Paramore v. Colby ( 1920 )

[1] In this action the plaintiffs recovered judgment for the amount of certain installments due and unpaid as part of the purchase price provided in a contract of sale of real property. Appellant contends that such action is necessarily an action to compel specific performance of the contract; that, therefore, the complaint does not state a cause of action because it does not contain any allegations of fact showing that the contract is as to the defendant fair, just and reasonable. (Civ. Code, sec. 3391) It appears to be settled law that such an action brought merely to recover money due on the contract is an action at law. (Ehrhart v. Mahoney, 170 Cal. 148, [148 P. 934]; Samuel v. Allen, 98 Cal. 406, [33 P. 273].) The decisions relied upon by appellant (such as O'Hara v.Wattson, 172 Cal. 527, [157 P. 608], and Glock v. Howard etc.Co., 123 Cal. 1, [69 Am. St. Rep. 17, 43 L. R. A. 199, 55 P. 713]), do not hold and do not necessarily imply that an action at law to recover such installments due cannot be maintained. In such action at law it is not necessary to allege or to state facts showing that the contract is as to the defendant fair, just, and reasonable. The complaint in this case stated a cause of action. (Amaranth Land Co. v. Corey, 182 Cal. 66, [186 P. 765].)

The judgment is affirmed.

Shaw, J., and James, J., concurred.