Case ID: mich_247/html/0119-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "North, C. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

BETTS v. WAYNE CIRCUIT JUDGE.
    Taxation — Land Contracts — Action to Recover Money Paid Should Be Dismissed. Unless Statutory Tax Paid.
    A motion to dismiss an action for money paid on a land contract by a minor, who disaffirmed the contract on becoming of age, should have been granted unless the statutory tax on the contract imposed by 3 Comp. Laws 1915, §§ 4268-4277, was paid within a reasonable time, which should have been fixed by the trial court.
    Mandamus by Edward L. Betts to compel Harry B. Keidan, Wayne circuit judge, to vacate two orders denying motions to dismiss a cause of action.
    Submitted April 2, 1929.
    (Calendar No. 34,177.)
    Writ granted June 3, 1929.
    
      Ralph E. Rotitier, for plaintiff.
    
      Chester J. Morse, for defendant.
   North, C. J.

James W. Paisley, while a minor, contracted to purchase certain land of Edward L. Betts, the plaintiff herein. Paisley paid Betts certain sums of money on his contract. Upon becoming of age, Paisley disaffirmed the contract and brought suit against Betts to recover the money he had thus paid. Betts made a motion to dismiss the suit on the ground that the tax on the contract imposed by the statute (3 Comp. Laws 1915, §§ 4268-4277), had not been paid. Section 4275 of the statute provides:

“No mortgage or lánd contract, which is subject to the tax imposed by this act shall be released, enforced, discharged of record or received in evidence in any action or proceeding at law or in equity, nor shall any assignment of or agreement extending any such mortgage or land contract be recorded until the tax imposed thereon by this act shall have been paid as in this act provided.”

The motion to dismiss was denied. Plaintiff herein seeks by mandamus to compel the entry of an order dismissing Paisley’s suit. The question thus presented is determined by the recent decision in McDonald v. Betts, 246 Mich. 585, which was handed down by this court since the order herein sought to be vacated was made. Plaintiff was entitled to an order dismissing Paisley’s suit unless the latter paid the statutory tax on the contract within a reasonable time, which should have been fixed by the court in such order, and a stay of proceedings should have been granted until payment was made. Unless the circuit judge shall enter the order of his own motion, the writ will issue. Costs in this court may be taxed by the plaintiff against James W. Paisley.

Fead, Fellows, Wiest, Clark, McDonald, Potter, and Sharpe, JJ., concurred.