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131 Ind. 98

Ayers v. Hamilton

Indiana Supreme Court

Decided April 5, 1892

Indiana Supreme Court · decided 1892-04-05

<p>Contract. — Extension of Time. — Forbearance to Sue. — An agreement to extend the time of payment of a debt for a limited period of time, even if • founded upon a sufficient consideration, is, in substance, an agreement not to sue within that time, and can not he pleaded in bar óf an action brought within that time. The only remedy for the violation of such an agreement is an action for damages.</p>

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently May 1908

2 state decisions

Relies on Vogel v. Harris · Williams v. Scott · Irons v. Woodfill

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1892-04-05

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Miller, J.

¶1This was a suit brought by the appellee to foreclose a mortgage.

¶2Two errors are assigned and discussed in the briefs of counsel:

¶31st. That the court erred in sustaining a demurrer to the first paragraph of answer.

¶42d. That the court erred in overruling the appellants' motion for a new trial.

¶5The first paragraph of answer counted upon a written agreement extending the time for the payment of the note, secured by the mortgage in suit, to a period subsequent to the time of the bringing of this action.

¶6This agreement was a mere contract of forbearance, executed long after the maturity of the note.

¶7It is well settled that an agreement to extend the time of payment of a debt for a limited period of time, even if founded upon a sufficient consideration, is, in substance, an agreement not to sue within that time, and can not be pleaded in bar of an action brought within that time. The only remedy for the violation of such an agreement is an action for damages. Vogel v. Harris, 112 Ind. 494; Williams v. Scott, 83 Ind. 405; Mills v. Todd, 83 Ind. 25; Irons v. Woodfill, 32 Ind. 40.

*99Filed April 5, 1892.

¶8The question discussed under the second assignment of error is the alleged insufficiency of the evidence to sustain the finding and judgment.

¶9We have read the evidence and find that it is conflicting upon every issue joined in the pleadings. We can not, therefore, disturb the judgment on this account.

¶10Judgment affirmed.

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