Opinion ID: 1189895
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: title by parol gift

Text: Plaintiff further contends that he has title to said land by reason of a parol gift from his father allegedly made to him as a wedding present in the year 1942. He argues that as a result of such gift he moved on the land with his family and lived until he was about to be called into Military Service, and for that reason he moved off of same and sold his livestock and rented the land out for cash; that he had from time to time thereafter worked and improved the land by filling ditches and gullies, and raised cattle, hogs and produce for market; and that he had paid the taxes on said land and introduced certain tax receipts. Some of the tax receipts indicated the name of James Loris and others indicated the name of James Loris, Jr., but there was considerable conflict as to whether the taxes were paid by James Loris, Jr., or James Loris, Sr., and with further conflict as to whether some receipts had been altered. In Johnson v. Kimmell, 172 Okl. 315, 44 P.2d 978, we held: The general rule is that a parol gift of land, accompanied by possession by the donee, will be enforced in equity when the donee has been induced by the promise of the gift to make valuable improvements to the land, of a permanent nature, and to such an extent as to render a revocation of the gift unjust, inequitable, and a fraud upon the donee. Such a state of facts will take the case out of the statute of frauds, and entitle the donee to enforce specific performance of the gift, and to defend his possession against the donor or his heirs. It must be shown, however, that possession was given and taken in pursuance of and in reliance on the gift, with the knowledge and consent of the giver, and that such possession was exclusive. See also Cobb v. Whitney, 124 Okl. 188, 255 P. 566. The trial court made a personal inspection of the lands in question and found no evidence that plaintiff had made valuable improvements to the land of a permanent nature. Nor is there sufficient evidence that would support plaintiff's theory that he obtained title to the property by parol gift from his father which would take it out of the statutes of fraud. Judgment affirmed. The Court acknowledges the services of Meredith E. Hardgrave, who with the aid and counsel of Joe Stamper and Donald R. Hackler, as Special Masters, prepared a preliminary advisory opinion. These attorneys had been recommended by the Oklahoma Bar Association and appointed by the Court. The Chief Justice then assigned the case to Justice Pat Irwin, for review and study, after which and upon consideration by the Court, the foregoing opinion was adopted. HALLEY, C.J., JACKSON, V.C.J., and DAVISON, WILLIAMS, BLACKBIRD, IRWIN, BERRY and LAVENDER, JJ., concur.