Court Opinion

ID: 8510092
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-23 08:36:15.467408+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:51:03.974547
License: Public Domain

HALE, J.
The court of common pleas sustained a general demurrer to the petition and gave judgment for the defendant.
It is alleged in the petition that the defendant, on October 23, 1897, entered into a verbal contract with the plaintiff by the terms of which the defendant sold and agreed to convey to the plaintiff for the consideration of $2,475 certain described real estate, and that on said day the plaintiff paid to the defendant, on the agreed purchase price, the sum of $300. That the defendant elected to rescind said verbal contract, and, on April 6, 1898, conveyed said real estate to another and refuses to repay to the plaintiff said sum of $300.
This petition, we hold, states a cause of action.
One who has entered into a verbal contract for the purchase of real estate, voidable under the statute of frauds, and paid a portion of the purchase price, may not himself elect to rescind the contract, refuse to perform the agreement on his part, and *624by action recover the amount paid by him, the vendor making no default.
If, however, the vendor elects to rescind the contract or refuses performance on his part, and puts it beyond his power to convey the real estate in accordance with the terms of the verbal agreement, the purchaser may recover the money paid.
It being alleged that the defendant elected to rescind the contract, and conveyed the premises to another, it was unnecessary, to constitute a good cause of action, that the petition should contain the further allegation that the plaintiff had performed, or offered to perform, the contract on his part.
If the defendant has received from the plaintiff money upon a contract voidable at his election and has elected to avoid the. contract, he should refund the money so received.
The judgment of the court of common pleas is reversed, and the cause remanded for further proceedings.
Caldwell and Marvi-n, JJ., concur.