Court Opinion

ID: 7091193
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 12:06:13.694708+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:13:05.936257
License: Public Domain

Wright, C. J.
Several errors are assigned, but they may all appropriately be considered under two heads:
First. Did the court err in sustaining tbe demurrer to tbe original petition ?
Second. Was tbe construction given to tbe written agreement, as to tbe measure of plaintiff’s damages, or tbe amount be had a right to recover, correct?
As to tbe first, we think plaintiff cannot now complain. Instead of standing by bis original bill, be appears to have voluntarily abandonedvit, submitted to tbe decision of tbe court on the demurrer, made bis amendment, and went to trial on bis claim for damages. By so doing, be has changed tbe whole form of bis action, and it is now too late for him to claim a specific performance of tbe agreement. Tbe defendant also claims that plaintiff bad no right to so amend bis petition, and that in permitting tbe same, tbe court erred. To this, a sufficient answer is, that defendant at tbe time made no objection, but took issue upon such amended petition, and went to trial upon tbe merits. It is now too late for him to object.
Tbe second question is one of more difficulty. There can be no doubt, from tbe state of tbe pleadings, that plaintiff was estopped from denying tbe value of tbe property at tbe time of tbe tender. And this, because the value is distinctly averred in tbe petition, not denied in tbe answer, and is, therefore, admitted under our practice. But this can make no difference, if the construction given to tbe within agreement by the court below, is correct.
Eor if plaintiff can only recover tbe money paid, and the penalty named in tbe bond, then tbe value of tbe land and personal property, whether established by the pleadings or by tbe testimony of witnesses, becomes entirely immaterial. So that the sole question arises on tbe instruction given to the jury, as to tbe amount of plaintiff’s recovery.
*6There is much uncertainty in the application of the eases on this subject; and not by any means, an entire uniformity in the principles which have influenced the mass of decisions thereon. From all, however, we may deduce one point as settled. Whether the sum mentioned shall be considered as a penalty, or as liquidated damages, is a question of construction, on which the court may be aided by circumstances extraneous to the writing. The subject matter of the contract, the intention of the ¡sarties, as well as other facts and circumstances, may be inquired into, although the words are to be taken as proved exclusively by the writing. Perkins v. Lyman, 11 Mass. 76; 2 Parsons on Contracts, 439; Saintes v. Ferguson, 7 C. B. 716; Brewster v. Edgerly, 13 N. H. 275. In giving a construction also, we must see whether the agreement contains one or several stipulations; whether such stipulations vary in importance; whether the damages are in their nature certain or uncertain, or difficult of definite ascertainment ; or whether, where the injury is certain, the sum fixed upon is proportionable or disproportionate.to such injury, and the actual claim which grows out of it. 2 Parsons on Cont. 435; Dennis v. Cummings, 3 Johns. Cases, 297; Astley v. Weldon, 2 B. & P. 346; Phil. Ev. Vol. I, 167, (7th ed.); Kemble v. Farrel, 6 Bingh. 148; Price v. Green, 16 M. & W. 346; Heard v. Bowers, 23 Pick. 445. The terms applied by the parties to the sum fixed upon, will not always define and determine the action of the court in giving such construction. That is to say, though the parties may call the sum so fixed, a “penalty,” or give it no name, or style it “liquidated damages,” the court, in any and all such cases, treat the sum as one or the other, depending upon the nature of the agreement, the surrounding circumstances, the intention of the parties, and the reason and justice of the case. 2 Parsons"bn Cont. 438 ; Harbrank v. Lappen, 15 Johns. 200; Chamberlain v. Bagley, 11 N. H. 234; Williams v. Daken, 17 Wend. 447; Carpenter v. Lockhart, 1 Carter (Jud.) 434; Beale v. Hayes, 5 Sandford, 640; Lindsey v. Anesley, 6 Iredell, 186.
