Court Opinion

ID: 7004573
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 03:48:07.52947+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:10:01.917582
License: Public Domain

Mr. Justice Ball delivered the opinion of the court. • Appellant Smith by written lease • demised a certain store, room and basement to Bust and one Batterman for the term of one year from May 1, 1899, for the sum of $1,200, payable in monthly installments of $100 each. The lease contained a warrant of attorney to confess judgment for any rent due and unpaid. The lessees entered into possession and paid a part of the stipulated rent. January 29, 1903, Smith recovered a judgment by confession under the warrant of attorney against Bust for $304.50' for the remainder of the rent due and unpaid, and had execution issued thereon. Bust then filed a bill to vacate such judgment and to enjoin its collection, upon the ground that the real contract between the parties was that Smith rented one-half of such store and basement to Bust for said term for the sum of $000, and the other half thereof to Batterman for the same price; that when the joint lease was presented for signature Bust called attention to its form; that Smith replied the form was a mistake; that if he and Batterman would sign the lease as it then was, he, Smith, would hold each of them for one-half of the rent Only-; and that, relying upon this representation, they executed the lease and occupied the premises for the term. It was further alleged that Eust paid Smith the full $600, and at the time of the entry of the judgment owed him nothing. In other particulars the bill seems to be in proper form. The answer explicitly denied the alleged agreement, and each and every subsequent admission and act set forth in the bill. Upon the hearing the chancellor found the facts as stated in the bill, and entered a decree setting aside the judgment and enjoining its collection from Eust. Appellants bring the case to this court _by appeal. Eust testifies that in March, 1899, Smith agreed to rent him one-half the store and basement for $600 in installments of $50 per month; that when the lease was handed him witness said he would not sign it; that Smith replied the agent had made a mistake, and witness should pay one-half only of the rent arid Batterman the other half, “ you can take my word,” and witness depended on that statement; that the receipts were always made out for the whole monthly rent, and if witness paid $50 only that was credited on the receipt; that for each of the first two months Batterman handed $50 to witness, and the latter gave his check for the full rent; that for the next two months witness paid $50 per month, and thereafter until the end of the lease he paid $75 monthly; that at the end of the term witness personally took a new lease of the entire premises at the same rent; that in August, 1900, Smith came to him and said he had $300 coming from Batterman, he was short $300 on the lease for half the store; that Batterman was called in, when Smith said to him, “ You owe me $300 on that lease; Eust does not owe me anything; will you pay it?” that Batterman said he was short of money, and it was thereupon agreed that if Batterman would pay $170 at the rate of $10 per month, Smith would consider the account settled, and Batterman then paid $10 under this agreement. On cross-examination Eust said that he always paid the rent to Mr. Thatcher, as agent; that the first two months when Batterman gave him $50, he did not tell him to pay his own rent, but took it and made out his own check for $100; that when he paid but $50 in July and August, the agent demanded $50 more, and said the receipt was for $100; that at the end of the first two months Batterman went out, one-half the store was vacant for two months, and then it was rented by witness with the consent of the agent for $25 per month. Q. “ Did he (the agent, Thatcher) come to you after May 1,1900, and make a demand on you for rent ? A. For what rent? Q. For rent due Mr. Smith on that lease. The Court: For the rent that you claim Mr. Batterman owes. A. 1 cannot answer to that. I cannot say yes or no. I don’t know. Q. Didn’t he ever tell you that you owed the balance of the rent and he expected you to pay it? A. This young man? Q. Didn’t he ever tell you that you owed a balance and he expected you to pay it ? A. That lowed it? Q. Didn’t he ever tell you that? The Court: Didn’t Mr. Thatchfer, that young man, say to you after the first of May, 1900, c Well, now here. You owe that rent as well as Batterman, and I want it from you ? ’ A. I cannot answer that question.” Witness thinks the agent did ask him for entire rent, and he told agent to go to Batterman. The receipts were made out to Bust and Batterman, and the receipts the agent gave him were on account. Batterman testified that in March, 1899, he had a conversation with Smith in reference to rent of one-half the premises. Bust was present. Smith said “Each of you want half the store; ” said he could fix it. “ So we go over there and make out a lease. My rent was to be $50 a month, $600 a year, one year léase, and he says I was to pay $50 and Bust was to pay $50.” Witness remained .in possession but two months. In August, Smith sent for him and said “You owe some money,” and witness replied that he did and could pay a little every month. Smith said he would take $170 in full payment. Witness gave him a check for $10, and afterwards paid $10 more. Smith said Bust didn’t owe him. á cent. Cross-examination: When the lease was presented Bust said it was not made out right, and Smith replied “it was a mistake, and they would fix it up. That is the only thing I ever did hear of it.” In the conversation in August, Smith said he did riot want to hold Bust, and Bust had paid his rent, and he looked to witness for the other half. Since that time witness has gone into bankruptcy. John Bunge, an employee of'Bust, testified that he was present at the conversation in August, 1900. Mr., Smith asked Mr. Bust “for a little more—how about the back rent