Patten v. Downer , 227 Mich. 95 ( 1924 )

Plaintiff was the owner of an equity in a house and lot in the city of Lansing and traded it to defendant Downer in September, 1921, as part payment for 60 acres of muck land, 31/2 miles northeast of Lansing, situated on the edge of what is commonly known as "the Chandler marsh." The price fixed for the 60 acres was $4,323. It was agreed that plaintiff's equity in the Lansing house and lot was worth $1,823. This latter sum was indorsed on the contract for the farm, leaving a balance due thereon of $2,500. In the winter or early spring of 1922 plaintiff moved onto the farm, and erected a small house and a few outbuildings, and attempted to farm the land, but was unable to make much headway, and moved off in midsummer. He rescinded the contract and tendered defendant Downer the land contract and a notice in writing that he had rescinded, and demanded a return of his city property. This was refused, and plaintiff began this action at law to recover his damages. It was plaintiff's claim that he made the trade upon the representations of defendants that the farm was a valuable one and worth $100 per acre; that it was properly drained, free from frost, tillable at all seasons of the year, was well calculated for the raising of sugar beets, and could be cultivated in the early spring. He claims he believed these representations and relied upon them in making the trade. After living on the place about four or five months he learned that these representations were false. The land was wet, sour, not properly drained, and was unfit for raising vegetables or sugar beets, and was not worth $100 an acre, nor was it worth what he paid for it. The respective contentions of the parties were submitted to a jury and they found with the plaintiff and awarded him damages in the sum of $2,100.

Defendants assign five errors on the charge of the court.

Assignment 1. Complaint is made because the jury were instructed that:

"It is immaterial whether a false representation is made innocently or fraudulently, if by its means the party to whom it is made is injured."

This is, undoubtedly, the law, and is supported by ample authority. Holcomb v. Noble, 69 Mich. 396; Totten v. Burhans,91 Mich. 495; Patrons' Mut. Fire Ins. Co. v. Pagenkoff,213 Mich. 157.

In the first case cited it was said:

"But an equally careful examination of the cases adjudicated in this State satisfies me that the doctrine is settled here, by a long line of cases, that if there was in fact a misrepresentation, though made innocently, and its defective influence was effective, the consequences to the plaintiff being as serious as though it had proceeded from a vicious purpose, he would have a right of action for the damages caused thereby, either at law or in equity;" citing authorities.

It is further complained in this assignment because the court instructed the jury as follows:

"But if you are satisfied by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendants falsely represented to the plaintiff any one or more of the material facts claimed by the plaintiff, and if the plaintiff believed the same to be true and relied thereon, and because thereof purchased the farm, then your verdict should be for the plaintiff."

The point is made on this part of the charge that defendant Ives should not have been included with Downer in the fraud. It appeared that Mr. Ives first directed plaintiff's attention to the land in question. He visited the land with plaintiff and defendant Downer. He made representations as to its value and as to the character of the soil and what could be raised thereon, and confirmed representations made by Mr. Downer. It did not appear that Mr. Ives was acting in the capacity of a broker. Neither did it appear that he received any compensation, but it did appear that he was assisting Downer in making a sale of the premises. This would make him liable if he misrepresented the facts. We think the proofs were such that it was not error to submit the question of Ives' liability to the jury. Weber v. Weber, 47 Mich. 569. In this case it was said:

"Neither is it true that an agent is exempt from liability for fraud knowingly committed on behalf of his principal. A person cannot avoid responsibility merely because he gets no personal advantage from his fraud. All persons who are active in defrauding others are liable for what they do, whether they act in one capacity or another. No one can lawfully pursue a knowingly fraudulent employment; and while it may be true that the principal is often liable for the fraud of his agent though himself honest, his own fraud will not exonerate his fraudulent agent. Starkweather v. Benjamin, 32 Mich. 305; Josselyn v.McAllister, 22 Mich. 300."

A final point made in this assignment is that it was error to instruct the jury:

"That if defendants falsely represented any one or more of the material facts claimed by the plaintiff, * * * then their verdict should be for the plaintiff."

This objection is conclusively answered by Haener v.McKenzie, 188 Mich. 27.

Assignment 2. The court instructed the jury that:

"Now, in this case, Mr. Patten has tendered back to Mr. Downer his contract and has rescinded so far as he could his contract, and because he has done so, if you find for the plaintiff as I have charged, then you would come to the question of the measure of damages."

