Court Opinion

ID: 6659978
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 21:01:02.354199+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:00:07.498501
License: Public Domain

Reese, C. J.,
dissenting.
While it is true that the homestead was taken by plaintiff’s father in the first instance, and by reason of his death the patent was issued to Ms widow, and that the farm ivas improved by the joint labors of the decedent and her stepsons — probably largely by those of the stepsons — yet the title was in the widow, and it was her right to make such disposition of the land as she might desire, or none at all. She had the right to make a contract, upon sufficient consideration, to convey it to plaintiff, if she so desired. However, it strikes me that no such contract was ever made. After making the declaration attributed to her, that whatever she had at the time of *223her death plaintiff was going to get, plaintiff continued to reside on the farm as a renter, taking two-thirds of the products, the widow, his stepmother, reserving one-third, and providing him a home as a member of the family, as she had done during practically his whole life. So far as is shown, this relation between them continued until the time of her death. I can find no promise ever made on her part to convey the land to plaintiff, either by will or deed. I can find no evidence that plaintiff ever relied on a supposed or believed promise. I think the most that' can be said is that the decedent expressed a desire and willingness' that after her decease plaintiff should have the land, but she took no steps to render such purpose effective. I do not believe that such desire or willingness was based upon any legal or binding contract. I do not base this dissent upon the provisions of the statute of frauds, but upon my belief that no contract Avas proved-, nor Avas there any consideration therefor, had one been proved. I need not refer to our uniform holdings, in line with all authorities, that in an action for specific performance the proof of the contract must be clear and convincing, as that is the settled law.
Letton, J., concurs in this dissent.