Case Name: Fleming and another, Appellants, vs. Ellison, Administrator, Respondent
Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Wisconsin
Decision Date: 1905-01-31
Citations: 124 Wis. 36
Docket Number: 
Parties: Fleming and another, Appellants, vs. Ellison, Administrator, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Wisconsin Reports
Volume: 124
Pages: 36–44

Head Matter:
Fleming and another, Appellants, vs. Ellison, Administrator, Respondent.
January 11
January 31, 1905.
Action for specific performance: Recovery of damages: Changing cause of action: Death of party: Revival of action: Laches: Discretion.
1. If, pending an action for specific performance of a contract to convey land, defendant Fas, by a sale to another person, put it out of his power to convey to plaintiff, the latter may, in such equitable action, recover his damages for the breach of contract.
2. Where in such a ease the defendant died after conveying the land to a third person, and plaintiffs,- by a supplemental complaint, elected to take damages in lieu of specific performance, the cause of action was not changed from equity to law, and the action might be revived against defendant’s administrator.
3. Upon an application to revive and continue an action against representatives of a deceased defendant the question of laches is not, as in the case of a limitation, a mere matter of time, but is principally a question of the inequity of permitting the claim to be enforced — an inequity founded upon some change in the condition or relation of the property or parties.
4. An action for specific performance of a contract to convey land was commenced in March, 1900, and noticed for trial, by plaint iffs, at the May term, 1901. Defendant obtained a continuance against plaintiffs’ objection, on the ground of his poor health. Neither party attempted to bring the case to trial at the October term, 1901, or the May term, 1902, plaintiffs believing that defendant was still in poor health, which was the fact. He died in October, 1902. He had conveyed the land in question to a third person in August, 1900. An administrator was appointed in January, 1903. In January, 1904, on a supplemental complaint, electing to take damages instead of specific performance, plaintiffs applied to have the action revived against the administrator. No claim for such damages had been presented against defendant’s estate, and when the motion was heard the time for such presentation had expired. No loss had resulted to the administrator by reason of the delay after the defendant’s death. Held, that there had been no laches warranting' the denial of the motion to revive, and that such denial was an abuse of discretion. Winslow, J., dissents.
Appeal from an order of tbe circuit court for Chippewa county: A. J. Vistje, Circuit Judge.
Reversed.
This action, was brought March 22, 1900, against one Thomas Carmichael, to compel specific performance of a contract dated August 5, 1899, by which defendant agreed to convey certain lands in Chippewa county to plaintiffs for $4,125. The complaint, after alleging the terms of the contract, avers that plaintiffs tendered to defendant the contract price and demanded a deed, which defendant refused to execute. Defendant answered, admitting the ownership of the lands, making of the contract, and refusal to execute a deed; alleging as a reason that plaintiff Donnellan misrepresented the value of the lands.
It further appears that plaintiffs moved the court for an order amending the title of the action, and to revive against the administrator, and filed a supplemental complaint alleging that on August 6, 1900, defendant conveyed the lands to one Smith, by warranty deed, for $5,625, which was duly recorded; that defendant thereby placed it beyond his power and the power of his personal representatives to fulfill his contract; that by such sale defendant had sold the lands for $1,500 more than 'the amount of the contract price with the plaintiff; that on October 13, 1902, defendant died; that on January 6, 1903, A. F. Ellison was appointed administrator; that at the time of sale to Smith the lands were worth $6,525,. and, because defendant had placed it out of his power and the power of his heirs and representatives to fulfill his contract, plaintiffs elected to recover the profits of the sale, amounting to $1,500, and demanded judgment for $1,500, interest and costs, together with such other and further relief’ as to the court might seem just and equitable.
Plaintiffs noticed the case for the May term, 1901. Defendant on May 9, 1901, applied for continuance, which was denied. The application was renewed on May 18, 1901, and granted, against the objection of plaintiffs. The grounds of' the application for continuance were that defendant was in poor health and unable to attend trial. At the time of continuance Carmichael whs not confined to his bed, but was up and around — being, however, in poor health — and continued to fail up to the time of his death. For a few months prior to his death he was unable to attend to business.