It is claimed that this is wrong because the rescission was not complete in that plaintiff's wife did not join in the rescission. The wife, under the holdings in this State, would have a homestead interest in the farm during the time that she lived on it, but, when they moved off from the farm and abandoned it, she had no homestead interest to release.

Assignment 3. Counsel argue that the court left it to the jury to determine the question whether plaintiff had been injured as he claimed, and ignored the proposition that unless there were false and fraudulent representations made, that they were relied upon, and that the plaintiff was financially injured thereby, he could not recover, and that the instruction does not limit the jury to the consideration of false representations that were material. The trial court used this language:

"But if you are satisfied by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendants falsely represented to the plaintiff any one or more of the material facts claimed by the plaintiff, and if the plaintiff believed the same to be true, and relied thereon, and because thereof purchased the farm, then your verdict should be for the plaintiff."

The court not only charged the jury in this wise, but it recited the particular false representations which the plaintiff claimed were made by the defendants. We think there is no basis for this assignment.

Assignment 4. In this assignment it is complained that the court left it to the jury to determine the value of the house and lot in Lansing, when there was no testimony as to its value. The proof showed that plaintiff and Downer agreed on the value of the house and lot when the trade was made. In addition to this there was proof as to what plaintiff paid for the premises, and proof that a real estate man had listed it for $4,000. It was also shown what the incumbrances were. We think there was sufficient proof in the record to enable the jury to determine the value of the house and lot, and also the interest which plaintiff had in it.

Assignment 5. Upon the question of damages the court said to the jury:

"Now, as I say, if you find for the plaintiff, he will be entitled to that amount of money with five per cent. interest from August 20, 1922. In addition to that, if you find for the plaintiff, he will be entitled to the value of the improvements he has placed on that farm. You heard what was said about the buildings, how much they cost, and how much they were worth, and it is for you to determine the value of those buildings, with interest at five per cent. In addition to that he will be entitled to the value of the services that he put in, the number of days that he was working there, and lost his labor, that is, lost his labor, if you find the defendants were guilty."

The point made by counsel upon this instruction is that the court was in error because it permitted plaintiff to recover for improvements, and also for labor which went into the improvements. The latter part of the instruction with reference to the labor we think had no reference to the labor which went into the improvements. That reference fairly construed had reference to the labor which plaintiff put in on the farm, in plowing, or attempting to plow, and to putting in crops and vegetables. We do not think the jury were misled as to the meaning of this instruction. We may say generally in actions on exchange of property the rule of damages is the same as when a sale is made. 35 Cyc. p. 40; Crapo v. Seybold, 36 Mich. 444. An exchange of property, like any other transaction, is vitiated by fraud, and if either party has been induced by the fraud of the other to make the exchange he may rescind the whole transaction and maintain an action for the recovery of the property which he gave in exchange, or for its value. 17 Cyc. p. 841; Bristol v. Braidwood, 28 Mich. 191. Where a rescission for fraud has been had repairs and improvements made by the innocent party are recoverable as damages. Davis v.Strobridge, 44 Mich. 157; Kalisch v. Kalisch, 9 Wis. 529; Thompson v. Thompson, 16 Wis. 94;Mclndoe v. Morman, 26 Wis. 588 (7 Am. Rep. 96); Patrick v. Roach, 21 Tex. 251; 2 Sutherland on Damages (4th Ed.), § 589.

The trial court in the present case instructed the jury that if they reached the question of damages plaintiff would be entitled to recover the value of the equity in the house and lot which he exchanged for the farm. This was proper as defendant Downer disposed of the equity and could not return it to plaintiff. The jury was further instructed that plaintiff was entitled to recover the value of the improvements made upon the farm. This was permissible under the authorities cited. The jury was also instructed that plaintiff was entitled to recover for lost services, which we construe to mean services in plowing and putting in the crops. It is extremely doubtful whether plaintiff was entitled to recover this item of damage. It is, however, unnecessary for us to determine this question, as there is no assignment of error under which it can be considered. Defendants did not assign error on the general scheme of damages submitted by the court, but contented themselves with making two specific objections, which we think are not well taken.

The trial appears to have been a fair one and resulted in a very equitable judgment, and we think it should be affirmed.

McDONALD and MOORE, JJ., concurred with BIRD, J.