Opinion ID: 876710
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Mahlum tract

Text: Plaintiff and Carlson had purchased about 160 acres of land from Mabel Mahlum as joint tenants on a contract for deed dated April 22, 1957. This property is referred to as the Mahlum tract. The contract provided for payments in the amount of one-fourth of the gross crop, with a minimum of $300 payable in crop or cash. Also, 5% interest was charged. On June 2, 1961, plaintiff, defendant and Mabel Mahlum met in the office of attorney Granat and executed an assignment of the contract from plaintiff to defendant. Plaintiff admits that her signature is on the assignment, but does not remember such a meeting and disclaims any knowledge of the legal effect of the assignment. At the time he drafted the assignment, attorney Granat verified with the escrow that there remained due $5,500 of the $6,000 principal, and $275 back interest. The instrument states the assignment is for nominal consideration. It is not contested that subsequent to the assignment defendant paid the back interest, the remaining principal, and received the deed to the property. Defendant introduced evidence of additional consideration for the assignment. The year 1961 was a drought year on the land and defendant, who had farmed the land at his own expense, received a federal crop insurance payment of $832.72. Defendant paid this amount into the estate. The District Court found this payment, along with the payment of back interest when the contract was in default, constituted sufficient consideration for the assignment.