an iron fence. Tbe real boundary was not easily visible, being some stumps covered by tbe shrubs. Tbe purchaser believed that be was buying every thing up to tbe fence, but afterwards discovered that tbe trees and the fence stood on tbe adjoining land. Tbe court held, that be would naturally conclude tbe iron fence to be tbe boundary; there was nothing to put him on inquiry; be bad been misled by tbe vendors; and that specific performance could not be decreed against him. Tbe evidence shows, that tbe defendant in this case believed be was buying up to tbe fence. He would not be likely to conclude that tbe complainants, or any previous owner, bad inclosed land not belonging to tbe property. The fact that it was inclosed, was calculated to dispel any such doubt as would influence him to make inquiry in regard to it. A specific performance will not be decreed, when there is a material mistake as to tbe lines and boundaries, which are unknown to tbe vendee, and in regard to which be is not put upon inquiry. Though not intended, tbe complainants are at fault in not making, under tbe circumstances, a disclosure of tbe fact, that tbe strip of land inclosed did not constitute a part of tbe tract purchased. In such case, tbe court will not decree specific performance. Affirmed.