Van Wagener v. Royce

<p>Equity—Enforcement of Contract—Laches. Prior to a foreclosure sale of land plaintiff and defendant’s intestate agreed in writing under seal that the latter should pay to plaintiff and others $3,000 for their interest in the mortgaged property, and that the sale should be postponed; whereupon plaintiff quitclaimed his interest. The property was bought on th.e adjourned day of sale by one of the parties to the agreement, and conveyed to defendant’s intestate, who paid $1,200 to such party, no part ■of which was received by plaintiff, who, after the agreement, had been compelled to pay certain moneys which were by its terms to be paid by defendant’s intestate. Held, that "plaintiff’s seven years’ delay in asserting his claim, which he was not asked to explain, while an unfavorable fact, was not con■clusive against its validity; and, as the mistake of description in plaintiff’s •conveyance, which defendants claimed was a failure of performance on his part, could have been easily corrected so as to include the whole property, the payment to plaintiff would be equitable, and within the meaning of the agreement, and, under the circumstances, the court would not deem the agreement abandoned, but would enforce it in plaintiff’s favor. 19 N. T. Supp. 143, affirmed.</p>