Case Name: PRIOLLAUD vs. HURST ET AL.
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1841-05
Citations: 18 La. 537
Docket Number: 
Parties: PRIOLLAUD vs. HURST ET AL.
Judges: 
Reporter: Louisiana Reports
Volume: 18
Pages: 537–539

Head Matter:
PRIOLLAUD vs. HURST ET AL.
APPEAL PROM THE COURT OP THE PÍRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT.
When the period within which a certain condition is to be performed has not yet arrived, the party is not in mora,, and the complaint of not complying* is premature. In the meantime the adverse party must perform his part of the contract.
This is an action for the rescission of the sale of three squares of ground in Hurstville. The plaintiff alleges he was induced by the advertisement and plan of the town of Hurtsville to buy these squares, on which plan a rail-road figured,’ representing a rail-road running from the river Mississippi through Nashville street, to the Carrollton Rail Road, with an extensive car house in the middle. That in fact no such rail-road ever existed, hut was falsely and fraudulently represented to deceive purchasers. He therefore prays for an injunction to restrain and enjoin an order of seizure and 'sale which had issued against these squares orlots of ground and that the sale he rescinded.
The defendant denied any fraud or concealment in the sale of the lots or squares in question, and -negatived the allegations in the petition.
On the trial the plan and advertisement were produced in evidence. The plan on its face contradicted the allegations of the petition. Instead of a rail-road, the inscription on it was, “Nashville Rail-Road projected.”
Upon the evidence adduced, which showed no deception or concealment in’ the sale of the lot's, there was judgment for the: defendant; and also dissolving the plaintiff’s injunction. He appealed.
Éosélius. for the plaintiff and appellant.-
Ml Kinney, contra.

Opinion:
Martin, J.
delivered the opinion of the court.
The plaintiff having purchased several squares of ground in! the town of Hurstville, from the defendant, and having failed to make ^¡s payment, the latter obtained an order of seizure and sale, whereupon the present suit was brought to rescind the sale of said squares, and a provisional writ of injunction sued out to suspend the execution of the order.
When the period within omiditio^is^to has no^'yet™!'rived, the party and the com-complying "is thT^meantime the adverse ty must perform his part of tho contract.
The alleged ground of rescission is, that the vendor exhibited a plan of the new town, on which a rail-road was marked with a depot designated near the squares purchased by the plaintiff, although no such rail-road or depot existed at the time of sale ; and every probability of the establishment of such a road has long ago vanished. That this was done with the view of deceiving purchasers ; and among them the plaintiff.
The defendant pleaded the general issue, and that the plaintiff had a clear knowledge of his intentions, which were plainly stated and explained at the time of the auction sale and in the advertisements which preceded it.
The injunction was dissolved and there was judgment in favor of the defendant; from which the plaintiff appealed.
. . The plan of Hurtsville contradicts the allegations in the petition; the inscription on the plan being, "Nashville Rail-Road pi'°jected." The advertisements, which preceded the auction, announced that one half of the lots in the town, only, would he sold, and the other half reserved to be offered to the Nashville and New Orleans Rail-Road "Company for the purpose of building a branch road to the designated depot in Hurstville ; jn case ^ was not accepted before the completion of this . x 1 road to Nashville, then, these squares or lots shall be sold for the purpose of constructing a branch of said road.
It appears that the offer was made to the New Orleans and Nashville Rail-Road Company and declined, for reasons which entirely exculpate the defendant; and as on this refusal he was not hound to sell the reserved lots for the purpose of making a branch rail-road to Hurstville, until the main road reached Nashville, a period which has not yet arrived, he is not in mora, and the complaint of the plaintiff is therefore premature.
The plaintiff's counsel has further contended that the defen dant has made a cession of his property to his creditors and is unable to comply with the conditions of the sale. The cession was neither alleged nor proved, and consequently cannot he examined or noticed in this case.
It is therefore ordered, adjudged and decreed that the judgment of the District Court be affirmed with costs.