Court Opinion

ID: 9760672
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 01:08:02.102639+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:29:15.613104
License: Public Domain

On Motions for Rehearing or to Transfer
STONE, Presiding Judge.
The burden of Tamko’s earnest motion for rehearing is that, if our construction of the contract (not now seriously disputed although not expressly accepted by Tamko) be correct, nevertheless “justice would have been better served by allowing (Tamko) a reasonable time to remove its property and awarding (Fénix) damages for withholding his property” and the result of affirmation of the decree nisi “is so highly inequitable that it does great violence to the rules of equity commonly applied.” In short, Tamko argues the “real and practical injustice” alleged to follow our decision and casts its appeal upon “broad issues of justice” to which it is suggested our “legal semantics have blinded” us.
Passing the provocative question as to whether the scales have fallen from our *537eyes, we note carefully certain facts and principles which zealous counsel may have overlooked for the moment. This is not an action to reform the contract. In fact, it has not even been suggested that the contract was entered into by reason of a mistake or misunderstanding as to its subject-matter or any of its terms, provisions or language. On the contrary, neither Tamko nor Fénix in any wise attacked or impugned the contract in the trial court, but each clearly affirmed and confidently rested on the contract as executed, with each boldly asserting that it was subject only to the construction or interpretation which that party placed upon it. In that posture, Tamko sought an injunction, frequently characterized as “the strong arm of equity” and as a summary, transcendent and extraordinary remedy, not to be invoked as a matter of course but to be exercised sparingly and only in clear cases. Barnhart v. Ripka, Mo.App., 297 S.W.2d 787, 792 (10), and cases there collected. With Fénix’ counterclaim doing no more than seeking a declaration of the rights of the parties under the contract, the primary and determinative issue became (and still is) one of construction of the contract. We observe parenthetically that, in the resolution of that issue, the transcript affords but scant evidentiary aid and, in the final analysis, we are remitted to the contract itself. None of the facts and circumstances attending execution of the contract were shown in evidence, and neither Tamko nor Fénix produced, or offered any explanation for failure to produce, any individual who had participated in negotiation, preparation or execution of the contract. After objection had been sustained to an inquiry as to “what was the reason that * Tamko * * purchased the property,” no offer of proof on this subject was made; and, as we have emphasized, the record is utterly barren of any explanation or attempt to explain Tamko’s action or (as it may be more properly characterized) inaction under the contract.
Upon reconsideration, we are satisfied that our construction of the contract is sound and correct. That, as its counsel argue, Tamko “could only be guilty of an innocent misinterpretation” of the contract would provide no foundation for the injunction prayed by Tamko; and, in the absence of any proof of fraud, concealment, misrepresentation, undue influence, violation of confidence or other inequitable conduct, such unilateral mistake by Tamko as to the construction or legal effect of the contract would afford no basis for other equitable relief, even if such other relief were sought by Tamko.21 Many courts have found it appropriate to point out, in a wide variety of situations, that equity vests in the judiciary no broad and unfettered discretion to disturb or alter contractual rights and no carte blanche authority to decree such contractual construction as a court may believe would have been better for the parties;22 that the aid of a court of equity may not be invoked *538to avoid or prevent enforcement of a contract, simply because such enforcement may work a hardship upon one of the parties;23 and that, in the absence of some recognized ground warranting equitable interference, the rights of the parties should be determined by their contract and, as thus determined, should be respected and effectuated. Cleveland Trust Co. v. Capitol Theater Co., 117 W.Va. 1, 183 S.E. 457, 459(3), 103 A.L.R. 1435; Morrison-Knudsen Co. v. Phoenix Ins. Co. of Hartford, 8 Cir., 172 F.2d 124, 128. So, in the case at bar, the function of the trial chancellor in the first instance was, and of this court on appeal is, not to fashion under the guise of construction a new contract for Tamko and Fénix, but rather to interpret and enforce, without regard to its wisdom or folly, the contract which Tamko’s assignor and Fénix’ grantor voluntarily entered into.24
With respect to our construction of the contract, Tamko’s only present complaint is that we have “overlooked the practical construction of the contract placed thereon by the parties.” But, we find no evidence that Fénix said or did anything from which any “practical construction of the contract” on his part might be inferred or found. Contrast State ex inf. McKittrick ex rel. City of Springfield v. Springfield City Water Co., 345 Mo. 6, 22, 131 S.W.2d 525, 533(11). Certainly, we cannot charge Fénix (as Tamko would have us do) with knowledge and acceptance of Tamko’s construction of the contract simply because Tamko had erected a fence around the chat pile at some time not fixed in the record or on the theory that Fénix should have assumed that Tamko would' not have intended to abandon the remainder of the chat pile and the old plant whose fluctuating market value was not shown as of any date during the period from Fénix’ purchase of the land in May 1951 to expiration of the initial ten-year term of the contract in August 1955. To construe and enforce a contract in accordance with its practical construction by the parties, a court must be able to find that the minds of the parties met upon that construction [Andrews v. St. Louis Joint Stock Land Bank, 8 Cir., 107 F.2d 462, 468(16), certiorari denied Cantley v. Andrews, 309 U.S. 667, 60 S.Ct. 592, 84 L.Ed. 1014, rehearing denied 309 U.S. 697, 60 S.Ct. 711, 84 L.Ed. 1036] or, in other words, that both parties concurred in that construction. Corbin on Contracts, Vol. 3, § 558, loe. cit. 144. Being unable so to find in the instant case, we cannot confine the obligations of the contract under consideration within the limits of what one party, i. e., Tamko, understood it to mean.25
We perceive no similarity or analogy between the case at bar and Buchanan v. Louisiana Purchase Exposition Co., 245 Mo. *539337, 149 S.W. 26, with which Tamko charges that we are in conflict. As for the alleged conflict with Richmond Land Co. v. Watson, 129 Mo.App. 554, 107 S.W. 1045, the holding in that case is quickly distinguishable from our decision in the instant case and from Coffman v. Seyfarth, Mo.App., 200 S.W.2d 594, in that the railroad ties sought to be removed in the Richmond case were not regarded as “timber” (the term employed in the reservation there involved) but were treated as “articles manufactured out of the timber.” Compare Hubbard v. Burton, 75 Mo. 65.
Compassion, charity and forbearance are Christian virtues and personal attributes with which not even a court of equity can endow an individual; and, sympathetically attuned as our ear may be to Tamko’s cry ad misericordiam, we find no basis on which the prayer of its appeal properly may be granted. Let Tamko’s motions for rehearing or to transfer stand overruled.
McDOWELL, J., concurs.
RUARK, J., dubitante.

