Turner v. Bray ( 1914 )

Mr. Justice Eakin

delivered the opinion of the court.

1. The defendant first questions plaintiffs ’ right to reform the contract unless there was some relationship of trust or confidence existing between the parties, or unless there was some fraud or misrepresentation imposed upon plaintiffs; but we find that this case comes under the latter class. There are two kinds of fraud of which the court takes cognizance: Fraud in the consideration, and fraud in the execution of the instrument. The latter goes to the question of whether the instrument ever had any legal existence, namely, if the instrument was misread to the party who signed it, then as read it never became the agreement between the parties. This distinction is made in Olston v. Oregon W. P. & Ry. Co., 52 Or. 342 (96 Pac. 1095, 97 Pac. 538, 20 L. R. A. (N. S.) 915.) Upon this question there are many cases cited at page 351.

2. Here there was fraud in the execution of the instrument, in that it was misread to Turner, and the question of confidential relation between Turner and Bray is not important. The testimony shows that in June, 1909, plaintiff placed the same land in the hands of a real estate man to be sold at $70 per acre, and in February, 1912, thereafter renewed said option to the same man at $131 per acre. On June 13, 1912, he placed it in the hands of a real estate man to be sold at $135- per acre net to the plaintiffs. A portion of this same land was about that time placed in the hands of this defendant to be sold at $150 per acre. We are convinced that the plaintiffs did not contemplate selling the land for $37 per acre, and did not authorize the defendant to so write it in the contract, and that when the contract was read to them it was read $137 per acre, or,- at least, it' was so understood by the plaintiffs.

3. It is immaterial what the market value of the land was at that time, and the testimony upon that matter was irrelevant, except as it might tend to show that plaintiffs are not now acting in good faith; that they really intended to offer it at $37 per acre. The reasonable'value of the land cannot determine the contract between the plaintiffs and the defendant. Plaintiffs cannot be forced to sell their land at a reasonable price. The question is, Did they agree to sell it for $37 per acre? If so, they should be bound by it. The contract of plaintiffs-was to authorize the defendant to sell the property at $137 per acre, and the contract was properly so reformed.

The decree of the Circuit Court is affirmed.

Affirmed.

Mr. Chief Justice McBride, Mr. Justice Bean and Mr. Justice Burnett concur.