Another rule, fairly deducible from the authorities, is, that if by the agreement, it is doubtful whether the parties *7intended that the sum specified should he a penalty or liquidated damages, courts incline to treat the contract as creating a penalty to cover the damages actually sustained by the breach, and n ot as liquidated damages. Taylor v. Sandiford, 7 Wheat. 13; Schute v. Taylor, 5 Metc. 61; Bagley v. Peddie, 5 Sandf. 192; Baird v. Tolliver, 6 Humph. 186. And in the case of Taylor v. Sandiford, it is held, that the inference is much stronger in favor of its being a penalty, when it is expressly so reserved, and that it would require in such a case, strong evidence to authorize the court to say, that the parties have not, by their own words, expressed their own intention. See also Hamilton v. Overton et al., 6 Blackford, 206.
A brief reference to one or two adjudicated cases, and we will then proceed to construe the instrument before us.
In Davies v. Penton, 6 Barn. & Cress. 216, A. agreed to sell to B. the stock and good will of his business, and to demise to him his house in which the business was carried on, for which B. was to pay £800, and to take the furniture and fixtures, at a valuation, which were afterwards valued at £174. At the time of executing the agreement, £400 was paid to A., and B. agreed to accept and pay two bills of exchange, one for £400, payable twelve months from date, and the other for £174, payable two months from date. And A. agreed not to carry on the business within five miles of the house; and for the true performance of this agreement, each of them did thereby bind and obligate himself to the other, in the penal sum of £500, to be recovered for a breach of the said agreement in a court of law, as and by ivay of liquidated damages. Held, by Abbott, C. J., and Bayley, Holroyd and Littledale, Justices, that thesumwas a penalty, and not liquidated damages. In Lowe v. Peers, 4 Barrows, 2227, the distinction between liquidated damages and a penalty to secure the performance of a contract, is expressed by Lord Mansfield. Says his lordship, there is a difference between covenants in general, and covenants secured by a penalty or forfeiture. In the latter case, the obligee has his election to bring- an action for the penalty, after which he cannot resort *8to the covenant, or to proceed upon the covenant and recover more or less than the penalty. See also Harrison v. Wright, 13 East, 343.
In Martin v. Taylor, 1 Wash. C. C. R. 1, the action was covenant upon an agreement under seal. By the agreement, the parties, for the true and faithful performance of all the covenants therein contained, bound themselves, each to the other, in the penalty of £120, Virginia currency. It was objected that the £120 was in lieu of liquidated damages, and that as the plaintiff could recover no greater sum than that, the court had no jurisdiction of the case, that court having no jurisdiction where the demand was for less than five hundred dollars. The objection was overruled, however, and held that the action being in covenant, and not for the penalty, the plaintiff might recover more or less than the penalty.
In Carpenter et al. v. Lockhart, 1 Carter, (Ind.) 434, the action was covenant on an agreement, containing a number of stipulations, damages for the breach of some of which would be certain, and of others uncertain, and contained a mutual covenant that if either should fail, “ in any particular, to abide by, observe and perform the above written agreement, or any article, clause, covenant, or promise, therein contained, by and on his or their part, to be observed, kept, &c.; the party so failing, shall pay the other party $10,000, (and no greater or smaller sums,) as and for the damages occasioned by such failure.” This sum was regarded as a penalty, and not as liquidated damages.
In view of the above general doctrines, and such as are deducible from the cases cited, we are of the opinion that the sum inserted in this contract, to be paid on its non-fulfillment, was designed by the parties as a penalty, and not as liquidated damages. In the first place, the parties have so expressly denominated it. And while the construction is 'not to be conclusively determined by their having so styled it, yet in the language of Ch. J. Marshall, in 7 Wheat. 13, “ the inference is much stronger in favor of its being a penalty where it is expressly reserved as one.” In the next *9place, this agreement contains -more than one stipulation, or the defendant binds himself to do more than one act. And these stipulations differ materially in their importance. He binds himself to make a deed to two parcels of lan:l, (or “places,” as they are called in the agreement.) He also undertakes to put on the fence of the field, five hundred rails, and to deliver to plaintiff various articles of personal property. ■ Suppose he performed his agreement as to the land, and delivered.all the personal property, except the five bushels of potatoes, or the two pigs therein named, it would be manifestly unjust and oppressive to require him to pay the fifty dollars named.
