{ "id": 1700206, "name": "Childs v. Lambert", "name_abbreviation": "Childs v. Lambert", "decision_date": "1959-04-13", "docket_number": "5-1804", "first_page": "366", "last_page": "371", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "230 Ark. 366" }, { "type": "parallel", "cite": "323 S.W.2d 564" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ark.", "id": 8808, "name": "Arkansas Supreme Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 34, "name_long": "Arkansas", "name": "Ark." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "66 N. W. 917", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.W.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "97 Iowa 681", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Iowa", "case_ids": [ 2092873 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/iowa/97/0681-01" ] }, { "cite": "83 Am. Dec. 743", "category": "reporters:federal", "reporter": "Am. Dec.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "11 Mich. 358", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mich.", "case_ids": [ 1918167 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mich/11/0358-01" ] }, { "cite": "235 N. W. 191", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.W.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "253 Mich. 383", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mich.", "case_ids": [ 1839802 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mich/253/0383-01" ] }, { "cite": "37 Pac. 757", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "104 Cal. 15", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Cal.", "case_ids": [ 8712091 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/cal/104/0015-01" ] }, { "cite": "139 Kan. 850", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Kan.", "case_ids": [ 67990 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/kan/139/0850-01" ] }, { "cite": "60 Ark. 461", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1903660 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/60/0461-01" ] }, { "cite": "56 Ark. 621", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1326169 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/56/0621-01" ] }, { "cite": "40 Ark. 69", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1897188 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/40/0069-01" ] }, { "cite": "26 Ark. 370", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "142 S. W. 172", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "101 Ark. 296", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1311103 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/101/0296-01" ] }, { "cite": "5 S. W. 2d 299", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "176 Ark. 1065", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1399953 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/176/1065-01" ] }, { "cite": "213 S. W. 12", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "139 Ark. 60", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1596390 ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/139/0060-01" ] }, { "cite": "216 Ark. 632", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1614306 ], "weight": 3, "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/216/0632-01" ] }, { "cite": "113 S. W. 800", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "87 Ark. 593", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1519152 ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/87/0593-01" ] }, { "cite": "3 S. W. 2d 993", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.2d", "opinion_index": 1 }, { "cite": "176 Ark. 714", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1400026 ], "opinion_index": 1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/176/0714-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 584, "char_count": 10378, "ocr_confidence": 0.499, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.7163986588707223e-07, "percentile": 0.7032041250281387 }, "sha256": "ea0d8ce810d421aac4f1a0b2c89a3d708e28b98b98d23b9013bb6d0abb66fc50", "simhash": "1:0b448c7d1f1cc610", "word_count": 1820 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T20:03:02.118014+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "Harris, C. J. and MoFaddin, J., dissent." ], "parties": [ "Childs v. Lambert." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "J. Seaborn Holt, Associate Justice.