Case ID: la-ann_3/html/0363-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Rost, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Morancy v. Dumesnil et al.
    A contract must be understood in that sense in 'which it will have some effect, rather than in that in which it can have none.
    
      APPEAL from the District Court of Madison, 3dby, J.
    
    
      Prentiss and Finney, for the appellant,
    
      -d. Pierse, Thomas and Snyder, for the defendants.
   The judgment of the court was pronounced by

Rost, J.

(This is a petitory action. The defondnnts do not set'up title, but claim the possession of the land in controversy under a lease from ^ previous owner, which they allege the plaintiff has promised to execute. There was judgment in their favor in the court below, and the plaintiff appealed. Morancy sold a large tract of land to Wall, retaing a mortgage to secure the payment of the price. Wall sold to Parham, who also retained a mortgage on the property. Parham, while he was owner, made a lease to Perry S■ Kinnard, of about seven acres front on the Mississippi river, stipulating for certain improvements, and for the payment, at the end of the lease, of one-half of the value of such other improvements as the lessee might think proper to make. The duration of the lease was fixed at twelve years. The interest of the lessee in the lease was sold under execution, and was purchased by John Kinnard, under whom the defendants hold.

Wall and Parham having failed to pay the plaintiff, and Kinnard apprehending difficulties in case of a sale under his mortgage, the following agreement was entered into between them: “ I hereby agree not to disturb John Kinnard in the possession and enjoyment of the lot of ground and the house thereon, which lease he acquired from William S. Parham, as long as said lease continues, that is to say, a lease bearing date the 24th day of March, 1840, and which is to expire on the 24th March, 1852; provided that the additional improvement made on a part of said lot by T. M. Jackson, and now in his occupancy, shall be considered as the property of said T. M. Jackson. July 5th, 1844. Milliken’s Bend. (Signed) H. P. Morancy.”

“And the above agreement is made by said Morancy of his free will, and without any compensation to him made by said Kinnard.

Witness, R. Garxano. (Signed) H. P. Morancy.”

This is a lawful contract, entered into for a consideration which is proved to be real, and which the plaintiff deemed sufficient at the time. The ground taken by the plaintiff that, it must be construed as extending to, and affecting only, the rights and claims of the plaintiff then in existence, is not tenable. As a mortgagee, the only way in which the plaintiff could disturb Kinnard in his possession, was by causing the land to be sold. The large amount due him on it, made it certain that he would become the purchaser, and this agreement was intended to have effect after he resumed the title. All contracts must be understood in the sense in which they have some effect, rather than in that in which they have none. The construction contended for by the plaintiff would leave this agreement without any effect whatever.

The lease could be transferred, and the defendants may avail themselves of the contract entered into by the plaintiff. There doing so is a sufficient acceptance of it. It is alleged that John Kinnard violated the condition of this contract, by making to the defendant a lease of all the lot and improvements, without reserving the portion occupied by T. M. Jaekson. We do not thus understand the lease; and as it is proved that Jackson is in the undisturbed possession of the ground and improvements reserved to him, we are satisfied that this contract has been executed in good faith. Judgment affirmed.