Opinion ID: 2072744
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Signing of Contract by Mrs. Koob

Text: The plaintiffs and Mr. Koob negotiated the terms of the memorandum in the yard of the Koob farm. After each signed the memorandum, Mr. Koob took the document into the house and told Mrs. Koob to sign it, which she did. She did not read the document. Mrs. Koob argues that she, by this act, did not join in the contract. She contends that her failure to read the contents of the document (and, it must be assumed, her failure to ask her husband to explain or to read the contents of it to her) voided her consent. In the absence of fraud, [5] mistake, or unconscionable terms, [6] however, a party to a contract on which others have relied cannot avoid the duties of the document by showing he did not know its contents. E. g., Shaughnessy v. New York Life Ins. Co., 163 Minn. 134, 203 N.W. 600 (1925); Quimby v. Shearer, 56 Minn. 534, 58 N.W. 155 (1894); 4 Dunnell, Dig. (3 ed.) § 1735; 1 Corbin, Contracts, § 107; 1 Williston, Contracts (3 ed.) § 35. Illiteracy, as such, even if present, is not a defense. Chicago, St. P., M. & O. Ry. Co. v. Belliwith, 83 F. 437 (8 Cir. 1897); 1 Williston, Contracts (3 ed.) § 35, p. 97 and note 19; cf., e. g., Fay v. Buckeye Pipe Line Co., 30 Ohio App. 316, 164 N.E. 782 (1928) (eyesight impairment); Paulink v. American Express Co., 265 Mass. 182, 163 N.E. 740 (1928) (did not understand English). No claim is made of fraud or mistake. The only defense is failure to read the document. If unaware of its contents or unable to decipher its meaning, Mrs. Koob had ample opportunity to ask an explanation of her husband or of the purchasers. She chose not to.