Thayer v. Buchahan

Mr. Chief Justice Wolverton delivered the opinion. We find in the record correspondence leading up to the execution of the note and mortgage in suit of this nature: On December 5, 1898, the defendant wrote to the plaintiff: “Since coming from Tillamook, I have made a close study of our matters and conclude to make you this offer: I will give you my. note and mortgage due in two years at 8 per cent for $549.57, for your good deed. If you take this offer let me know by letter at Woodlawn, Or., and so instruct your attorney at Portland and we can exchange papers.” On the 9th plaintiff wrote the defendant: “The terms of settlement while somewhat under figures proposed, yet will be satisfactory to me. * * Would now suggest that you make a partial payment now, say $100. That you have a bond for a deed, & the land be deeded back to you when the sum you mention, 549.57 & int. at 10 per cent is paid.” On December 17, 1898, the defendant replied from Seattle, Wash.: “Tours of recent date was received in due time. * * I am anxious to attend to our matter as soon as I return home — say about Jan. 1. I would prefer a deed. * * If I never return J. II. Middleton will complete our trade.” In pursuance of this correspondence and further negotiations with Mr. St. Bayner, who was acting for the plaintiff, the note and mortgage were given, and¿ the deed spoken of having been executed and delivered to the defendant, the mortgage was given back, covering the same premises. The land is the same as sold under the Sibley judgment and bid in — whether by plaintiff or by Sibley does not certainly appear — but it was redeeded to the defendant under the agreement by which the note was given in pursuance of the alleged compromise. Dp to this point there is 'no dispute in the testimony. [109] The central idea of the defense is that the note in suit was obtained by fraud, or, rather, to be more explicit, by the inclusion, without the knowledge of the defendant, of. the two items specified in the pleadings, namely, the $300 which it is claimed plaintiff omitted to credit on the Sibley judgment, and the $130, the amount of the Coats judgment, which it is alleged plaintiff fraudulently, and without the knowledge or consent of the defendant, confessed in his name, and as his act and deed. The plaintiff acknowledges the payment of the $300, and thinks it was only partially credited on the Sibley judgment, but says that, however that may be, St. Raynor was advised of it, and he presumes that defendant got credit for it in the final settlement. The defendant is positive that the $300 payment was to be applied in full on the Sibley judgment, and that issuance of execution thereon and sale occurred after the payment, contrary to plaintiff’s assurance that no such execution should issue without notice to him, so that as to this matter the parties are not in accord. The defendant is discredited, however, in his allegations and contention respecting the Coats judgment, as there was produced an authorization in writing signed by him, the signature whereof he now acknowledges, empowering the confession of such judgment as is exhibited by the record. 1. The defendant now declares, in effect, that the amount of the Coats judgment was made up of bonuses charged for loans ■of money and extensions of.time for the payment thereof, made to defendant and for his benefit, which said bonuses, it is argued, were and are usurious and illegal, and could not, for that reason, constitute any legitimate consideration for the alleged eompro"mise note in suit. Such a contention, however, is wide of the defense that the judgment was fraudulently confessed without ■his authorization or knowledge, which is, as we have seen, disproved by his own admissions. 2. There may be some irregularities in the confession both of the Sibley and Nolan or Coats judgments, but, in the view we have taken of the case, they can make no difference as to the result. We are satisfied that the note in suit was the result of a compromise and settlement between the parties, and that the [110] defendant at the time was fully cognizant of every item going to make up the amount. He says in his letter that since coming from Tillamook, where the plaintiff lives and does business, he has made a careful study of their matters, and concluded to make an offer to give his note for $549.57, with interest at 8 per cent, and a mortgage to secure the payment of the same, the plaintiff to give his “good deed” to the premises; and we find that, although the plaintiff insisted upon different terms, more advantageous to himself, the defendant had his own way, and the settlement was made in accordance with his written proposition. Defendant admits that the bonuses, as he styles them, aggregating $120 or $130, were included in the settlement, thus indicating effectually that he had perfect knowledge of them and of the Coats judgment at the time; and finally he says that the settlement was consented to by him because he was not in circumstances to go into a lawsuit at that time, his business being in such a state that he could not well contest the matter then. This is tantamount to an admission of the settlement touching these two claims, which, it is alleged, were fraudulently included therein without his knowledge, and, at the last, defendant seems to rest his defense upon the idea of coercion, which is not satisfactorily shown to be the case. Hpon the whole, we are convinced that the settlement was entered into with a full knowledge upon defendants part of all the items going to make up the amount finally agreed upon between him and the plaintiff, and that he was not deceived or misled respecting any of them; and, the note in suit having been the result of such settlement, he is now precluded from controverting its regularity and binding effect in any particular. Some usurious items may have been included in the settlement, and it looks very much as if such was the case, which would not in themselves support the note; but, as we have previously had occasion to observe, the pleadings set out no such defense, and we are therefore powerless to help the defendant, even on account of such demands. If there exists at the time of the compromise and settlement a mutual, bona fide difference or dispute between the parties touching claims honestly and in [111] good faith asserted, not arising as a matter of law, but from facts equally within the knoivledge of both parties, so that neither has exercised an undue advantage over the other, then is the compromise and settlement final and conclusive between them as to all matters included therein. Of course, it is no compromise where one party knows that he has no claim, but deceives the other into believing he has, for, if one has no claim and knows it, the other party being deceived, he has conceded nothing by way of compromise; but, as has been aptly said, Tie has cheated.” So, also, if there was a mutual mistake or imposition through fraud, so that there has been included in the settlement an item or items for which no fair consideration in fact exists, the settlement ought to be held void pro tanto, the issue being properly presented for adjudication. In the absence of fraud or mistake, hoAvever, the compromise of bona fide claims equally Avithin the 3moA\dedge of the parties concerned must be held final and conclusiAre of all matters going to make up the settlement: Smith v. Farra, 21 Or. 395 (28 Pac. 241, 20 L. R. A. 115); McGlynn v. Scott, 4 N. D. 18 (58 N. W. 460); Prince v. Prince, 67 Ala. 565; Thompson v. Hudgins, 116 Ala. 93 (22 South. 632); Creutz v. Heil 89 Ky. 429 (12 S. W. 926). So Ave conclude in this case that defendant is bound by his settlement and compromise with the plaintiff, and that his defenses set up by his separate answers are Avithout merit. The decree of the circuit court will therefore be affirmed. Aerirmed.