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197 Mich. 151

Damm v. Vincent

Michigan Supreme Court

Decided July 26, 1917

Michigan Supreme Court · decided 1917-07-26

Clair; Tappan, J. Assumpsit by Charles Damm against Edward L. Vincent for money obtained by fraud and deceit. Judgment for defendant. Plaintiff brings error» Plaintiff sues in assumpsit seeking to recover the sum of $1,500. It appears from the record that the plaintiff is 53 years old, a laboring man, and in the year 1907 was employed as a watchman in the city of Woodstock, Ontario.

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently November 1937

2 state decisions

Relies on Jewett v. Petit · Campau v. Van Dyke · Wright v. Peet

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Affirmed · Decided 1917-07-26

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Brooke, J.

¶1(after stating the facts). There are some 25 assignments of error which we find'it unnecessary to discuss seriatim. That plaintiff was victimized in the transaction by Fraser and his irresponsible tool, Colwell, clearly appears from this rec*156ord. That defendant, Vincent, was either morally or legally bound by those representations does not so clearly appear, but, assuming that defendant, Vincent, was engaged actively in a conspiracy with Fraser and Colwell to defraud plaintiff, and that the fraud was accomplished, there would appear to be an insuperable objection to plaintiffs recovery. It is quite clear that on October 11th plaintiff became fully advised of the fraud that had been perpetrated upon him, and though he claims to have told Colwell that he wanted his mortgage back, he took no steps to disaffirm the contract which was made, not with Colwell, but with Fraser, and continued to exercise dominion and control over the property for upwards of two months thereafter, during which time he caused it to be twice conveyed. It is elementary that upon the discovery of fraud the party elected-to disaffirm upon that ground must act with diligence and without unreasonable delay. Jewett v. Petit, 4 Mich. 508; Carroll v. Rice, Walk. Ch. (Mich.) 374; Campan v. Van Dyke, 15 Mich. 371; Wright v. Feet, 36 Mich. 213.

¶2We are of opinion that the motion for a directed verdict in favor of the defendant should have been granted upon the third ground' urged by his counsel.

¶3The judgment is affirmed.

Kuhn, C. J., and Stone, Ostrander, Bird, Moore, Steere, and Fellows, JJ., concurred.
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