Opinion ID: 877539
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: whether the contract is void

Text: The seller argues that the contract of July 20, 1978, is void due to the fact that he did not own the calves at the time of execution, claiming the contract is wholly impossible and unlawful as proscribed in section 28-2-603, MCA. The mere fact that a party contracts to sell something he does not own does not raise the defense of impossibility. Barrett v. Ballard (1980), Mont., 622 P.2d 180, 184, 37 St.Rep. 2038, 2041. The burden of proving impossibility rests on the party asserting the defense; such party must demonstrate that he took virtually every action within his powers to perform his duties under the contract. Smith v. Zepp (1977), 173 Mont. 358, 365-366, 567 P.2d 923, 927. The seller offered no evidence as to why it was impossible for him to obtain his wife's consent to the sale or to buy her out. The object of a contract must be lawful when the contract is made and possible ... by the time the contract is to be performed. Section 28-2-602, MCA. The seller has failed to show that it was impossible for him to obtain the calves for delivery. The District Court's failure to rule upon the seller's motion for summary judgment on this ground is harmless because it should have been denied.