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13 Daly 422

Belter v. Lyon

New York Court of Common Pleas

Decided February 1, 1886

New York Court of Common Pleas · decided 1886-02-01

The plaintiff foreclosed a mortgage which she held upon premises in the City of New York, and under a decree in foreclosure therein the same was sold on May 2nd, 1879, at public auction, for $2,100, to John H. Belter, her son, who subsequently assigned his bid to the plaintiff. The defendant was present at the sale, and immediately thereafter the plaintiff went into possession and has so remained. She has since paid the taxes and made improvements exceeding $1,000.

Relies on Wheeler v. . Reynolds · Lathrop v. Hoyt · Willets v. Van Alst

Decided 1886-02-01

Larremore, Ch. J.

¶1[After statingthe facts as above.]— The parties to the suit appear to have acquiesced in the delay that followed the sale, of its absolute consummation. It does not appear from the record that any fraud was committed or any misrepresentation made in reference to the sale. The court had the power, in the absence of fraud, to issue such a direction to the referee (Baring v. Moore, 5 Paige 48, 53), and lapse of time, under the circumstances, was no objection (Willets v. Van Alst, 26 How. Pr. 325).

¶2It may be seriously questioned whether the contract as alleged by the defendant Lyon is not void under the Statute of Frauds (Wheeler v. Reynolds, 66 N. Y. 227; Lathrop v. Hoyt, 7 Barb. 59).

¶3But, as before stated, the parties seemingly acquiesced in the arrangement now sought to be carried out, and as there has been a part performance of the contract by the plaintiff in entering into the possession of the premises, and she has expended moneys thereupon, we think that the original contract should be carried out.

¶4It does not appear that the defendant ever offered to comply with the conditions of the contract upon which she relies, or that there was any breach thereof by the plaintiff.

¶5The order appealed from should be affirmed.

¶6Allen and Bookstaver, JJ., concurred.

¶7Order affirmed.

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