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12 N.C. 20

Fagan v. . Newson

Supreme Court of North Carolina

Decided December 5, 1826

Supreme Court of North Carolina · decided 1826-12-05

From Davidson. Case for a deceit in the sale of land. The Defendant carried the Plaintiff upon the land, and shewed him a bottom containing about two acres, which lie represented asa part of the land: a bargain was made, and the Plaintiff paid the purchase-money. The Defendant tendered the Plaintiff a deed, which did not include the bottom, and which the latter refused.

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently January 1874

1 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1826-12-05

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Haxx, Judge.

¶1 I concur in the opinion that the rule for a new trial should be made absolute, as the Plaintiff alleges the Defendant could not comply with his contract 5 he also, in case the fact is so, is absolved from a compliance, or if he has paid the purchase-money, he may treat the Contract as a nullity, and recover that money and interest back; but he cannot recover damages for the loss of a good bargain. The Plaintiff states that he refused to receive a deed for part of the land, of course he has done nothing to prevent him from recovering back the purchase-money.

*24 Henderson, Judge.

¶2 Strictly speaking, the injury charged in this declaration is, that the parties being in contract for the sale of a tract of' land, the Defendant affirmed that certain lands were his, and a part of those they were contracting for, well knowing that they were Dot, and the Plaintiff, being an unlettered man, and believing the false representations of the Defendant, contracted with him for the purchase of the whole tract, and paid him therefor, the sum of three hundred dollars, and this action is not brought to recover back the money paid, as upon a consideration which has failed j thereby disaffirming the contract, but for a deceitful representation in making it, thereby affirming its continuance: it is therefore in truth, an action brought for the loss of a good bargain, which I believe it is well settled cannot be sustained. Flureau v. Thornhill, Blk. Rep. 1078.

¶3 The injury really sustained is, that the Defendant cannot or, will not perform his contract, which gives an. action upon the contract, not an action in deceit for an imposition. If the Defendant had imposed the property, that is, had passed the estate under this deception, (other things out of the way,) an action might be supported; but no estate has yet passed, at least for the two acres. The only injury which the ^Plaintiff has sustained is, either the loss of a good bargain, the breach of contract, to be compensated in damages, or the loss of the money which he has paid j if he has suffered any other, I am unable to perceive it; neither of which can be redressed, in such an action as this. The case made in this declaration, only resembles the first, which gives no cause of action. If the Plaintiff still insists on his contract, an action is open to him : if he wishes his money back, he can recover it in an action for money had and received. As to damages, which the Plaintiff has sustained by paying his money, the restoration of the same sum with interest, is in law a compensation.

¶4 Judgment reversed, new trial.

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