Davis v. Phillips

Grant, J. On March 5, 1887, the complainant executed to the defendant Ezra O. Phillips a deed of a lot in the-city of Grand Rapids. The consideration expressed in the deed was §2,500. The actual consideration, however, was [200] the transfer by the defendant to the complainant of a one-fourth interest in certain letters patent for an alleged new and useful improvement in churns. Both parties resided in Grand Rapids. About a year and seven months afterwards complainant filed his bill of complaint in this cause to set aside the conveyance, on the ground that it was obtained by fraud on the part of the defendant. The fraudulent representations set up in the bill are that defendant represented himself to be the owner of said patent-right; that it was of the value of $10,000; that he was about to have formed a stock company to manufacture and sell churns under said patent; that he would at once have such stock company formed, and would cause to be transferred to complainant a certain portion of the capital stock of said company; that such churns could be lawfully manufactured and sold without any infringement upon the rights of others; that he was able to start said business; and that large profits could be realized therefrom. The bill further charges that complainant was unaccustomed to such business, Avas of weak mind, and easily imposed upon in business transactions, and that he relied upon these representations. The bill further charges upon information and belief that said patent-right is an infringement upon another patent-right, and that no goods can be legallymanufactured under that of complainant. The defendants demurred to that portion of the bill setting forth such infringement as too vague, uncertain, and indefinite to require answer. The demurrer was sustained by the decree of the court, from Avhich decree the complainant did not appeal. The demurrer Avas properly sustained, and the proofs upon this record fail to make out any case of infringement. The defendants ansAvered the remaining portion of the [201] bill, issue was duly joined, the case heard in open court, and decree rendered for the defendants, dismissing the bill. The questions involved are purely of fact, to be determined from the testimony of 11 witnesses on the part of the complainant, and 12 on the part of the defendants. The questions are: 1. Did the defendant Ezra O. Phillips make false and fraudulent representations to the complainant, as alleged in the bill? 2. Was the complainant too weak-minded to understand the nature of the transaction and to make the contract? We see no good purpose to be subserved either to the parties litigant or to the public by setting forth the evidence in the case. We find no evidence of undue influence, and the proofs do not warrant the conclusion that the defendant was guilty of the false representations charged. The patent-right may have possessed no value or merit. The testimony upon this point is somewhat unsatisfactory, but it is shown by a clear preponderance of evidence that at the time of this transaction, and for some time afterwards, it was honestly considered by the defendant and others to be a valuable invention. The witness Cooper, a cousin of complainant, and a witness for him, evidently considered it of some value, for, at the same time of the sale to complainant, defendant also transferred an interest to Cooper in consideration of his undertaking to assist him in getting men of means interested in the matter. A model of the churn was tried, and was shown by defendant and Cooper to several citizens of Grand Eapids, who then believed it to be a valuable invention. Mr. Cooper, however, testified that he advised complainant not to buy, but he bought despite his advice. Whether the enterprise failed for lack of merit or lack of funds to manufacture and place the [202] churns upon the market is not at all clear, nor is it necessary to a determination of the issue here. If the complainant has failed to make out a case of undue influence or of fraudulent representation, that part of his case must fall. We think it entirely clear that in this respect he has failed. The only other question is as to his competency to' make a contract. Complainant ivas the owner of some 118,000 worth of property, consisting of houses and lots in the city of Grand Rapids, money loaned upon notes and.mortgages, and money in the bank. He has always managed his own business affairs, often, however, taking the advice of his cousin, Mr. Cooper. He had been in business, and it does not appear to have occurred to any one to take proceedings to put him under guardianship. While weakness of mind is'an important element for the consideration of the court in determining the nature of such transactions, yet weakness of mind alone -is not sufficient to warrant the setting aside of a contract other-, wise valid and free from any taint of fraud. There are many degrees of competency, but business transactions are not to be measured by degrees. The sole question always is, had the party sufficient intelligence to understand the- transaction? The only medical testimony is. that of a physician who had attended complainant, and treated him for a fever. His testimony is: “I should judge him to be a man of rather feeble mind. I should look upon him as a person not qualified to enter into that kind of business at all, or to handle large sums of money. He is rather an imbecile, — an improperly developed, not developed. In some things, sometimes he' would be quite rational; then again his mind is rather feeble, — feeble-minded. His mind is not proportioned to the development of his body and the physical and mental understanding.” The complainant was of small stature, and, on cross203 examination, the witness stated his theory as follows: “The theory is that the-greatest amount of development in corporeal heat or caloric heat in the system produces the greatest amount of energy, large brains in proportion. Take a large brain of a srnally developed stature, — a very small man, — the caloric heat and development, ‘there is a deficiency of locomotive power. They conceive, but never have the locomotive power and effect to carry into accomplishment.” Such testimony is valueless. The testimony of the complainant himself shows that he was possessed of sufficient intelligence to understand’ the character of this transaction. The decree of the court below must be affirmed, with costs. Champlin, O. J., Morse and McGrath, JJ., concurred. Long, J., did not sit.