Dal v. Fischer

HANEY, J. On October 8, 1901, the plaintiff was the owner of the S. W. of section 5 — 116—63, in Spink county, this state. She and her son, the defendant John W. Dal, resided in Chicago. The defendants Fischer and Merchants’ Bank of Redfield, resided in Spink county. On that day the following writing was signed by defendant Dal, and delivered to defendant Fischer at the plaintiff’s home in Chicago1: “It is agreed that George W. Fischer shall, as — 429 — my agent, contract that I, Dr. John W. Dal, of Chicago, Ill., will sell the following described lands to any purchaser found by him within sixty days from the date thereof, viz., also• the' right to purchase for himself $. W. of 5 — 116—63, situate in Spink county. The price to be not less than two thousand dollars. I agree to' furnish to the purchaser, within thirty days, after a deposit of two hundred and fifty dollars is made with me or with the Merchants’ Bank of Redfield, South Dakota, a complete abstract of title to said land. The said property to be conveyed free of all incumbrances with good and sufficient warranty deed. The said property shall remain in the hands of the said George W. Fischer, exclusively for sixty days from date, and if he sells the same tvithin said time I will pay him commission, of Uve per cent, upon the purchase price. Witness my hand this 8th day of October, A. D. 1901. Dated at Chicago, Ills. John W. Dal, Agt. for Christine Dal.” The itali-cised words and figures were inserted by Fischer after his return to Redfield. Though the execution of this instrument was neither acknowledged nor proved, so as to entitle it to be recorded it was in fact recorded in Spink county, March 12, 1902. On December 20, 1901, the following letter was received by the defendant bank at Redfield: “Gentlemen: Inclosed please find papers relating to the sale of Mrs. Christine Dal:s farm, which consists- of the following: (1) Warranty deed executed by Mrs. Dal; also' the original patent of said farm. (2) Trust deed and note, with interest coupons. Please have Mr. George W. Fischer execute the same. If the trust deed does not conform with the laws of Dakota please have a new one drawn up. I also- inclose insurance policy which has still a year to run before it expires, SO’ the purchaser will have to pay $5.00 for the unexpired time. The purchase price, as you no doubt understand, is to be $2,000 — $1,000 down and the balance in two years. Send draft to Dr. John W. Dal, No. 499 N. Robey Si., Chicago. Very truly yours, Albert J. W. Appell.” Because of an unsatisfied judgment against one of plaintiff’s grantors, which appeared to be a lien on the land, for an amount far in excess of its value, and other unimportant reasons, Fischer refused to accept the plaintiff’s deed. After numerous fruitless efforts to reach a settlement the plaintiff demanded a return of the^-papers on deposit — 430 — with the defendant bank, and instituted this action .to recover possession of the same and to have the recorded contract canceled. Defendant Fischer served a separate answer; also a pleading designated “a cross-complaint”; and defendant Dal served a so-call ;d “cross-complaint.” It would be difficult to imagine bow the rules of procedure in this state could have been more completely ignored than they were in this case, but as no one objected, the pleadings must stand for what they are worth. Defendant Dal was neither a necessary nor proper party, and it is doubtful if the record of the unacknowledged and unproved contract constitutes a cloud upon plaintiffs title; but, assuming it does, nothing more was really involved than plaintiff’s right to have canceled, and to recover possession of the papers on deposit with the bank and a' counterclaim against the plaintiff in favor of defendant Fischer for such damages as he may have sutsained by reason of the plaintiff’s failure to perform her alleged contract. As the contract was not entitled to be recorded; as the time in which Fischer could act under it had expired; and as he elected to take damages rather than a specific performance, the plaintiff was entitled to the relief prayed in her complaint and the only remaining issue was the amount, if airy, of Fischer’s damages for the plaintiffs breach of the alleged contract. On the theory that Fischer might have sold the property for $400 in excess of what the plaintiff was to receive, the court before whom the case was tried without a jury rendered a judgment in his favor for that amount together with costs and disbursements, leaving the record as it was and plaintiff’s papers on deposit in the bank. Plaintiff’s motion for a new trial having been denied an appeal was taken from the judgment and order. As the contract in controversy is one affecting real property situate in this state, where it was to be performed, its validity •should be determined by the law of this jurisdiction, and not by the law of the place where it was executed. Rev. Civ. Code, § 240; Moen v. Moen, 16 S. D. 210, 92 N. W. 13; Bowdle v. Jencks, 18 S. D. 80, 99 N. W. 98; Bissell v. Terry, 69 Ill. 184; Morris v. Linton, 61 Neb. 537, 85 N. W. 565; Baum v. Birchall, 150 Pa. 164, 24 Atl. 620; Richardson v. De Giverville, 107 Mo. 422, 17 S. W. 974; Doyle v. McGuire, 38 Iowa, 410. Under the law of this — 431 — state “the following contracts are invalid unless the same, or some •note or memorandum thereof, be in writing and subscribed by the party to be charged, or by his agent: (5) An agreement for the leasing for a longer period than one year, or for the sale of real property, or of an interest therein and such agreement if made by an agent of the party sought to be charged, is invalid, unless the authority of the agent be in writing, subscribed by the party sought to be charged. An agency may be created, and an authority may. be conferred, by a precedent authorization, or a subsequent ratification. An oral • authorization is sufficient for any purpose, except that an authority to enter into a contract required by law to be .11 writing can only be given by an instrument in writing. A ratification can be made only in the-manner that would have been necessary to confer an original authority for the act ratified, or, where an oral authorization would suffice, by,accepting or retaining the 'benefit of the act, with notice thereof.” Rev. Civ. Code, § 1238, 1665, 1667, 1668. The writing delivered to Fischer in Chicago was not subscribed by the plaintiff. It does not purport to be her ■contract as a principal. This is not a case where one who is present directs another to subscribe his name to an instrument. The evidence conclusively shows that the person who executed the contract was not authorized to do so in writing. Hence, his act was of no validity unless subsequently ratified in the manner that would have been necessary to confer original authority. The plaintiff never accepted any benefits of her son’s act. The attorney who- sent the deed and abstract to the bank was not authorized to do so in writing. Such deed did not contain the name of any grantee. So the plaintiff did not in writing or otherwise, ever agree or offer to sell the land to Fischer, nor did she ever in writing or otherwise ratify her son’.-, agreement to do so. The findings of the trial court are to the -effect that the plaintiff on Octoer 8, 1901, at the city of Chicago, entered into an agreement in writing with defendant Fischer that he should be her agent to sell the land, and that his agency should ■continue for 60 days; that such contract was entered into personally by the plaintiff and was executed in her presence, at her request, by the hand of her son. These findings are not sustained by •the evidence. The plaintiff, her son, and one Effie Wilson swore — 432 — positively that the plaintiff declined to sign the contract. Fischer testified: “When I had the contract prepared, all but the three' parts that have been changed since, I said to John W. Dal, ‘I would, like to have your mother sign this contract,’ and he spoke to his-mother and told her what I said, and she said, T have given my son full instructions to sign any papers for me and to do my business for me.’ ” Assuming Fischer’s testimony to be true, there-was not even parol authority for the son to subscribe his mother’s-name to the contract. In any event her name was not subscribed thereto within the meaning of the statute, and the writing was invalid as an agreement for the sale of the land to Fischer, or as an authority for him to sell the same as her agent. It is true that the-emplojunent of an agent to find a purchaser for real property need, not be in writing, McLaughlin v. Wheeler, 1 S. D. 497, 47 N. W. 816, but that view of the transaction was not presented by the pleadings or,evidence, and cannot be considered on this appeal. The amount of defendant Fischer’s recovery rests alone upon these findings of fact: “(9) That the said George W. Fischer could have sold said land, and did make a sale of said land in the-month of November, 1901, for the sum of $2,400, but was unable-to close up said sale for the reason that the said Christine E. Dal neglected and refused to convey said property any time after said', deposit was made free of all incumbrances with a good and sufficient warranty deed, or clear said land of the cloud to her title h> said land created by said judgment. (10) That said Fischer was-to pay said plaintiff $2,000 for said land, according to the terms-of said contract and at any time within 60 days after October 8, 1901, the said Fischer could have sold said land for $2,400 or more,, if the plaintiff’s title to said land had appeared good upon the records in the register of deeds’ office in and for Spink county, and in the office of the clerk of circuit court, in and for Spink county, South Dakota.” They disclose an entirely erroneous view of the-measure of damages. If there was a breach of an agreement to-convey an estate in real property the measure of damages was fixed' by section 2298, of the Revised Civil Code. If there was a breach-of a contract of employment to procure a purchaser ready and willing to buy the property the measure of Fischer’s damages- was. — 433 — either the commission inserted b}»- him in the contract, or reasonable compensation for his services. But as the evidence upon which the last-mentioned findings were founded was received without proper objections it may be that the court below was justified in making the award it did. However, should the case be again tried, these matters should receive attention. The judgment is reversed and a new trial ordered.