\nThis is an action by Mrs. Elnora Childs, as the wife of Gr. C. Childs, to establish and claim her homestead right in a forty acre tract of land. On November 15, 1946, Lambrook Corporation executed a contract of sale of the Northwest Quarter (NW^/i) Southeast Quarter (SE14) Section Twenty-three (23) Township Four (4) South, Range One (1) East, Phillips County, Arkansas being the North Half (N%) Tract No. 22 of the Lambrook Plantation Map and containing 40 acres more or less, to George Gillespie for a consideration of $1,700.00 payable $170.00 in cash, and nine (9) annual payments of $170.00 each, on November 15, 1947 to November 1955 inclusive, with six percent (6%) interest at the due date of each installment. Thereafter, on December 11, 1950, G. C. Childs (husband of Elnora) bought Gillespie\u2019s interest in the contract in question for a consideration of $500.00 in cash and executed three notes to Gillespie. The assignment-of this contract to Childs was typed on the contract at Lambert\u2019s dictation and signed in his office. Appellants, Childs and his wife, with their children immediately (December 11, 1950) moved onto the forty acres where they remained continuously from that time until they were evicted by Lambert in December 1955. The record reflects that between December 1950 and the time of the eviction of Childs and his wife, there were other transfers of the contract of sale from G. C. Childs to a Mr. Barron, from Barron to the Helena National Bank, and from the Bank to Lambert. It appears undisputed that Elnora Childs was not a party to any of the transactions between her husband and the Gillespies, or Barron, or the Bank. She was present and appears to have acquiesced in the negotiations by her husband with the Gillespies, (George and Lulu) for the purchase of the forty acre tract in December 1950. The present suit was filed December 6, 1955, one day following her eviction from the house by Lambert. She sought, as the wife of G. C. Childs, to establish her rights which attached to his equitable estate under the homestead law, sought an accounting from Lambert under the contract of sale of the forty acres and that, <\u00a3He be charged with the rental value of the said farm land for the year 1955 and the rental value of the dwelling thereon situated, with interest, etcuntil possession should be restored to her and that she be allowed a reasonable time to redeem the property by payment of any balance due Lambert thereon\u201d. Upon a hearing, the trial court dismissed her complaint for want of equity and quieted title to the property in J. B. Lambert. From this decree both Elnora Childs and her husband have appealed.\nAs indicated above, Lambert in 1946 under a sales contract sold this forty acre tract to the Gillespies and they in turn, on December 11, 1950, sold and assigned, for a valuable consideration, all their interest in the tract of land to G. C. Childs, Elnora\u2019s husband. The Childs, on December 18, 1950, moved on the property, took possession and remained on it until they were evicted by Lambert in December 1955. It further appears that on December 15, 1954, Childs went to Lambert and agreed to cancel the sales contract and release the property in effect for a consideration of $110.35 which Childs was then due Lambert. His (Childs\u2019) wife was not present and did not agree to this release in any manner. The sales contract in question contained these provisions:\n\u201cTransfer of Contract. It is agreed that this contract shall not be transferred or assigned unless all amounts due at that time shall have been paid and unless the seller consents to such transfer in writing.\n\u201cDefault. If default be made in payment of general or special taxes or any installment of the purchase price or the interest thereon, then, in that event or either of them, the whole of said purchase price shall at the option of the seller become immediately due and payable and this contract may be terminated at the option of the seller. If this contract is cancelled because of default all payments shall be forfeited as liquidated damages.\u201d The contract has no provision that \u201ctime shall be of the essence\u201d of the undertakings of either party.\nIt appears to be no longer questioned that an equitable estate will support the right of homestead and form a sufficient basis under the law for the claim of homestead, hence the Childs had a homestead in the land they were buying from Lambert (the Lambrook Company). We said in Watson v. Poindexter, 176 Ark. 1065, 5 S. W. 2d 299, \u201c. . . It is no longer questioned that an equitable estate will support the homestead right and form a sufficient basis under the law for the claim of homestead. Spaulding v. Haley, 101 Ark. 296, 142 S. W. 172; Kirby v. Vantrece, 26 Ark. 370.\n\u201cIt is also true that a married man cannot make a valid conveyance of the homestead if his wife fails to join in the execution of the deed, and that he cannot even make a contract to convey the homestead which would be obligatory upon the wife or of any validity, without her joining in the execution of such instrument. Section 5542, C. & M. Digest\u201d. Section 5542 is now Section 50-415 Ark. Stats, and provides: \u201cNo conveyance, mortgage or other instrument affecting the homestead of any married man shall be of any validity except for taxes, laborers\u2019 and mechanics\u2019 liens, and the purchase money, unless his wife joins in the execution of such instrument and acknowledges the same.