Court Opinion

ID: 3293543
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-05 17:10:12.830376+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:57:11.143497
License: Public Domain

Action to compel specific performance of a written contract assigned to plaintiff whereby it is claimed respondent agreed to sell and convey the real estate therein described.
At the close of plaintiff's evidence, the court granted a motion made by defendant Lewis for a nonsuit and gave judgment against plaintiff, from which, and an order denying his motion for a new trial, he appeals.
The basis of the action is a contract dated January 19, 1909, the material parts of which follow:
"For and in consideration of the sum of one dollar, I hereby authorize A. H. Gregg to enter into and execute for me and in my name a contract to sell the following property: [Description], for the sum of $3500, upon the following terms: Cash, . . . and should said A. H. Greg make or cause to be made such sale I will pay no commission on said sale. I will release to them any amount in excess of the price named and will deed to them, or any one named by them, said described *Page 137 
property on complying with above stated terms. This authorization is to remain in full force and effect for ninety days from date.
"(Signed) MARY AGNES LEWIS, "A. H. GREGG."
On April 8, 1909, Gregg made an indorsement upon said contract as follows: "For value received, I hereby sell and assign all my right, title and interest in and to the within contract to C. E. Archer. A. H. Gregg," and then and there delivered the same to plaintiff. It appears from the testimony adduced at the trial that prior to the assignment of the contract so made by Gregg, plaintiff proposed to purchase the property from respondent and was told by her that she could not sell it to him, for the reason that she had given "an option or contract on the land" to Gregg, which was to run ninety days from January 19, 1909, and that if he would acquire such option she would sell him the land. Plaintiff went to Gregg and procured an assignment of the contract, agreeing to pay him therefor $500, $100 of which was paid in cash. He then notified respondent that he had, by assignment, acquired the contract from Gregg and desired to complete the purchase, made a tender to her of $3,500, the purchase price therein named, and demanded a deed therefor in accordance with the terms of the contract, which she refused to make.
Appellant contends that the contract made between respondent and defendant Gregg should be interpreted as an agreement on the part of respondent, not only authorizing Gregg to contract in her name for a sale of the land, but binding herself to sell and convey the property to Gregg himself, for the price and upon the terms specified therein. The question, therefore, is the interpretation to be placed upon the agreement.
The contract must be considered as a whole so as to give effect to every part thereof. (Civ. Code, sec. 1641) So considered, some effect must be given to the provision whereby Lewis covenants that she will "deed to them, or anyone named bythem, said described property on complying with above stated terms." Gregg was the only person authorized to make the sale; hence, notwithstanding the use of the plural form of pronoun, the word "them" must have been intended *Page 138 
to refer to Gregg, to whom, or to anyone named by him, she agreed to convey the property at any time within ninety days from January 19, 1909, upon the payment of the sum of $3,500. Moreover, it conclusively appears from the evidence that both Gregg and respondent herself construed the agreement as constituting an option to purchase the property given Gregg for an expressed consideration. Plaintiff testifies that she told him "she had given an option or contract on that land to A. H. Gregg," for which reason she could not sell the land, unless plaintiff "procured that option"; and, further, "she told me that if I acquired that option that she would sell me the land." Gregg, by making the assignment, as well as by orally naming plaintiff as a purchaser ready and willing to consummate the deal, brought plaintiff directly within the provision whereby Lewis agreed to deed the properly to "anyone named by them" — that is, by Gregg. Even if the contract should be deemed ambiguous or uncertain, it should, under the provisions of section 1654, Civil Code, be interpreted most strongly against defendant Lewis. Applying this rule of interpretation, in connection with the fact that the contract was made for a valuable consideration expressed therein and the sale, if made, was to be free of any charge for commissions, together with the declarations of Mrs. Lewis to the effect that by the terms of the instrument she had given to Gregg a ninety-day option or contract upon the land, leaves no doubt in our minds as to the intent of the parties in executing the instrument. Indeed, considering the contract as a whole, it sufficiently and clearly appears therefrom that Mrs. Lewis desired to sell the property within ninety days for $3,500, net cash; and with this end in view gave to Gregg the contract whereby she authorized him to execute in her name a contract for such sale, and, in addition thereto, agreed not only to deed the property pursuant to the terms of any contract which he might make for her, but also agreed, upon the performance of the conditions of the contract, to deed the same to him, or to any person whom he might designate as such purchaser. He not only assigned this option, but designated and named plaintiff as a purchaser ready, willing and able to make the purchase, and who within ninety days tendered the amount and demanded a deed in consummation of the contract. *Page 139 
In our judgment, the learned trial judge erred in granting the motion for nonsuit, and the judgment is, therefore, reversed.
Allen, P. J., and James, J., concurred.
A petition to have the cause heard in the supreme court, after judgment in the district court of appeal, was denied by the supreme court on July 19, 1912.