Jackman v. Northwestern Trust Co.

Mr. Justice Bean delivered the opinion of the court. The evidence in the case supports the allegations of the complaint in the main; and stated in a general way shows that a short time before making the contract in question C. F. Reid, the president of the defendant, went with the plaintiff’s husband, who acted in her behalf, to visit the land which is situated near Falls City; that neither was acquainted with the corners or lines thereof, but that Mr. Reid indicated that the buildings were located about in the center, according to which about 40 or more acres of practically level land which could be easily cleared and made good tillable soil would be embraced in the property; that there was a good spring thereon with a beautiful site for building purposes; that the deal was closed while upon the train and the application written; that after plaintiff moved upon the premises she cleared about 2y2 acres and was informed by the road supervisor that a portion of that which she had cleared was not upon her premises, whereupon she had a survey of the lines run and ascertained that neither the spring nor the 40-acre tract which her husband examined with Mr. Reid were in her purchase. The land found within the lines of. that purchased being rough, with a deep canyon, but little of it susceptible of cultivation and of small value, estimated at from four to six' dollars an acre, she demanded a rescission of the contract and tendered the written contract to defendant. 1, 2. It is contended for defendant that its presidentI had no knowledge of the boundaries of the land and j that plaintiff’s husband relied upon his own examination. It is clearly shown, however, that Mr. Reid led Mr. Jackman to believe that the buildings were near the [213] center of the premises and that the tract of about 40 acres which was somewhat level was a portion of the land to be sold. It is plain that except for the misrepresentations which were made, whether intentional or otherwise, the contract would not have been made. There was no meeting of the minds as to the actual land embraced in the contract. If an innocent and mutual mistake was made by the defendant and plaintiff, the mistake being without negligence or fault on the part of plaintiff and so material that if the truth had been known to the parties, the agreement would not have been entered into, that is suffi-i cient to justify a rescission of the contract for the sale of the land: McCrea v. Hinkson, 65 Or. 132 (131 Pac. 1025); Bigham v. Madison, 103 Tenn. 358 (52 S. W. 1074, 47 L. R. A. 267, 269); Duncan v. N. Y. Life, 138 N. Y. 88 (33 N. E. 730, 20 L. R. A. 386); Hosleton v. Dickinson, 51 Iowa, 244 (1 N. W. 550). The representations made to plaintiff were such as would have deceived a person of ordinary prudence. It appears that plaintiff could have reasonably believed the same to be true: Dunning v. Cresson, 6 Or. 241; Wheelwright v. Vanderbilt, 69 Or. 326 (138 Pac. 857). Misrepresentations of material matters recklessly made, as of one’s own knowledge, without in fact knowing whether they are true or not, render the maker liable to one who relies and acts thereon to hisl injury: Cawston v. Sturgis, 29 Or. 331 (43 Pac. 656); Robertson v. Frey, 72 Or. 599 (144 Pac. 128). If the representations of defendant were false, were of material facts and relied upon by the plaintiff, as the evidence shows is the casein this suit for a rescission it is immaterial whether the representations were knowingly false or occasioned by a mutual mistake^ They animated and controlled the conduct of the [214] party: Joplin v. Nunnelly, 67 Or. 566, 574 (134 Pac. 1177); Spence v. Hull, 75 Or. 267, 274 (146 Pac. 95); Jeffreys v. Weekly, 81 Or. 140 (158 Pac. 522); 39 Cyc., p. 1249. 3. It seems that while Mr. Beid did not know or pretend to know the exact locations of the lines and corners of the land, he did point out that which was not embraced in the contract upon which the spring was located, and induced a reliance thereon. He was under an obligation in so far as he indicated the location of the property to point it out correctly and he has no right to make a mistake in so doing and expect to escape liability therefor: Bird v. Kleiner, 41 Wis. 134; Freeman v. Gloyd, 43 Wash. 607 (86 Pac. 1051). It is contended on defendant’s behalf that only $525, the amount which had been paid upon the Loganville tract of Mrs. Jackman, was transferred and credited upon the contract in question. As to the other contract for Loganville property made by Mr. Jackman the defendant contends that it paid him $950 and was to pay him $50 more upon the completion of the road in full satisfaction therefor and that the contract was thereby canceled. This is disputed by Mr. Jackman and by the written contract in question and also by the statement or pass-book given by the defendant to plaintiff showing the payment of $1,075 marked “trans.,” which, is explained to mean that this amount was transferred from the Loganville contracts. It is in evidence that Mr. Jackman assisted in the sale of the Loganville tracts and that defendant would not release him from the Loganville contract until such sale was made, making the deal in question a four-cornered one, when the purchaser transferred to defendant a Portland lot. It appears that there was a discount from the amount paid by the Jackmans on the Loganville [215] contracts in cash and road work of $350 or $400, but the evidence does not support the defendant’s claim that there was a discount of $875, which would be the balance due upon the road work deducting the amount paid therefor, $950, and $50 for work not done. Mr. Reid states: “I believe Mr. Jackman discounted—you see he had made the arrangements and received deposit on one— his property, I believe he discounted it approximately $500 in making the sale.” It therefore appears that the amount paid in labor on the W. T. Jackman contract for the Loganville tract did enter into the Falls City property contract in question. The trial judge heard and saw the witnesses upon the stand and his findings in regard to the facts should be given great weight. The decree of the lower court is affirmed. Affirmed. Mr. Chief Justice McBride, Mr. Justice Moore and Mr. Justice McCamant concur.