And on the other hand, suppose he had performed the unimportant parts of the agreement, and failed to convey the land, is the measure of the plaintiff’s damages the same ? The answer must readily be, that in the one instance it would be too high, and in the other it might be too low. But again, if he fails entirely to perform either of his covenants or stipulations, the reason is still stronger why the damages should be different, than if he failed in an unimportant, or any one important particular. On this subject, see Astley v. Weldon, 2 Boss. & Pull. 346. It is there stated, that where articles contain covenants for the performance of several things, and where one large sum is stated at the end to be paid, upon the breach of performance, that must be considered as a penalty. So in Davies v. Penton, above cited, says Bayley, J., where the sum which is to be the security for the performance of an agreement to do several acts, will in case of breaches of the agreement, be in some instances too large, and in others too small for the injury thereby occasioned, that sum is to be considered a penalty. See also Jackson v. Baker, 2 Edw. Ch. 471. And again, the damages to arise from a breach of some of the stipulations of this contract, if not all, are not uncertain, but may be ascertained by evidence. The consideration for the defendant’s undertaking is disclosed, and the motives that influenced the contract. And in this and other particulars, this case differs from that of Hamilton v. Overton et al., 6 Blackford, 206. In that case, there was but one cove*10nant, and from its nature the damages for a violation of it, were entirely uncertain, and could not be ascertained by evidence. It also appeared that the parties had expressly stipulated that the sum named should be “ liquidated damages,” and it was so regarded. As to the rule on this subject, see 2 Parsons on Contracts, 435; Kemble v. Farrer, 6 Bingh. 148; Beale v. Hayes, 5 Sandf. 640. We conclude, therefore, that the sum named in this agreement, is not the measure of the plaintiff’s damages, but must be treated as a penalty.
The plaintiff has elected to proceed upon the covenants, and not to recover the penalty, and such recovery uuder the authorities cited above, may be more or less than the penalty. And further on this subject, see Brown v. Bellows, 4 Pickg. 178; 2 Greenl. Ev. § 257. And this brings us to consider the rule of damages in such cases. It will be observed that this case is distinguishable from that class of cases that discuss the measure of damages in covenants of warranty, and in covenants of seizin. In such cases, the authorities are uniform as to the true measure in covenants of seizin, but not where the action is upon the covenants of warranty. In the latter case, in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, and South Carolina, and perhaps some other states, the measure is the value of the land at the-time of eviction. In New York, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, the measure is the purchase money, with interest. In the former case, we believe it to be uniformly held, that the measure of damages is the purchase money and interest. Marston v. Hobbs, 2 Mass. 433; Bickford v. Paige, Ib. 485; Gore v. Bragier, 3 Mass. 543; Cushman v. Blanchard, 2 Greenl. 266; Sterling v. Peet, 14 Conn. 245; Park v. Bates, 12 Vermont, 387; Werting v. Niseley, 13 Penn. 650; Clark v. Parr, 14 Ohio, 118; Bennett v. Jenkins, 13 Johns. 50; Holmes v. Simickson, 3 Green, (N. J.) 313; Pence v. Duvall, 9 B. Mon. 48; Shaw v. Wilkins, 8 Humph. 647. When the action is brou’ght as in this case, on a contract to sell, against the vendor, who has failed to convey, we find much difficulty in determining the measure of damages upon authority. As damages are given as *11a compensation or satisfaction to the plaintiff for an injury received from the defendant, reason and exact justice would seem to dictate, that he should not in all such cases be confined to the consideration money and interest, for frequently the interest upon the money paid, is but the smallest fraction of the amount of injury actually sustained. On the other hand, quite as much injustice may result by holding that in all cases, the plaintiff is entitled to the appreciated value of the land, at the time the conveyance should have been made. May a rule be recognized, then, which shall have for its basis the giving of compensation for the injury, and at the same time avoid injury to a vendor, who acts in good faith ? We believe there is such a rule sustained by authority and reason, and which while it may not in all cases, make the plaintiff whole or give him full satisfaction, will approximate it, and be as just and equitable as is consistent with most general rules. We believe that the measure of damages should depend upon the cause of the failure. If the person selling is honest, and prevented from making the conveyance by unforeseen causes, and which he could not control, the plaintiff should recover only nominal damages. If he has paid the price, or any part thereof, then, of course, in such a case, he should recover that sum with interest.
