{ "id": 11273421, "name": "JACOB W. DEAL v. GEORGE W. WILSON", "name_abbreviation": "Deal v. Wilson", "decision_date": "1919-12-03", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "600", "last_page": "606", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "178 N.C. 600" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C.", "id": 9292, "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "70 N. Y., 598", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.Y.", "case_ids": [ 2166420, 2166454 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ny/70/0598-02", "/ny/70/0598-01" ] }, { "cite": "109 Mass., 291", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mass.", "case_ids": [ 2108142 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mass/109/0291-01" ] }, { "cite": "126 Ind., 461", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ind.", "case_ids": [ 1388186 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ind/126/0461-01" ] }, { "cite": "68 Ill., 421", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ill.", "case_ids": [ 2627266 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ill/68/0421-01" ] }, { "cite": "58 N. H., 516", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.H.", "case_ids": [ 1805760 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nh/58/0516-01" ] }, { "cite": "27 Ala., 184", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ala.", "case_ids": [ 8495153 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ala/27/0184-01" ] }, { "cite": "81 Minn., 316", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Minn.", "case_ids": [ 8890196 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/minn/81/0316-01" ] }, { "cite": "129 Mich., 692", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mich.", "case_ids": [ 1536861 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mich/129/0692-01" ] }, { "cite": "116 Iowa, 61", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Iowa", "case_ids": [ 2127862 ], "weight": 2, "pin_cites": [ { "page": "p. 63" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/iowa/116/0061-01" ] }, { "cite": "93 Md., 213", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Md.", "case_ids": [ 2083823 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "220" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/md/93/0213-01" ] }, { "cite": "170 N. C., 406", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8659581 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/170/0406-01" ] }, { "cite": "21 N. C., 381", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11275135 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/21/0381-01" ] }, { "cite": "71 N. C., 507", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11278871 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/71/0507-01" ] }, { "cite": "54 N. C., 302", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8689723 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/54/0302-01" ] }, { "cite": "59 N. C., 196", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "58 N. C., 251", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8690791 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/58/0251-01" ] }, { "cite": "38 N. C., 364", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2098139 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/38/0364-01" ] }, { "cite": "126 N. C., 123", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8658459 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/126/0123-01" ] }, { "cite": "101 N. C., 422", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8650830 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/101/0422-01" ] }, { "cite": "95 N. C., 41", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11272886 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/95/0041-01" ] }, { "cite": "22 N. C., 9", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8683553 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/22/0009-01" ] }, { "cite": "4 Md., 491", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Md.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "68 Md., 64", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Md.", "case_ids": [ 1043443 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "p. 70" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/md/68/0064-01" ] }, { "cite": "18 Pick., 229", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Pick.", "case_ids": [ 2025418 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mass/35/0229-01" ] }, { "cite": "5 N. H., 130", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.H.", "case_ids": [ 6755385 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nh/5/0130-01" ] }, { "cite": "1 Pick. (Mass.), 328", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Pick.", "case_ids": [ 2070859 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "331" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mass/18/0335-01" ] }, { "cite": "96 N. Y., 414", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.Y.", "case_ids": [ 555979 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ny/96/0414-01" ] }, { "cite": "108 Mass., 91", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mass.", "case_ids": [ 2106169 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mass/108/0091-01" ] }, { "cite": "145 N. Y., 162", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.Y.