\u201d\nWe said in the case of Spaulding v. Haley, 101 Ark. 296, 142 S. W. 172, \u201c. . . The next question for our consideration is, whether the widow and minor children can claim homestead in lands occupied by the deceased husband or father under a contract for the purchase thereof, a portion only of the purchase money being paid. The decisions in other States are somewhat conflicting as to whether an equitable estate will support the homestead right, hut we consider the question settled by decisions of this court (Rockafellow v. Peay, 40 Ark. 69; Robson v. Hough, 56 Ark. 621; Stull v. Graham, 60 Ark. 461) holding that an equitable estate is sufficient as a basis of the homestead claim. The right of the widow or children, being derivative, finds a like support in an equitable estate held as a homestead by the husband or father.\u201d\nWe hold, therefore, that Childs could not permit a forfeiture of the purchase contract and abandon it without his wife\u2019s joinder. Especially is this so when as here, Mrs. Childs did not agree to the forfeiture by not signing the contract in the first place. Southern v. Linville, 139 Kan. 850, 33 Pac. 2d 123; Perry v. Ross, 104 Cal. 15, 37 Pac. 757; Ter Keurst v. Zinkewics, 253 Mich. 383, 235 N. W. 191. We think, therefore, that Mrs. Childs, in the circumstances here, was entitled to perform for her husband the purchase contract made by him in order to save her interest in the homestead. McKee v. Wilcox, 11 Mich. 358, 83 Am. Dec. 743.\nIn Lessell v. Goodman, 97 Iowa 681, 66 N. W. 917, the husband was buying a homestead under a contract that made time of the essence and provided for a forfeiture in case of default. The husband (as here) fell down on his payments and signed a written statement acknowledging that the contract was forfeited. The court held that the forfeiture was not binding on the wife, who was entitled to complete the purchase despite the default. After reviewing the record, we are convinced that the preponderance of the testimony shows that Mrs. Childs is not estopped to assert her claim to homestead rights in the property.\nAccordingly, the decree is reversed and the cause remanded with directions to grant Mrs. Childs a reasonable time in which to redeem and for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.\nHarris, C. J. and MoFaddin, J., dissent.", "type": "majority", "author": "J. Seaborn Holt, Associate Justice." }, { "text": "Ed. F. McFaddin, Associate Justice\n(Dissenting).\nThe fault in the majority opinion is, that it is giving the wife \u2014 Eluora Childs \u2014 a homestead right in a non-existent estate, because G-. C. Childs\u2019 rights under the contract were forfeited when he defaulted. We held in Collum v. Hercey, 176 Ark. 714, 3 S. W. 2d 993, that a judgment against the husband was binding on the wife, even though she was not a party to the litigation. The rationale of that holding; is applicable here: when Lambert declared the contract forfeited \u2014 as he had a right to do \u2014\u25a0 then all interest of Q-. C. Childs was forfeited, and left nothing for his wife to claim as homestead.\nIt is my view that the case at bar is ruled by such cases as Souter v. Witt, 87 Ark. 593, 113 S. W. 800; and White v. Page, 216 Ark. 632, 226 S. W. 2d 973; and cases therein cited. This was a simple sale and rent contract whereby Childs could have acquired the title if he had performed the condition precedent. He did not perform. In Souter v. Witt (supra), this Court said of a contract like the one here: \u201cIt is also equally certain that, when the contract is made to depend on a condition precedent \u2014in other words, when no right shall vest until certain acts have been done, as, for example, until the vendee has paid certain sums at certain specified times \u2014 then also a court of equity will not relieve the vendee against the forfeiture incurred by a breach of such condition precedent. \u201d In White v. Page (supra), we said: \u201cThe contract in the case at bar did not state in express words, \u2018time is of the essence\u2019; but our cases hold that evidence may establish such fact in the absence of a specific statement in the contract.\u201d The evidence in the case at bar in this regard is just as strong as that in White v. Page, where we held that there had been a default and a forfeiture.\nIn Hanson v. Brown, 139 Ark. 60, 213 S. W. 12, the Court considered a contract of sale and rent in which there was a default and a forfeiture, just as here; and this Court said: \u2018 \u2018 For the reasons already given, it is apparent that Mrs. Hanson had no homestead interest in the lands ...\u201d I maintain that Elnora Childs had no homestead right in a nonexistent estate; and it was certainly nonexistent when G. C. Childs defaulted and Lambert declared the forfeiture.\nFor these reasons, I respectfully dissent; and the Chief Justice joins mo in this dissent.", "type": "dissent", "author": "Ed. F. McFaddin, Associate Justice" } ], "attorneys": [ "Norton Jb Norton, for appellant.", "John L. Anderson, for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "Childs v. Lambert.\n5-1804\n323 S. W. 2d 564\nOpinion delivered April 13, 1959.\n[Rehearing denied May 18, 1959]\nNorton Jb Norton, for appellant.\nJohn L. Anderson, for appellee." }, "file_name": "0366-01", "first_page_order": 386, "last_page_order": 391 }