Neither party attempted to bring the case to trial at the October, 1901, and May, 1902, terms of court; the failure of the plaintiffs to notice the case being because of the former-continuance on account of ill health of Carmichael, and belief that he had not in the meantime recovered. It further appears that the plaintiffs for a period of about four months expended much time and money in endeavoring to sell the lands; that conversations were had between plaintiffs’ attorney and the administrator concerning motion to revive, and no desire was expressed on the part of the administrator to have the matter speedily heard; that the administrator has lost nothing by the delay since the death of Carmichael; and that the time for plaintiffs to file their claim against the estate of Carmichael had elapsed when motion to revive was heard.
Erom the order overruling the motion to revive, this appeal is taken.
Eor the appellants there was a brief by Wickham S Farr, and oral argument by J ames Wickham.
W. F. Bailey, for the respondent.

Opinion:
Keewiet, J.
The question involved is whether the court erred in denying plaintiffs' motion to revive and continue the action against the administrator. It does not appear upon what grounds the court below denied the motion, but it is-contended by respondent, first, that the- supplemental complaint on motion to revive changed the action from one in equity to one at law, which could not be done and the action revived against the administrator; and, second, that the plaintiffs were guilty of such laches as to justify the court in denying the application to revive.
1. It is not denied that at the time of the death of Carmichael the plaintiffs had a good cause of action in equity, which survived; but it is contended that because the plaintiffs, in their supplemental complaint, elected to take damages in lieu of specific performance after Carmichael had put it out of his power to perform, this amounted to a change of the cause of action from equity to law, which could not be done and the action continued against the administrator of Carmichael. We think this proposition is untenable. It is well settled that "if a person in good faith brings an action in equity, alleging facts sufficient to constitute a good cause-of action within some recognized principle of equity jurisprudence, hut fails to establish some fact essential thereto, yet does establish a state of facts entitling him to some relief by way of damages or otherwise, the court will not dismiss the bill and thereby render further litigation necessary, but will retain it and render such judgment as will do complete justice between the parties." Franey v. Warner, 96 Wis. 222, 71 N. W. 81; Gates v. Paul, 117 Wis. 190, 94 N. W. 55; Combs v. Scott, 76 Wis. 662, 45 N. W. 532. This doctrine applies to equitable actions for specific performance of contracts for the sale of real estate, where pending the action the party who agreed to convey has pnt it ont of his power to do so by a sale of the real estate. Hall v. Delaplaine, 5 Wis. 206; Combs v. Scott, 76 Wis. 662, 45 N. W. 532. The motion to revive was to revive the action then pending, which was equitable in its nature, but which nevertheless gave plaintiffs the right to recover damages because defendant had put it out of his power to convey. FTo relief being sought by the supplemental complaint, other than what the plaintiffs would have been entitled to against Carmichael after he had put it out of his power to convey, the cause of action was not changed from equity to law, but plaintiffs were entitled to damages in the equitable action. Hall v. Delaplaine, 5 Wis. 206; Combs v. Scott, 76 Wis. 662, 45 N. W. 532; Franey v. Warner, 96 Wis. 222, 71 N. W. 81; Gates v. Paul, 117 Wis. 170, 190, 94 N. W. 55. In Hall v. Delaplaine, supra, it appears that the land was conveyed to a third party without notice, and it was held that a court of equity would retain the action and award damages; and in Combs v. Scott, supra, it appears that the purchaser had notice, but the court held specific performance ought not to be enforced on account of the gross laches of the plaintiff, and further held that, because the statute of limitations had run against the plaintiff in the action at law, the court of equity should hold the case and award plaintiff his damages. It will be seen that the facts in the case at bar bring the plaintiffs within the doctrine of the above cases, and entitle them to recover damages in the action pending at the time of Carmichael's death, growing out of the breach of his contract with plaintiffs. It therefore follows that the revival should be against the administrator, and not against the heirs. Secs. 3501, 3907, Stats.. 1898; Cotter v. Plumer, 72 Wis. 476, 40 N. W. 379.
2. The next question to be considered is whether the plaint iffs were guilty of sucb laches as to warrant the court in denying the motion to revive. Sec. 2800, Stats. 1898, provides:
"An action does not abate by the occurrence of any event, if the cause of action survives or continues."
Sec. 2803, Stats. 1898, provides:
"In case of the death or other disability of a party, if the -cause of action survives or continues, the court, on motion, at any time within one year thereafter or afterwards, on a supplemental complaint, may allow or compel the action to be continued by or against his representatives or successor in interest."