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "165 N. C., 228", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8658478 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/165/0228-01" ] }, { "cite": "135 N. C., 647", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8660567 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/135/0647-01" ] }, { "cite": "90 N. C., 254", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8691647 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/90/0254-01" ] }, { "cite": "92 N. C., 185", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11272983 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/92/0185-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 886, "char_count": 17882, "ocr_confidence": 0.447, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.443277998229399e-07, "percentile": 0.6536149404849472 }, "sha256": "8a3449b5f61239217fb9443449b29dcc503d49ea2d7169c78e1fb8305b1c1fd7", "simhash": "1:f51a6e270cd803a7", "word_count": 3144 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T18:32:08.818827+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "JACOB W. DEAL v. GEORGE W. WILSON." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Walkeb, J.,\nafter stating the case as above: The question on this appeal seems to be easy of solution when it is properly and clearly understood. It is not sought by the plaintiff to enforce specifically the contract of sale, nor to recover damages for a breach of the contract, but the whole basis upon which his claim rests is that by reason of the promise \u25a0of the defendant to convey his property upon the considerations stated, he was induced to lay out money, and to perform services, for which he \u2022\u25a0seeks compensation. It would appear very strange if, under the law, he is not entitled to this relief, as the justice of his demand is very manifest, \u25a0and the law, as we think, is strongly with him.\nThe principle upon which a recovery may be had in a case like this is firmly established by the authorities. The subject is fully treated in 20 Oye., pp. 298-303, where it is said that where services are rendered \u25a0on an agreement which is void by the statute, an action will lie on the implied promise to pay for such services, and the terms of the contract are admissible as evidence of what those services are worth. Where a defendant has successfully resisted the specific performance of a contract, he will not be allowed to set up such contract as binding in order to defeat an action brought to recover money paid in pursuance of said avoided contract. Pendleton v. Dalton, 92 N. C., 185. And so, in Wilkie v. Womble, 90 N. C., 254, and Kelly v. Johnson, 135 N. C., 647,. it was held that where a vendor repudiates a parol contract to convey land, the vendee is entitled to recover the amount he has paid under the contract. But this case is absolutely ruled by that of Faircloth v. Kenlaw, 165 N. C., 228. We there said that where the defendant has promised, in consideration of services to be rendered, that he will transfer to-thq plaintiff certain property, which he afterwards refuses to do, and, instead of fulfilling- his contract, sets up the statute of frauds as a bar to any recovery on the same, he acts in bad faith, and his conduct having deceived the plaintiff, who, relying upon the assurance that the contract would faithfully be performed, had been induced to part with his money or to render services of value to the defendant, the latter may recover compensation for the loss he has sustained. It is a just and salutory principle of the law that every man is bound to the observance of good faith in his dealings with others, and, at least, to the extent that, as he knows, he is trusted, which may be inferred from the nature of the transaction, and when he induces another to act upon such confidence in him, and betrays it, where the latter has advanced money or performed services, and will sustain damage if the contract is not carried out, the injured party may recover for the loss.