. 19 Am.Jur., Equity, § 67, p. 84; Pomeroy’s Equity Jurisprudence (4th Ed.), Yol. 2, § 843, p. 1718; Lamson v. Horton-Holden Hotel Co., 193 Iowa 355, 185 N.W. 472, 474-475, 26 A.L.R. 465; Cochran v. Pew, 159 Pa. 184, 185, 28 A. 219, 220; Sibert v. McAvoy, 15 Ill. 106, 109-110; Gall v. Union Nat. Bank of Little Rock, 203 Ark. 1000, 159 S.W.2d 757, 763. See also Williston on Contracts (Rev.Ed.), Vol. 5, § 1577, loe. cit. 4408-4409; 12 Am.Jur., Contracts, § 136, p. 628; Story’s Equity Jurisprudence (14th Ed.), Yol. 1, § 189, loe. cit. 188-189.

. Chicago Title & Trust Co. v. Robin, 361 Ill. 261, 198 N.E. 4, 7; Tudor v. Firebaugh, 303 Ill.App. 452, 25 N.E.2d 576, 581; Union Guardian Trust Co. v. Building Securities Corp., 280 Mich. 144, 273 N.W. 424, 429(10). Consult also Cleveland Trust Co. v. Capitol Theater Co., 117 W.Va. 1, 183 S.E. 457, 459(3), 103 A.L.R. 1435; Cosmopolitan Hotel v. Colorado Nat. Bank of Denver, 96 Colo. 62, 40 P.2d 245, 249(4), 96 A.L.R. 1446; Unger v. Newlin Haines Co., 94 N.J.Eq. 458, 120 A. 331, 336; Merchants’ Loan & Trust Co. v. Chicago Rys. Co., 7 Cir., 158 F. 923, 927; Nelson v. Amling, 319 Ill.App. 571, 49 N.E.2d 868, 874.

. Dorsett v. Dorsett, 232 Mo.App. 126, 136, 90 S.W.2d 188, 194; Manufacturers’ Finance Co. v. McKey, 294 U.S. 442, 448-449, 451, 55 S.Ct. 444, 79 L.Ed. 982, 986, 987; Coffin v. Younker, 196 Iowa 1021, 195 N.W. 591, 593(5); Cox v. Freeman, 204 Okl. 138, 227 P.2d 670, 678(5), 2S A.L.R.2d 1230, 1240(5); Union Central Life Ins. Co. v. Audet, 94 Mont. 79, 21 P.2d 53, 55(3), 92 A.L.R. 571; Crabill v. Montgomery Ward & Co., Ohio App., 136 N.E.2d 332, 335; Standard Lumber Co. v. Deer Park Lumber Co., 104 Wash. 84, 175 P. 578, 581(2), modified on other grounds 176 P. 332; Mizrahi v. Cohen, 1 Misc.2d 174, 140 N.Y.S.2d 605, 606(2); In re Ruszkiewicz’ Estate, Sur., 41 N.Y.S.2d 437, 441(8), affirmed 266 App.Div. 709, 41 N.Y.S.2d 568; 19 Am.Jur., Equity, § 30, p. 57; Ibid., § 157, p. 148; 30 C.J.S. Equity § 62, loc. cit. 411.

. Tant v. Gee, 348 Mo. 633, 639, 154 S.W.2d 745, 748; Renner v. Huntington-Hawthorne Oil & Gas Co., 39 Cal.2d 93, 244 P.2d 895, 900(7); Hill v. General Petroleum Corp., 128 Cal.App. 284, 294, 16 P.2d 1035, 1039(7).

. Ryley-Wilson Grocer Co. v. Seymour Canning Co., 129 Mo.App. 325, 331-332, 108 S.W. 628, 630(3); Dakan v. Union Mut. Life Ins. Co., 125 Mo.App. 451, 459-460, 102 SW. 634, 636(5). See also Dutton v. Prudential Ins. Co. of America, 238 Mo.App. 1058, 1072, 193 S.W.2d 938, 945.