This section is permissive, and not mandatory, but contains no limitation upon the time in which a revival may be had upon supplemental complaint. Sec. 2811a, Stats. 1898, being ch. 119, Laws of 1897, provides, in effect, that the circuit courts and superior courts may dismiss actions which shall notj.be brought to trial within five years from the commencement thereof. This statute was passed after the decisions of this court in Gavanaugh v. Scott, 84 Wis. 93, 54 N. W. 328, where the motion to revive was made eighteen years after the commencement of the action, and Carberry v. German Ins. Co. 86 Wis. 323, 56 N. W. 920, where motion to revive was made about twelve years after the commencement of the action, and indicates the legislative policy that actions should not be permitted to slumber indefinitely, but that a reasonable lime should be allowed within which to prosecute them, and provides a limitation. In the ease at bar the delay was slight. The action was commenced in March, 1900; Carmichael died October 13, 1902; and the respondent has not been prejudiced by delay since the death of Carmichael. The general policy of the law favors the revival of actions and trial on the merits, when the interests' of justice will be promoted and no unnecessary prejudicial laches is shown,. Jones v. Jones, 74 N. Y. Supp. 297; Landis v. Olds, 9 Minn. 90; Plumer v. McDonald L. Co. 74 Wis. 137, 42 N. W. 250; Jones v. Graham, 80 Wis. 6, 49 N. W. 122; Bloor v. Smith, 112 Wis. 340, 87 N. W. 870. It appears that if the action he not revived the-plaintiffs' rights will he lost, because the time within which to present their claim against the estate of deceased has elapsed.. The case therefore conies within the doctrine of Hall v. Delaplaine, 5 Wis. 206, and Combs v. Scott, 76 Wis. 662, 45 N. W. 532, unless the plaintiffs have lost their rights to revive by lachesl A brief reference to the facts will show that the-plaintiffs were not guilty of laches. The plaintiffs seasonably moved the case after the commencement thereof, and the defendant Carmichael obtained a continuance over the May, 1901, term, against the objections of plaintiffs, on account of' defendant's illness. The defendant was up and around at the time of the continuance, and perhaps as well able to attend' trial and give his evidence as he was at any time thereafter up to the time of his death, and much better than for a period of about three months immediately preceding his degth. The plaintiffs believed that any attempt on their part to bring the case to trial after the continuance of May, 1901, would be resisted by defendant on account of his illness, and it appears from the facts disclosed that they were justified in such belief. In Cavanaugh v. Scott, 84 Wis. 93, 54 N. W. 328,, relied upon by respondent, the delay for a period of eighteen years, and which greatly prejudiced the defendant, was "unexplained and inexcusedand this court there said: "An application to revive and continue an action must be decided' upon all the facts and circumstances of the case, whether occurring before'or after the death of the party, with a view to-the ends of substantial justice." 84 Wis. 99, 54 N. W. 329. In the case of McCann v. Welch, 106 Wis. 142, 81 N. W. 996, in speaking on the subject of laches, at page 149 (81 N. W. 998), this court says:
"Courts of equity, however, are not dependent on statutes of limitation for their right to deny hearing to those who unduly have slumbered on their rights. This power has been- exercised by those courts from tbe earliest times, with no fixed rule, however, as to the lapse of time necessary or sufficient to exclude a suitor from their forum. Very great lapse of time, if reasonably excused and without apparent hurt to the defendant, has been ignored; and, again, very slight delay, accompanied by circumstances of negligence, apparent acquiescence, or change of defendant's position, has sufficed."
All the cases proceed upon the theory that laches is not, like limitation, a mere matter of time, but principally a question of the inequity of permitting the claim to be enforced— an inequity founded upon some change in the condition or relation of the property or parties. Galliher v. Cadwell, 145 U. S. 368, 12 Sup. Ct. 873. The elements of abandonment and acquiescence are entirely wanting in the case at bar. Neither has there been any change in the respondent's condition, occasioned by the delay. It is true, he lost the evidence of Carmichael, if that were material, in aid of his defense. The delay during which Carmichael died was induced, or at least contributed to, by the defendant. This loss, if it be a loss, is not chargeable to the plaintiffs.
We are therefore of the opinion that the court below abused its discretion in denying the motion to revive, and that the order should be reversed.
By the Gourt. — Order reversed, and the cause remanded to the court below for further proceedings according to law.