\nWe there said: \u201cUnder such circumstances, while it is unquestionably true that no action can be maintained, either to recover damages for the loss of the land or a good bargain, or for a specific performance, yet to-hold that the action cannot be sustained to recover for the injury or loss already named would be equivalent to saying that the subject was one in regard to which either fraud or bad faith could not be practiced, or could be, with impunity. Frazer v. Howe, 106 Ill., at p. 563. It is well settled by the authorities that where payments are made or services rendered upon a contract void by the statute of frauds, and the party receiving the services or payments refuses to go on and complete the performance of the contract, the other party may recover back the amount of such payments, or the value of the services, in an action upon an implied assumpsit. A party who refuses to go on with an agreement void by the statute of frauds, after having derived a benefit from a part performance, must pay for what he has received,\u201d citing Galvin v. Prentice, 145 N. Y., 162; King v. Brown, 2 Hill (N. Y.), 485, at 487; Lockwood v. Barnes, 3 Hill (N. Y.), 128.\nThe same was decided in Williams v. Bemis, 108 Mass., 91, where there was a lease within the statute of frauds, which defendant pleaded. The Court held that the plaintiff could maintain an action for work and labor done, money advanced, materials furnished in cultivating the land, or in performing tbe contract on bis part, notwithstanding the bar of the-statute, as he did not seek to enforce the contract specifically or to recover damages for a breach thereof. It was said by the Court: \u201cThe true-principle is this: The contract being void and incapable of enforcement in a court of law (defendant having refused to perform it), the party paying the money or rendering the services in pursuance thereof may treat it as a nullity, and recover the money or value of the services under the common counts. . . . If it had been a payment in. money it would be too plain to be controverted. A payment in labor and service, of which the other has secured the benefit, stands upon the same ground.\u201d\nThe case of In re Estate of Kessler, 81 Wisc., 660, is to the same-effect, for there the Court held that a parol agreement to devise and bequeath real and personal property as compensation for services rendered by a relative, is within the statute of frauds, as to the real estate, and, the contract being indivisible, the whole agreement fails. But in such case the relative may recover for his services what they may appear to have been reasonably worth, and such void agreement may be shown in evidence to rebut the presumption that they were rendered gratuitously. \u201cIt is a most important principle, thoroughly established in equity, and applying in every transaction, where the statute is invoked, that the statute of frauds, having been enacted for the purpose of preventing fraud, shall not be made the instrument of shielding, protecting, or aiding the party who relies upon it in the perpetration of a fraud, or in the consummation of a fraudulent scheme,\u201d quoting from 2 Pomeroy\u2019s Equity Jur. (3 Ed.), sec. 921. See, also, Woodbury v. Gardner, 77 Me.,. 68, and Wood v. Rabe, 96 N. Y., 414, where the same section of Dr. Pomeroy is cited with approval and relied on. It is further said by Dr. Pomeroy, in the same connection: \u201cThis most righteous principle-lies at the basis of many forms of equitable relief.\u201d See, also, King v. Hunt, 1 Pick. (Mass.), 328, 331; Lane v. Shookford, 5 N. H., 130; Gillet v. Maynard, 5 Johns. (N. Y.), 85; Vandersen v. Blum, 18 Pick., 229. The English case of Gray v. Hill Ry. & Mood., 420 (op. by Best, C. J.), held that where the defendant, in consideration of certain repairs to be made by the plaintiff, agreed to assign a lease to- him, and after the repairs were made, refused to make the assignment, and set up the-statute of frauds as a defense, the law implied a promise to pay for the-repairs, and this implied promise was \u201cnot touched by the statute.\u201d 11 Amer. Beports, at p. 319.\nIt is stated in Browne on the Statute of Frauds (5 Ed.), sec. 118.\" \u201cOne who has rendered services in execution of a verbal contract which,, on account of the statute, cannot be enforced against the other party, can recover the value of the services upon a quantum meruit.\u201d Judge Bryan, in Baker v. Lauterbach, 68 Md., 64, at p. 70, expresses the prin\u25a0ciple with, great force and accuracy: \u201cIt must be observed that although contracts within the statute of frauds are void unless they are in writing, .yet the voluntary performance of them is in no respect unlawful. If .services be rendered in pursuance of a contract of this kind by one party, and be accepted by the other, they must be compensated,\u201d citing Ellicott v. Peterson, 4 Md., 491.\nA rule, based upon the same reason, has often been applied in this Court, where a party has entered into\u2019 the possession of land and made valuable improvements under a parol contract of the owner to convey the same to him. We have uniformly held that the owner, if he repudiates the contract, must pay for the improvements to the extent that they have enhanced the value of the land. Alhea v. Griffin, 22 N. C., 9; Hedgepeth v. Rose, 95 N. C., 41; Tucker v. Markland, 101 N. C., 422; Vick v. Vick, 126 N. C., 123. See, also, Dunn v. Moore, 38 N. C., 364; Winton v. Fort, 58 N. C., 251; Sain v. Dulin, 59 N. C., 196; Thomas v. Skyles, 54 N. C., 302; Love v. Neilson, ib., 339; Barnes v. Brown, 71 N. C., 507; Kelly v. Johnson, 135 N. C., 647.