Opinion ID: 1223772
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: the agreement and quitclaim deed are illegal and unenforceable.

Text: Whether a contract is against public policy is a question of law for the court to determine from all the facts and circumstances of each case. Stearns v. Williams, 72 Idaho 276, 283, 240 P.2d 833, 840 (1952). Public policy may be found and set forth in the statutes, judicial decisions or the constitution. Id. at 287, 240 P.2d at 842. An illegal contract is one that rests on illegal consideration consisting of any act or forbearance which is contrary to law or public policy. 17A AM.JUR.2D Contracts § 239; see Miller v. Haller, 129 Idaho 345, 924 P.2d 607 (1996). A contract prohibited by law is illegal and hence unenforceable. Miller, 129 Idaho at 351, 924 P.2d at 613. Although not clearly argued below or addressed in either the magistrate's decision or the district court, in Idaho a court may not only raise the issue of whether a contract is illegal sua sponte, Nab v. Hills, 92 Idaho 877, 882, 452 P.2d 981, 986 (1969); Belt v. Belt, 106 Idaho 426, 430 n. 2, 679 P.2d 1144, 1148 n. 2 (Ct.App.1984), but it has a duty to raise the issue of illegality, whether pled or otherwise, at any stage in the litigation. Stearns, 72 Idaho at 290, 240 P.2d at 842. [1] As the Court in Stearns explained: A party to a contract, void as against public policy, cannot waive its illegality by failure to specially plead the defense or otherwise, but whenever the same is made to appear at any stage of the case, it becomes the duty of a court to refuse to enforce it; again, a court of equity will not knowingly aid in the furtherance of an illegal transaction; in harmony with this principle, it does not concern itself as to the manner in which the illegality of a matter before it is brought to its attention. Id. (emphasis added) (citation omitted). The record reveals that Ron's acquiescence in the quitclaim deed was supported by Lynn's acquiescence in the Agreement. The Agreement is unenforceable because it is against public policy in two respects. First, Lynn may not contract to refrain from informing law enforcement regarding the allegations of sexual improprieties with a child. Section 16-1619 of the Idaho Code provides: Reporting of abuse, abandonment or neglect. (a) Any physician, resident on a hospital staff, intern, nurse, coroner, school teacher, day care personnel, social worker, or other person having reason to believe that a child under the age of eighteen (18) years has been abused, abandoned or neglected or who observes the child being subjected to conditions or circumstances which would reasonably result in abuse, abandonment or neglect shall report or cause to be reported within twenty-four (24) hours such conditions or circumstances to the proper law enforcement agency or the department. . . . . (d) Failure to report as required in this section shall be a misdemeanor.