Donovan v. Judson , 6 L.R.A. 591 ( 1889 )

Sharpstein, J.

The plaintiffs, who sue as the administrator with the will annexed and devisees and legatees of Margaret Dalton, deceased, allege that on the twenty-fourth day of March, 1873, said Margaret Dalton and defendant entered into an agreement in writing, by which it was mutually covenanted and agreed between them that the said Margaret Dalton should grant, transfer, and convey without encumbrances all her right, title, and interest in and to a certain piece and parcel of land in said agreement described, to the said Judson, upon his demand and payment by him to the said Margaret Dalton of the sum of twelve thousand dollars fifteen months after final judgment should have been entered in the case of Egbert Judson v. Paul Malloy, in the district court of the fourth judicial district, in and for the city and county of San Francisco, and that said Judson should pay interest thereon at the rate of nine per cent per annum until the same should be paid, from and after ninety days from the entry of said final judgment. A copy of said agreement is attached to and made a part of the complaint.

After reciting in said agreement that Margaret Dalton claimed to be the owner of said premises, and that there was litigation pending in regard to the same, which it was desirable to terminate, and said Margaret Dalton being desirous of disposing of her interest in said premises, said agreement proceeds as follows:—

“ Now, therefore, in consideration of the premises hereinafter mentioned, said Margaret Dalton and said Michael Dalton, parties of the first part, hereby agree to and with the said party of the second part to execute a deed of conveyance in due form of law, in favor of the said party of the second part, of all the right, title, and interest of said Margaret Dalton, without encumbrances, in and to the premises described.

“ 2. In consideration of the premises, said party of the second part agrees to and with said first party to pay the said Margaret Dalton the full sum of twelve thousand dollars in 'United States gold coin within fifteen mouths after final judgment for plaintiff shall have been entered in the case of Egbert Judson v. Paul Malloy et al., in the district court of the fourth judicial district of the state of California, in and for the city and county of San Francisco, and number 12091, and said party of the second part shall pay interest upon said sum of twelve thousand dollars, at the rate of nine per cent per year, until the same shall be paid, from and after ninety days from the entry of such final judgment. It is understood that judgment is not final while motion for a new trial or appeal is pending.”

It is further alleged in the complaint that Margaret Dalton was, long prior to the execution of said agreement, and up to the time of her death, the -wife of Michael Dalton; that Margaret Dalton died on the twenty-third day of June, 187-3, without. executing to said Judson any conveyance of said land; that final judgment in favor of said Egbert Judson was duly entered in said action of Judson v. Malloy et al., and all litigation therein finally ended on March 27, 1873. On the eleventh day of June, 1885, the superior court of the city and county of San Francisco, sitting as a court of probate, by an order made on the petition of plaintiff Donovan, as administrator, etc., in the matter of the estate of Margaret Dalton, then ponding before said court, directed and authorized said plaintiff Donovan to make and execute a deed of said premises to said defendant, pursuant to the terms of said agreement. And thereupon said plaintiffs executed conjointly a good and sufficient deed of said premises to said defendant, who refuses to accept said deed, or any deed, or to pay said sum by him covenanted to be paid to said Margaret Dalton. Defendant, by virtue of said contract, entered into and has ever since retained the possession of said premises. Wherefore plaintiffs demand judgment, etc. This action was commenced on July 24, 1886.

The complaint was demurred to, on the ground, among others, that the cause of action was barred by sections 337, 338, and 343 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

The demurrer was overruled, and the defendant answered, pleading several defenses, among which is the plea that the cause of action is barred by the provisions of section 337 and of section 343 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

A trial was had and judgment entered in favor of plaintiffs. Defendant moved for a new trial, which was denied, and from the judgment and order denying his motion for a new trial he appeals.

The only question which we deem it necessary to consider is, Did the cause of action accrue four years before the commencement of this action? If so, it is barred by the provisions of the code pleaded by the defendant.

Counsel for respondent contended that no cause of action accrued against appellant until a conveyance of the interest of Margaret Dalton in the premises was executed to Judson; that the execution of such a conveyance was a condition precedent to the right to demand the sum which he covenanted to pay. By reference to the agreement, it will be seen that Judson agrees to pay the sum specified “ within fifteen months after final judgment for plaintiff should have been entered in the case of Egbert Judson v. Paul Malloy et al.” The covenants to convey and to pay are independent covenants. No time is fixed for the execution of the .conveyance. It might be executed before or after the time fixed for the payment of the sum to be paid by Judson. Had it been executed before that time, no cause of action would have accrued for the recovery of the money before the time fixed for its payment. No time is fixed for the execution of the conveyance, and the case is clearly within the rule stated by Sergeant Williams in his note to Pordage v. Cole, 1 Saund. 320, which has been accepted in England and this country as a correct explication of the law on this question. He says: “ If a day be appointed for payment of money, or a part of it, or for doing any other act, and the' day is to happen or may happen before the thing which is the consideration of the money or other act is to be performed, an action may be brought for the money, or for not doing such other act before performance, for it appears that the party relied upon his remedy, and did not intend to make the performance a condition precedent; and so it is where no time is fixed for performance of that which is the consideration of the money or other act.” In this case no time is fixed for the execution of the conveyance which Margaret DaltOn covenants to execute to Judson. It is therefore clear that he did not intend to make the performance of that covenant a condition precedent to the payment which he covenants to make at a specified time. In none of the many cases in which covenants have been held to be independent covenants were they more clearly so than in this case.

We must ascertain, if possible, the intention of the parties from the written agreement entered into between them. But there is nothing in the conduct of the parties, as disclosed by the record before us, inconsistent with their written agreement.

In Morris v. Slater, 1 Denio, 59, Bronson, C. J., said: “I think the defendant has plainly agreed that he would pay the money,'and trust to a remedy on the plaintiff's covenant in case the deed should not be duly delivered, and he must abide by his contract." In Mattock v. Kinglake, 10 Ad. & E. 55, Littledale, J., said: “A time being fixed for payment, and none for doing that which was the consideration for the payment, an action lies for the purchase-money, without averring performance of the consideration.”

We do not doubt that a cause of action accrued in favor of Margaret Dalton, against the defendant, at the expiration of the time within which he agreed to pay her the stipulated sum specified in his covenant.

Such being the case, it is clear that the action was barred.by the provisions of the code above cited, and that the court erred in its conclusions of law on the findings that it was not so barred.

The court also erred in overruling the demurrer to the complaint, for the reason that it did not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action.

Judgment and order reversed, and cause remanded, with directions to the court below to enter judgment for the defendant.

Thornton, J., and McFarland, J., concurred.

Hearing in Bank denied.