that was due on tbe store there.” Bust replied that he had rented only one-half the store and had paid his rent in full. Smith rejoined that that was so, and he, Bust, ought to have been released long ago; Batterman was the one he ought to look to for the balance of the rent. Then Batterman came in and -Smith said to him, “ You owe me $300 for back rent, and if you can’t pay that I’ll let you off for $170, payable $10 per month.” Batterman then gave Smith a check, the amount of which the witness did not know. The deposition of Smith was read. In if he denied that prior to the execution of the lease he made any arrangement with Bust or with any one in his behalf in regard to his, Bust, renting one-half of the premises for $600 per year, or $50 per month, or upon any other consideration; nor did Batterman make any arrangement for the renting of the other half of the premises; nor did he have any conversation whatever with Batterman upon that subject; that Bust never said to him that there wa,s a mistake in the lease, nor did witness say to Bust there was any mistake in it, or that if Bust would sign the lease as it was, witness would only hold him for one-half the rent; that witness was present before and at the time the lease was signed; and that nothing of the kind set up in the bill there occurred or was said; that Bust executed the lease and went into possession of the premises; and that the rent was not collected by witness, but by his agents; that when he called on Bust in August, 1900, for the remainder of the rent, Bust insisted that Batterman should pay it, and to avoid trouble witness said he would try to collect it from the latter, but did not tell Bust that he would release him in any way from his obligations under the lease. Thereupon Bust sent for Batterman. When the latter came witness told him he owed witness $300, and he admitted it; but witness did not state then or at any time to any one that Bust had fully paid his indebtedness, or that he had no claim against him under the lease; that witness did agree that if Batterman would promptly pay $10 per month until he had paid $170, witness would receipt in full to both tenants, but witness always maintained that the indebtedness was joint and several upon the part of both; that Batterman paid $30 only, and there was yet due at the time of the entry of the judgment $270. A. C. Thatcher was the agent to collect this rent. He testifies that he went to Bust for the May and June, 1899, rent, and each time received Bust’s check for $100. After that time the payments were either $50 or $80. The form of the receipt given was “ Beceived of Bust & Batterman, so much, either on account, or balance, for any certain month, for the premises; ” that he had three different conversations with Bust about the unpaid rent, advised him to get somebody to take a portion of the store, told him witness was accepting his payments of $50 merely on account; “ that we looked to him for the whole rent; he said ue understood that, and was doing his best to find some one; ” that when witness told Bust they would look to him for the .whole rent, he did not say that he paid all the rent he owed; “ he acknowledged that he owed the rent; ” that the receipts always stated the month on account of which they were given to make a continuous history of the rent; “I never gave a receipt except to Bust and Batterman.” Charles S. Quinlan, who was present when the lease was signed, and whose firm prepared that document, says he does not recollect the conversation, obut “ as far as I know there was no objection made to the lease in my presence.” It is a familiar principle of the common law that the written instrument contains the final agreement of the parties, and that all prior propositions, discussions and differences are merged in it, and therefore parol evidence will not be received to falsify it or to vary it or to add to it. It is also universally conceded that a court of equity has the power to afford relief where the written instrument is impaired by fraud, accident or mistake. The rule of the common law and the power of a court of chancery are of equal importance to the protection of the citizen and to the due administration of justice. Which should be enforced and which should_ give way is to be determined by the facts of each caset when it comes up for adjudication. It is reasonable, and it is also the rule, that such an. instrument will not be changed, and thereby a new and a different contract be imposed upon the parties, unless the fraud, accident or mistake be established by strong and con-vincing evidence. A mere preponderance in favor of the complaining party is not sufficient to set aside the common law rule. Unless the testimony establishes the alleged facts so clearly as to leave no doubt in the mind of the court as to their actual existence, the written instrument will not be set aside. The foregoing propositions are so elementary? that they do not need to be supported by the citation of authorities. They have been stated by our Supreme Court many times. Hunter v. Bilyeu, 30 Ill. 228; Schwass v. Hershey, 125 Ill. 660. We have set forth the evidence in this case at large. The testimony concerning the interview in August, 1900, has no value other than as it may tend to show what the Original contract between the parties was, or as aiding in a proper interpretation of that contract. By signing the joint and several lease, and by entering into possession under it, Rust took upon himself the burden of showing that it does not truly describe the contract to which he is a party. His version as to what occurred at the time the lease was executed is supported, in part, by Batterman and by Bunge, and is positively denied by Smith, and is inferentially denied by Quinlan, and is discredited by the evidence of Thatcher. For two months, and so long as Batterman stayed in the premises, Bust paid the full rent with his own check, and accepted receipts running to both tenants. He will not say that Thatcher, the collector, did not come to him after the lease