But if the person selling is in fault, and either did or should have known that he could not comply with his undertaking; or having the title, refuses to convey; or having title at the time of the agreement, afterwards disables himself from completing it, by a sale to a third person; or at the time of the agreement knew he had no title, in these and in all cases where the inability arises from fraud in the covenantor, the purchaser should recover substantial damages, “ including compensation for any actual loss, as by the increased value of the land at the time the contract should have been executed.” And without referring to the authorities in detail, to sustain this view, we -cite the following: Hopkins v. Lee, 6 Wheat. 109; Nichols v. Freeman, 11 Iredell, 99; Bryant v. Hambruch, 9 Geo. 183; Whitensides v. Jennings, 19 Ala. 784; Hill v. Hobart, 16 Maine, 164; Warren v. Wheeler, 21 *12Maine, 484; Buckmaster v. Grundy, 1 Scam. 310; McKee v. Brander, 2 Scam. 339; Carmell v. McLean, 6 Har. & J. 297; Hopkins v. Gaybrook, 13 Eng. Com. Law, 100; Briggs v. Dwight, 17 Wend. 71; Peters v. McKeon, 4 Denio, 546. And also see Fletcher v. Button, 6 Barb. 646. In this last case, tbe question did not arise, but it is fairly intimated, that plaintiff would not, in all actions brought on a covenant to convey, be confined to the purchase money paid and interest. And we may also remark, that many of the above cases hold that the measure of damages will not be influenced by the question of fraud in the covenantor, but the same rule applies to bargains respecting lands, as in those in actions for the non-delivery of chattels. Others again do admit the distinction. It is reoognized by Mr. Parsons in his late work on Contracts, (Vol. II, 505.) And we believe it to be eminently just and proper.
That there are authorities holding a contrary view, we are well aware. But on the contrary, where land is so much an article of trade in the market — where its value so rapidly appreciates — where our citizens are constantly investing their means therein, for purposes of legitimate profit and speculation — we see no reason why they should not have the expected benefit of their investments, where the covenantor, by his own wrongful act, deprives the purchaser of the land. The obligor binds himself to convey the land. Equity from the time of the agreement, regards the land as belonging to the purchaser, and the money as belonging to the vendor. And in case of dishonesty, every principle of right would dictate that the purchaser should have the benefit of his bargain.
If the vendor so elects, he may specifically execute his agreement, and thus avoid damages. In such cases, the vendor gets what he contracted for. And ordinarily this is what he should have. So, on the other hand, it is true that the vendor may file his bill for a specific performance. But he is not always compelled to do so, and in some cases his suit would be fruitless, the vendor having parted with the title to an innocent holder. The case of Stewart v. Noble, 1 G. *13Greene, 26, does not conflict with. tbe foregoing conclusion. The covenantor in that case died in a short time after making the agreement, and in such case the purchase money, with interest, we think, would be the proper measure of damages. It is urged in the argument by appellant, that the court erred in dissolving the attachment. The assignment of errors does not point to this objection, however, and it cannot therefore be considered. The court below having erred in the construction given to the contract declared upon, and in the charge to the jury, as to the measure of damages, the judgment must be reversed.
Judgment reversed.