Rackemann v. Riverbank Improvement Co. , 167 Mass. 1 ( 1896 )

Allen, J.

This case comes up on demurrer. According to the averments of the bill, an agent employed by the defendant to offer the defendant’s land for sale, in order to induce the plaintiffs to buy a lot at S3.50 a foot, offered in behalf of the defendant that, if they would do so, the defendant would not sell any of its land shown on a plan at less than that price. The plaintiffs accepted the offer, and agreed to buy a lot on the terms offered, and afterwards took a deed thereof from the defendant. The agent’s offer was not in writing, nor did the defendant give him any authority to make it, and at the argument the plaintiffs conceded that he had no implied authority; but the plaintiff's never doubted that he had authority. Within a little less than a year after the plaintiffs took their deed, the defendant was offering lots, and actually sold two lots, at less than that price. The plaintiffs were soon informed of these facts, and notified the defendant that such sales were" a breach of its agreement. The defendant denied that its agent had any authority to make such an agreement, and repudiated the same. Up to this time the plaintiffs had no doubt that the agreement was made with the authority of the defendant, and there had been no communication, nor occasion for communication, between the plaintiffs and the defendant upon the subject of the agreement. Negotiations ensued, and about five months later the plaintiffs notified the defendant of their election to rescind the transaction, and demanded back the money paid by them, and the cancellation of a note given in part payment, and a discharge from the covenants of a mortgage given to secure the note.

The defendant contends that there was no contract until the principals made one, and that the defendant never contemplated that the agreement now relied on should form a part of the transaction. The bill sufficiently avers that there was a contract between the plaintiffs and the agent, and that it was understood by the plaintiffs that the agent’s agreement with respect to the price in the future should form a part of the transaction. This was not so understood or contemplated by the defendant, and the agent had no express or implied authority to make the agreement. Accordingly, we are to assume that the plaintiffs accepted the deed with the understanding that they had an oral contract of the defendant, through its agent, in respect to the price at which future sales should be made, when in point of fact they had not got one.

The question does not arise in this case whether the plaintiffs, retaining the land, could maintain an action for damages against the defendant for breach of its agent’s contract. The plaintiffs make no claim for damages. Neither do they make any charge of fraud. But they seek to rescind the transaction, on the ground that they did not get what' they thought they were getting, namely, an agreement to keep up the price of the neighboring lots. The defendant repudiates the contract which its agent made in its behalf, as unauthorized and void. The plaintiffs concede the defendant’s right to do this. The question is, Can the plaintiffs under this state of things be held to their purchase, or are they 'entitled to rescind it, and get back the consideration which they paid, upon reconveying the land to the defendant ? Upon the averments of the bill, we think that they have this right of rescission. The defendant would not have secured the advantage of the sale to the plaintiffs except for the offer and promise of its agent. The defendant employed him to offer its land for sale. He made the offer of a lot to the plaintiffs, accompanied by the promise which has been mentioned. The plaintiffs agreed to take the land with the .promise. It turns out that they got the land without the promise. The defendant cannot retain what is beneficial in the transaction, while disclaiming what is onerous. When it repudiates the means by which the plaintiffs were brought to contract with it, this entitles .the plaintiffs to give up the contract altogether, unless there is some otl;ier objection to their doing so. The rule in this respect is the same, whether the unauthorized act of the agent was fraudulent, or merely a matter of warranty or promise. Udell v. Atherton, 7 H. & N. 172. Brady v. Todd, 9 C. B. (N. S.) 592, 606, ad finem. Western Bank of Scotland v. Addie, L. R. 1 H. L. (Sc.) 145. Houldsworth v. City of Glasgow Bank, 5 App. Cas. 317. Kennedy v. McKay, 14 Vroom, 288. Titus v. Cairo & Fulton Railroad, 17 Vroom, 393, 420. Krumm v. Beach, 96 N. Y. 398. Eberts v. Selover, 44 Mich. 519. Knappen v. Freeman, 47 Minn. 491.

Such rescission, however, is only allowable when it is possible to restore the other party to his former position. The defendant contends that enough appears on the face of the plaintiffs’ bill to show that this cannot be done in the present case, because the plaintiffs were in possession of the lot purchased, and had the benefit of the agent’s agreement, for nearly a year before they sought to rescind. But these facts do not of themselves prevent a rescission. There may be a rescission of a purchase of land after the purchaser has been in possession for a considerable length of time; Nealon v. Henry, 131 Mass. 153; Lindsay Petroleum Co. v. Hurd, L. R. 5 P. C. 221; and although the land restored has fallen in value. Neblett v. Macfarland, 92 U. S. 101, 104.. Western Bank of Scotland v. Addie, L. R. 1 H. L. (Sc.) 145, 166. The bill discloses nothing to show that the defendant cannot be restored to its former position.

The defendant contends that the offer of the agent that the defendant would not sell any of its other land for less than @3.50 a foot, if made, was void as against public policy, in thát it might remove from sale in the market a very large tract of land in Boston for a very long time, namely, until the defendant could obtain that price for every foot of its remaining land. But such an agreement is to be construed in view of the circumstances, and, no limit of time being fixed, it would only last for a reasonable length of time. Park v. Whitney, 148 Mass. 278. Loring v. Boston, 7 Met. 409. Atwood v. Cobb, 16 Pick. 227, 231. Sugd. Vend. & Pur. (14th ed.) 271. 1 Chit. Con. (11th Am. ed.) 434; 2 Chit. Con. (11th Am. ed.) 1062. So construed, it is not open to objection on the ground of public policy. Winsor v. Mills, 157 Mass. 362, 364. On the face of the bill, we cannot say that one year was an unreasonable time.

It is also contended that the agreement of the agent, if made, was merged in the defendant’s deed, and cannot be proved by paroi evidence. It is clear that the agreement contradicts nothing in the deed because the deed contains nothing upon this subject. The agreement appears to have been collateral, and on a distinct subject, and, though merely oral, it might be proved. Durkin v. Cobleigh, 156 Mass. 108, and cases there cited.

Finally, it is contended that the plaintiffs’ proper remedy was at law. But the plaintiffs sought not only a return of the money which they had paid, but a cancellation of the note and a discharge from the covenants of the mortgage. A bill in equity is the proper remedy under such circumstances.

According to the terms of the report, the defendant may file an answer to the bill.

Bemurrer overruled.