Court Opinion

ID: 9856594
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-24 06:51:43.810357+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:39:44.950101
License: Public Domain

*829PARKER and Higgins, JJ.,
dissenting.
The original complaint alleged that C. N. Dobbins owned a farm in Yadkin County containing 210 acres. “On or about October 21, 1948, C. N. Dobbins, in writing, contracted with and promised the plaintiff that if the plaintiff would give up his employment in the insurance business and his residence in Landsdowne, Pennsylvania, would remove himself and his family to the farm described in paragraph four, . . . and would take over and operate the farm, keep it and work it, C. N. Dobbins, in consideration of the plaintiff’s doing so, would convey the farm to the plaintiff prior to the death of C. N. Dobbins, or, if such conveyance was not made prior to his death, he would devise the farm to the plaintiff by his will. The contract and promise so made by C. N. Dobbins to the plaintiff were subject to the condition that if Charles N. Dobbins, Jr., and James Dobbins, the sons of C. N. Dobbins, or either of them, desired to join with the plaintiff in taking over and operating . . . the farm . . . and if they, or either of them, did so join with the plaintiff . . . C. N. Dobbins would so convey or devise the farm, in equal shares, to the plaintiff and such of his said sons as did so join with the plaintiff, . . . but if neither of his said sons so joined . . . then C. N. Dobbins would so convey or devise the entire farm to the plaintiff alone.”
“On or about January 5, 1949, the plaintiff, in consideration of and in reliance upon the contract and promise of C. N. Dobbins, ... resigned his position of employment in the insurance business . . . soldi \his home . . . removed ... to Yadkin County . . . took over the operation of the farm and placed improvements thereon ... of the value of $50,000.” Neither of the sons joined the plaintiff in taking over and operating the farm. C. N. Dobbins died suddenly on June 15, 1958. “Notwithstanding his contract and promise as set forth in paragraph five, . . . and notwithstanding the full performance and fulfillment by the plaintiff of each and every condition ... in the promise of C. N. Dobbins, . . . C. N. Dobbins didi not convey or devise the farm, . . . but in breach of his contract and promise . . . devised the said farm together with all other real and personal property ... to his wife, Beulah L. Dobbins, and appointed her the executrix of his will.”
The plaintiff filed a claim against the estate for damages resulting to him from the breach of the contract on the part of C. N. Dobbins. The administrator denied the claim and the plaintiff brought this action for a breach of contract. Upon motion of defendant and order of the court the plaintiff amended the complaint by attaching the *830Dobbins letter ■ — • which letter shows that it was written as a reply to the plaintiff’s letter to Mr. Dobbins. The plaintiff’s letter, therefore, may be competent as evidence to explain and to throw light on ■the Dobbins letter.
The plaintiff has alleged a contract, performance on his part, breach on the part of Mr. Dobbins, and damages. For the purpose of testing the sufficiency of the complaint, the demurrer admits all facts well pleaded. The ultimate factual allegations in a complaint must be controverted — not by demurrer, but by answer. The complaint, liberally construed, states a cause of action. When the answer and evidence are in, the court will then be in a position to determine with safety and accuracy the sufficiency of the evidence to support the plaintiff’s allegation. We think the demurrer should have been overruled.