\nJudge Gaston stated the principle strongly and impressively in Albea v. Griffin, supra: \u201cThe plaintiff\u2019s labor and money have been expended on improving property which the ancestor of the defendants encouraged him to expect should become his own, and by the act of God, or by the caprice of the defendants, this expectation has been frustrated. The consequence is a loss to him and a gain to them. It is against conscience that they should be enriched by gains thus acquired to his-injury. If they repudiate the contract, which they have a right to do, they must not take the improved property from the plaintiff without compensation for the additional value which these improvements have conferred upon the property,\u201d citing Baker v. Carson, 21 N. C., 381, where Ruffin, C. J., said: \u201cTo hold that there is no relief, either in law or in equity, that a man may be stripped of the entire fruits of his toil for years by any one who can cajole him into the weakness of expending them on his land by assurances for a future title, is a doctrine which seems to be subversive of first principles. . . . This ease, on the contrary, is founded on the equity of the plaintiff against the de- . fendant, as the owner of the estate, who takes it away, with its improvements made by the plaintiff. The relief goes upon her unconscientious gains. True the plaintiff sets forth the contract, and asks for its performance. But that is not an alternative in the sense before spoken of. It was necessary for him to do so that he might offer an acceptance on his part, without which he would have no equity; for he would have no right to compensation, if the defendant were willing to let him enjoy the fruit of his labor. He must, therefore, give her the election. Having \u25a0elected to take the land, the defendant ought to pay the plaintiff, not for tbe land, nor damages for a breach of tbe agreement, but for bis. labor, of wbicb sbe fraudulently reaps tbe profits.\u201d Tbat states clearly tbe equitable basis upon wbicb tbis whole doctrine rests.\nThere was some criticism of Thomas v. Skyles, supra, and Love v. Neilson, supra, but Judge Battle explains it away in Sain v. Dulin,. supra. It arose upon a question of jurisdiction, namely, whether, under-tbe old system, tbe suit should have been brought at law or in equity (Warren v. Dail, 170 N. C., 406), but tbis technical distinction is abolished by our present Constitution and reformed procedure, and tbe principle, wbicb we have applied to tbis case, is left unimpaired, as it is-stated in tbe authorities cited above.\nTbe unanimity with wbicb tbe courts of tbe other States recognize this doctrine, though expressed in varying forms, will appear from the-following cases, tbe substance of each being in effect to adopt tbe principle as it is stated in Hamilton v. Thirston, 93 Md., 213, 220, tbat, although tbe plaintiff is not entitled to maintain an action upon tbe alleged, contract (if tbe statute is pleaded), be can recover upon a quantum, meruit tbe value of tbe services rendered by him to bis uncle for tbe latter\u2019s benefit, for from services of tbis kind, even when rendered in pursuance of a contract within tbe statute by one party and accepted by tbe other, a right to compensation arises. Murphy v. DeHaan, 116 Iowa, 61; Wonsetter v. Lee, 40 Kansas, 367; Snyder v. Neal, 129 Mich., 692; Spinney v. Hill, 81 Minn., 316; Sims v. McEwen Admr., 27 Ala., 184;. Howe v. Day, 58 N. H., 516; Patten v. Hicks, 43 Calif., 509; W. B. Steel Works v. Atkinson, 68 Ill., 421; Miller v. Eldridge, 126 Ind., 461; White v. Weiland, 109 Mass., 291; Moody v. Smith, 70 N. Y., 598, and others to be found collected in 20 Cyc., at p. 299, note 52. 2 Reed\u2019s-Statute of Frauds, sec. 624. Tbe Court said, in Murphy v. DeHaan, supra, at p. 63, tbat tbe statute was not enacted for tbe purpose of aiding-one in fbe perpetration of a fraud, but to secure him from tbe consequences thereof. It was intended as a shield, and not as a sword. According to tbe evidence, defendant bad tbe benefit of plaintiff\u2019s services,, and be cannot be beard to say tbat they were performed under a contract, wbicb would have been invalid bad it remained executory in character. To tbe same effect is Threadgill v. McLendon, 76 N. C., at p. 26.\nIn Snyder v. Deal, supra, it was held tbat where plaintiff rendered services for defendants under an agreement, tbat sbe should be compen-stated therefor at their death, wbicb agreement defendants subsequently-repudiated, plaintiff could maintain an action at once for tbe value of tbe services. Tbis last case answers tbe objection tbat tbis action was. prematurely brought.\nAs to tbe questions of evidence. \"What tbe defendant said about tbe contract was, without doubt, competent against him, whether said to-plaintiff or to others.