had expired and demand from him the balance of the rent; while Thatcher says he made such a demand three several times, and at no one of them did Bust say he had paid his rent in full, but, on the contrary, acknowledged that he owed it. All the evidence considered, we are of the opinion that Bust has not clearly and satisfactorily established his contention that the lease does not fully and truly express the intention of the parties; and we must therefore reverse and remand this case. The writer thinks that no matter what view is taken of this evidence, Bust can have no relief for the reason that he does not bring himself within the equitable rule stated, and upon which he relies. His version is that Smith agreed to rent to him, Bust, one-half the premises for $600 and the other half thereof to Batterman for the same price; that when the lease was presented Bust saw that it was a joint lease by which each tenant became bound for the whole rent of $1,200, and thereupon he called the attention of Smith to this mistake in the drawing of the lease; that Smith replied the agent had made a mistake in form, but that if Bust and Batterman would sign it as it was, he, Smith, would hold each of them for one-half the rent only and that relying upon this promise Bust signed the lease and the tenants went into possession of the premises. Here is neither fraud, accident nor mistake, at least one of which must be clearly shown to exist before a court of equity will interfere to reform the writing. Bust, before he executed the lease, knew its form and the legal effect of that form upon him if he joined in its making. Yet knowing these things he voluntarily entered into this sealed obligation, trusting to the promise of Smith that he, Bust, should not be held for more than one-half of the stipulated rent. Under these circumstances the promise is not a bar-to an action at law for the unpaid rent, nor can it be the foundation-of a bill in chancéry to set aside a judgment entered upon the lease. In Martin v. Hamlin, 18 Mich. 353, complainant entered into a verbal agreement with defendant to purchase of him a farm, well known to both, which had not been surveyed. The defendant said he would warrant that the farm contained 110 acres, that complainant should have it surveyed, and the amount of- the deficiency, if any, should be endorsed upon a mortgage given as part of the purchase price. The survey showed that the farm contained but ninety-t'hree and one-half acres. The defendant refused to allow that deficiency to be endorsed upon the mortgage. 'A bill was filed to compel the performance of the promise; The court held, by Ghristianay, J., that the verbal agreement was merged in the deed, which instrument, in the absence of fraud, must be presumed to contain all the terms finally agreed upon; that the omission to insert the promise in the deed was not the result of any mistake of fact, or of inadvertence from the subject not occurring to the mind of the complainant; that a mistake in law as to the legal effect of the deed, if any such mistake there was, is no ground for relief; that under the facts parol évidence to contradict or vary the notes and mortgage could not be received, and that this rule applies as well in equity as at law; that the parties dealt with each other upon equal terms, there was no mistake in the execution of the papers they intended to execute, and possession was taken,with full knowledge of, the contents of all the papers and the question of deficiency present to the mind of complainant,‘without his asking that the promise concerning such deficiency be put in writing, and therefore the- court held that it must be conclusively presumed that the whole contract of the parties was embraced in the papers executed. In Sanford v. Gates, 21 Mont. 277, G. purchased the interest of E. in certain furniture and agreed to pay S. a balance due from E. to S. on sud.h furniture. That amount was $449.06, but E: and S. told G. it was $649.06. Suspecting that their statement was not true, G. so stated before he signed the contract, but upon the assurance of S. that if anything'was wrong it should be fixed up, he executed the contract. G. paid 8119-06 and then refused to make any further payment. S. brought replevin. G., in his answer to that suit (the court possessing chancery power over the relief sought), set up this promise. Tho court says: “Where there is no fraud or mistake in the preparation of the instrument, and it appears that the party signing understood its language and purport, it cannot be reformed on the ground that he signed upon the faith of the contemporaneous oral promise which was not kept, nor may such promise be received in evidence to control the written contract. In equity, as at law, the written contract merges all prior and contemporaneous' negotiations and promises made by word of mouth in reference to the subject of the instrument. The presumption is conclusive that the whole agreement is embraced' in the writing, and, while in equity a written contract may be cancelled or reformed for fraud or mistake, it may not be cancelled on the ground that the oral promise has not been kept, nor reformed on the ground that such promise was made, unless it be shown that its omission therefrom was by mistake, fraud or accident. It was not contemplated or intended by either party that the oral promise of plaintiff should be inserted in the contract. Defendant perhaps relied upon that ground. If so, his duty was to reduce the oral undertaking or promise to writing.” To the same effect are Dunham v. City of New Britain, 55 Conn. 378; Clark v. Hart, 57 Ala. 390; Wilson v. Deen, 74 N. Y. 531; and 20 Am. & Eng. Ency. (2nd Ed.), 809, and cases cited. If we adopt the theory of Eust as to the facts herein, this established rule of the law seems to work individual hardship. Notwithstanding this,- it is our duty to apply the rule to every case coming before us which plainly falls within its provisions. The decree of the Circuit Court is reversed and the cause is remanded. Reversed and remanded.