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36 Me. 413

Nickerson v. Saunders

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Decided July 1, 1853

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine · decided 1853-07-01

Exceptions from Nisi Prius, Rice J., presiding. Assumpsit, for money had and received. Plaintiff, in 1846, sold to the defendant a piece of land and gave him a warranty deed. The consideration named in the deed was paid. At the time of the sale, a petition was pending before the county commissioners for an alteration or discontinuance of a road which passed by the land.

Cited by 3 later decisions — most recently April 1913

3 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1853-07-01

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Tenney, J. —

¶1Though it has been held in this State, that a grantor in a deed of conveyance of land, is estopped to deny that he has received the consideration, which he has expressly acknowledged in the deed ; it is well settled, that it is competent for him to prove an additional consideration not expressed. *414Tyler v. Carlton, 7 Greenl. 175, and cases cited. With as great propriety, may he receive a sum of money, in the hands of a third person, which by the agreement, made and completed, when the deed was executed and delivered, was set apart and agreed to belong to him. This tends in no degree to contradict the deed ; as between the parties it becomes the property of the grantor, and if it should afterwards be paid to the grantor, the latter would hold it in trust for the former. If the additional sum rests in contingency, the principle is no less reasonable and is equally applicable.

¶2In this case the grantor received the full sum agreed upon, as the value of the land, situated as it was at the time of the conveyance. But there was a petition pending for an alteration, or discontinuance of a road, which passed by the land; and it was agreed that whatever sum should be allowed as damages for the alteration or discontinuance of the road, the plaintiff should have as a part of the consideration. The sum was allowed, and received by the defendant. It was at the time of its receipt, the money of the plaintiff, by virtue of an agreement, which was in all respects valid; and he is entitled to recover it in the equitable action of money had and received. Exceptions overruled.

Shepley, C. J., and Howard, Appleton and Hathaway, J. J., concurred.
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