Shute v. Taylor , 46 Mass. 61 ( 1842 )

Shaw, C. J.

The first question which arises in the present case is, whether the facts agreed show a breach of the bond declared on. The defendant insists that he has complied with the condition of his obligation, by executing a conveyance of land lying at the corner of Lawrence and Middle Streets, which the plaintiff accepted as and for the conveyance stipulated for in that obligation. But upon comparing the deed, thus given, with the bond, it appears that although the land is described as being at the corner of Lawrence Street, the dimensions, as given, instead of 3000 feet, amount to a little over 2500 feet, and that the conveyance does not include the shed which is one of the buildings contemplated in the obligation to be conveyed. This deed then independent of all evidence as to the fact of execution, delivery and acceptance, would plainly not be a compliance with the obligation. This obligation is peculiar. Sometimes when a deed specifies the number of feet or acres in a tract, or when a bond is given for a deed of a particular lot of land definitely described, and the number of acres or feet is expressed, such description is rather regarded as a second or explanatory description, still further to identify the lot; and then the number of acres or feet is not regarded as of the essence of the contract. But when land is purchased by the square foot, in a city, and the undertaking is to convey a specified number of feet out of a larger parcel, then the number of feet to be conveyed is of' the essence of the contract, and the consideration is to be apportioned accordingly. Taking it in this view, it is very manifest that an actual conveyance of 2513 feet is not a compliance with an agreement to convey 3000 feet.

Then, however, it is contended, that this deed, when accepted, was taken as a full uerformance, and that any other perform anee was waived. But whence is this inference drawn ? That the taking of a deed is so far an acceptance, as to vest the estate in the vendee, is obvious ; but how is it to operate as the satisfaction or performance of a particular obligation ? This inference cannot be drawn from the naked, unqualified acceptance of the deed — which is all that is shown. In order then to prove that this deed was in fact accepted as and for a performance of this contract, the defendant is compelled to resort to evidence aliunde, and to show what was the purpose of the execution and acceptance of the deed, as declared and under stood at the time. But by a well known rule of law, when evidence aliunde is resorted to by one party, the other party has a right to the proof of all that was said and done at the same time. This lets in evidence of all that took place at Methuen, when this deed was given. Upon this evidence, taken all together, it will appear that the acceptance of the deed, so far from being absolute, unqualified and unconditional, was qualified and conditional, and that it was accepted under an agreement, that it was to enure as part satisfaction, or entire satisfaction, as it should or should not turn out, upon a survey to be made, that it was a full compliance. The defendant then agreed to attend such survey, and the statement was, that if it was not right, he would make it right. This, as an agreement or promise to make a further conveyance, would be inoperative and void, under the statute of frauds, because it would be a parol promise to convey lands. This is not the promise, on which the plaintiff does or can rely to maintain an action. But he holds the agreement of the defendant, in a binding form, to convey 3000 feet. The declaration of the defendant, that if not right, he would make it right, affects the external act of acceptance and delivery, and goes to show that that deed was not • accepted in full performance, but only in part of performance. It is res ge-fa which qualifies the act of acceptance.

It is now stated that this mistake occurred in consequence of the limits of Lawrence Street having been changed, and a part of the lot, formerly belonging to the defendant, taken into the street, and that the defendant, without adverting to this eonsideration, made his deed by a description applicable to the street as it formerly was, but not applicable to the street as it was enlarged and established. But if this was a mistake, it was not one for which the plaintiff was responsible. The obligation of the defendant was executed after the street had been altered and' established by the proper officers of the county. He was bound to know, and probably did know of such alteration. At all events, his obligation adopted the corner of the two streets as the starting point, and did apply to the street as it was then established ; and the duty and obligation which he took upon himself was, to execute a deed conformably to the description as thus determined. The deed, as executed, was only a part performance and not a complete execution of such agreement, and the acceptance was a modified and not an absolute acceptance. Therefore the court are of opinion that there was a breach of the bond.

Then an objection is taken, that even supposing the defendant might be bound to a further execution, yet as the effect of his obligation was to perform, by giving a deed on demand, when he had given one deed on demand, that demand was exhausted, and he could not establish a breach without a new demand. There seems to be some plausibility in this point; but upon consideration, "we are of opinion that it is not a valid objection. When once a demand was made, the duty of the defendant to make a complete conveyance, a complete performance of his undertaking, was fixed. It was as much for his interest, and as much his duty, to obtain an accurate survey, as it was that of the defendant. The attempts to meet each other, for a mutual survey, and the failure of those attempts, may have been unfortunate for both parties, but it imposed no new duty on the plaintiff. After one demand for a deed conforming to the obligation, the defendant was bound at his risk to execute such a deed, and no new demand was necessary to establish this obligation.

On the subject of damages, it is insisted for the plaintiff that the $ 500 is stated, in the obligation, to be liquidated damages, and that the plaintiff is entitled to the full amount without any apportionment. The question, what is liquidated damages, and what a penalty, is often a difficult one. It is not always the calling of a sum, to be paid for breach of contract, liquidated damages, which makes it so. In general, it is the tendency and preference of the law, to regard a sum, stated to be payable if a contract is not fulfilled, as a penalty and not as liquidated damages ; because then it may be apportioned to the loss actually sustained. But without going at large into the subject, one consideration, we think, is decisive, against recovering the sum ir. question as liquidated damages, namely, that here there has beer a part performance, and an acceptance of such part performance. If- the parties intended the sum named to be liquidatec damages for the breach of the contract therein expressed, it was for an entire breach. Whether divisible in its nature, or not, it was in fact divided by an offer and acceptance of part performance. It is like the case of an obligation to perform two or more independent acts, with a provision for single liquidated damages for non-performance ; if one is performed, and not the other, it is not a case for the recovery of the liquidated damages. See Chit. Con. (5th Amer. ed.) 863-868. Hoag v. McGinnis, 22 Wend. 163.

Conformably to the agreement of the parties, an assessor may be appointed, to assess the actual damage sustained bv the plaintiff.