Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

19 Me. 267

Babb v. Kennedy

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Decided May 15, 1841

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine · decided 1841-05-15

Exceptions from the District Court. This was an action of debt on a bond, dated Nov. 8, 1838, signed by the defendants — the condition of which was, “ that whereas the said Otis Kennedy, has this day bargained and agreed with the said Babb, as follows, viz. in consideration that said Babb on or about the 10th day of May next, shall convey to said Kennedy, by deed, the lot of land on which said Babb lives, &c. and in as good order and condition as it now is, the privilege of…

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently April 1975

1 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1841-05-15

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

¶1The opinion of the Court was delivered by

Weston C. J.

¶2By the condition of the bond in suit, and the agreement recited therein, the plaintiff was to convey the land there described, by the time limited, and upon the delivery of the deed, the principal defendant was to pay two hundred dollars, and give security for the residue of the purchase money, as is stipulated in the condition. These were acts to be performed simultaneously, and if the condition had stopped there, it is very clear, upon the authorities, that the plaintiff could maintain no action upon the bond, without performing, or offering to perform, the stipulation on his part. Brown v. Gammon, 14 Maine R. 276; Howe v. Huntington, 15 Maine R. 350.

¶3But if the parties were not satisfied to leave the matter, subject to the legal deductions, usually drawn from an instrument of this character, they were at liberty, in any lawful manner, to modify their contract at pleasure. Now the de*269fendants expressly agree to be bound, unless the principal defendant, by the time appointed, should make and secure the payments, “and demand a deed of said Babb of the premises.” No other sensible construction can be given to a clause so unusual, but that the first movement was to be made by the principal defendant, and that the plaintiff might await his demand. It was in effect a stipulation, that the defendants should be liable upon the bond, without the tender of a deed from the plaintiff, unless demanded. Where a tender would be otherwise necessary, it may be expressly waived by the party, to whom it is to be made.

¶4In our opinion, a nonsuit was improperly directed.

¶5Exceptions sustained.

/19/me/267 · .json · Public domain