\nTbe testimony as to the parol contract was merely explanatory of the transaction, and was not admitted to charge the defendant upon the \u25a0same, either for its specific enforcement or for damages because of its breach, but merely as tending to show plaintiff\u2019s equitable right to recover compensation growing out of it.\nThe charge of the court is wholly free from any error, and the nonsuit was properly denied, as the evidence was sufficient to support the findings \u25a0of the referee and the judgment.\nNo error.", "type": "majority", "author": "Walkeb, J.," } ], "attorneys": [ "0. L. Whitener and W. A. Self for plaintiff.", "Oouncill & Yount for defendant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "JACOB W. DEAL v. GEORGE W. WILSON.\n(Filed 3 December, 1919.)\n1. Contracts \u2014 Statute of Frauds \u2014 Void Contracts \u2014 Quantum Meruit \u2014 Quantum Valebat \u2014 Specific Performance.\nWhere a yerbal contract to convey land is void under tbe plea of tbe statute of frauds, and tbe grantee, in pursuance thereof, has rendered services and been put to expense, and tbe grantor has then refused to mate tbe conveyance be bad obligated himself to make, tbe grantee, having been induced by the grantor\u2019s promise, may recover as upon a quantum meruit tbe value of the services be has rendered, and in money or money\u2019s worth, and for tbe loss be has been directly occasioned by reason of tbe vendor\u2019s breach, though be is not entitled to specific performance.\n2. Contracts \u2014 Statute of Frauds \u2014 Breach\u2014Actions.\nThe purchaser\u2019s action will immediately lie to recover upon a quantum meruit for bis services rendered under a verbal contract to convey lands, void under tbe statute of frauds, upon the seller\u2019s refusal to make tbe deed agreed upon in tbe said contract.\n3. Contracts \u2014 Evidence\u2014Statute of Frauds \u2014 Breach.\nthis action to recover for services rendered and moneys expended under a verbal contract to convey lands,-void under tbe statute of frauds, it is Held, that what tbe defendant said, either to tbe plaintiff or to others, relative to tbe contract, is competent evidence against him.\n4. Same \u2014 Compensation\u2014Specific Performance.\nTestimony explanatory of a parol contract to convey lands, void under ' tbe statute of frauds, merely tending to show tbe plaintiff\u2019s equitable right to recover compensation growing out of its breach and not for tbe purpose of enforcing specific performance or for damages because of its breach, is competent.\nCivil actiow, tried before Webb, J., and a jury, at May Term, 1919, of Catawba.\nPlaintiff sued to recover damages for a breach of contract by wbicb, as he alleges, the defendant agreed that if the plaintiff would give up his business and dispose of his property and move to defendant\u2019s farm, where the latter lived, cultivate the same and take care of and support the defendant and wife during their lives, the defendant would presently convey his property to him; that plaintiff accepted the proposal, sold out his property, abandoned his own ordinary work, and went to the defendant\u2019s place, where he proceeded to work, and in all other respects to perform his part of the contract, upon faith in the defendant\u2019s promise that he would at once convey the property to him. That defendant failed to do what he had promised to do, and put off the plaintiff from time to time with one excuse and another, and finally refused to convey the property as stipulated. The plaintiff thereupon refused to continue what he had been doing in fulfillment of his part of the agreement, and left the defendant\u2019s premises, after he found that it was futile to wait any longer for defendant to \u25a0 act or to expect him to keep his promise. He sues, not .to enforce the specific performance of the contract to convey the property of defendant to him, nor for damages because of defendant\u2019s breach of the contract in this respect, but solely for the value of the services rendered by him in performing his part of the contract, and for what he laid out in money, or money\u2019s worth, at the special request of \u2022defendant, while he was attempting to do his part in the transaction, of which defendant received the benefit. The defendant denied the contract, and relied on the statute of frauds, objecting to evidence of the oral contract, and to the charge of the court in regard to it.\nThe court confined the issues to the contract made between the parties and the amount of the recovery, and refused to submit issues tendered by the plaintiff, and there was no issue involving an enforcement of the contract to convey the land, or damages for its breach. The referee found with the plaintiff, and assessed his damages, or the value of services rendered and money advanced, at $lj787.03, and from the judgment of the court thereon, after overruling defendant\u2019s exceptions, defendant appealed.\n0. L. Whitener and W. A. Self for plaintiff.\nOouncill & Yount for defendant." }, "file_name": "0600-01", "first_page_order": 666, "last_page_order": 672 }