Case Name: Franklin J. Thompson et al., Appellants, v. Raymond W. Howell et al., Respondents
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1964-04-09
Citations: 20 A.D.2d 963
Docket Number: 
Parties: Franklin J. Thompson et al., Appellants, v. Raymond W. Howell et al., Respondents.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 20
Pages: 963–963

Head Matter:
Franklin J. Thompson et al., Appellants, v. Raymond W. Howell et al., Respondents.

Opinion:
Judgment unanimously reversed on the law and facts and a new trial granted, with costs to the appellants to abide the event. Memorandum: The plaintiffs appeal from a judgment dismissing their amended complaint on the merits. Among other things the amended complaint sought reformation of a contract for the sale of real property to show the intent of the parties at the time the contract was made as to a cancellation clause in favor of the defendants. At the time of trial before the court without a jury the plaintiffs conceded that they had received a cancellation notice. Based on this concession and without taking any proof the court dismissed the amended complaint. This was on the theory that the cancellation clause was not ambiguous and also that parol evidence could not be used because it would vary the terms of the contract. This was error. A contract need not be ambiguous to be reformed. Mutual mistake or mistake of one party and fraud of the other with respect to a material part of the contract permits reformation. (76 C. J. S., Reformation of Instruments, p. 364, § 28, subd. b; 5 Williston, Contracts [rev. ed.], p. 4336, § 1547.) Here the plaintiffs seek to reform the contract because of mutual mistake. They are entitled to a trial. It is clear parol evidence is admissible in an action for reformation. (Brandwein v. Provident Mut. Life Ins. Co., 3 N Y 2d 491; 6 N. Y. Jur. [1964 Supp.], p. 35, § 32.5.) (Appeal from judgment of Livingston Trial Term dismissing the complaint on the merits, in an action for specific performance of a contract.) Present—Williams, P. J., Goldman, Henry, Noonan and Del Veeehio, JJ.